Senior DevOps Engineer

Job summary

We are currently recruiting for a Senior DevOps Engineer to work on a hybrid basis, two/three days from our HQ in Coventry and the remainder working remotely from home.

This role has responsibility to provide best-in-class technology solutions (hardware, software, peripheral items, and services) required to enable AHDB colleagues to perform their roles efficiently, ensuring AHDB achieves maximum benefit from investment in technology.

We are looking for an experienced senior development engineer with a solid foundation of technical knowledge which encompasses MS Azure, along with an understanding and awareness of WCAG, YAML, CI/CD operations, Infrastructure as Code, DevOps processes and agile methodologies.

About AHDB

We are the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British producers in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers, growers and processors, often where no one else can or will.

We share the expert, evidence-based research and reports that inform on-farm decision making. We promote British produce to the UK public through domestic marketing campaigns, and we identify and open new global export opportunities to help farm businesses grow.

We help levy payers learn more, sell more and export more to remain sustainable and profitable. Together, we deliver the insights, the influence and the impact that farmers need.

Job description

• Support and maintain the Azure cloud infrastructure, including testing and development environment
• Investigate, implement and document ways to automate and improve development and release processes, managing build and release pipelines within Azure DevOps
• Implement monitoring/alerting/remediation for production systems
• Work with the Security Architect and ensure any recommendations for AHDB’s cloud infrastructure are implemented by applying a range of cloud security tools and techniques
• Ensure AHDB is achieving maximum value for money from its spend on third-party services, in particular Microsoft Azure
• Support projects and provide technical knowledge and skills in process investigation, solution design, solution development and system testing
• Provide a source of technical information and advice for AHDB system users
• Maintain required databases, registers and associated paperwork accurately, completing and maintaining to required standards
• Review applications and infrastructure for compliance and auditing purposes, and actioning outcomes from those activities
• Work in conjunction with the QA team to test and examine code written by developers related to cloud infrastructure
• Work with development team to oversee code releases and provide clear and concise release notes for stakeholders involved

Person specification

• Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Azure (App Services, VM Management, Storage accounts, Key Vault, DNS, etc.), along with enterprise security tools and techniques and a working knowledge with release automation and orchestration
• Solid foundation of technical knowledge, able to troubleshoot technical issues and identify appropriate escalation points
• Good knowledge of technology solutions, relevant tools and broader technology environment
• Awareness and skills in content management systems (WordPress, Umbraco, Orchard), Google Analytics, SEO Best Practice and Web Usability
• An understanding and awareness of WCAG, YAML, CI/CD operations, Infrastructure as Code DevOps processes and ways of working, and agile methodologies
• Ideally educated to degree level in a relevant subject such as computer science or similar, or relevant experience

Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities to give you the recognition you deserve:

• 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, to include hybrid working
• 33 days annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• A paid day each year to volunteer and make a difference in your community
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply, simply upload your CV and Cover Letter via our careers portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this page. Our hiring managers will review your application, and we’ll be in touch with the outcome shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview via MS Teams. If successful, a second-stage face-to-face interview will be held at our HQ in Coventry, Warwickshire, following our competency-based framework.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Telephone : 02476 935722

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles of the Civil Service, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Head of HR via email: hr@ahdb.org.uk