Principal - Technical Operations Authority (TOA)

Job Description

Job Req ID: 59143

Posting Date: 26/05/2026

Function: Engineering

Location: Manchester, Sheffield or Birmingham - Frequent travel to customer sites in Preston and Barrow-in-Furness will also be required

About the role

You will lead technical strategy, oversee complex projects, and build high-performing teams to help clients and the business achieve their operational and commercial goals.

Acting as the senior life authority, you’ll collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure stability while optimising network operations for Managed Service customers. You’ll play a key role in driving innovation, improvement, and growth across a diverse customer base of over 2,000 organisations.

The successful candidate will need to be eligible to gain and hold a Government Security Clearance to SC level.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and direct network engineering teams in delivering design, build, testing, maintenance, and ongoing support across complex, multi-vendor environments.
• Define technical strategy and product roadmaps, shaping policies, procedures, and best practices to align with organisational and information systems goals.
• Own end-to-end technical delivery across the project lifecycle, from scoping and proposal development to benefits realisation, ensuring quality, cost, schedule, and support readiness are met.
• Manage a portfolio of complex projects and incidents, proactively mitigating risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement.
• Develop and mentor high-performing teams while strengthening client relationships and delivering secure, resilient network and cloud infrastructure solutions.

Essential Skills / Experience

• A customer-focused mindset with a proactive approach to delivering high-quality, reliable service in managed services or live 24/7 environments.
• Experience leading teams through transformation and continuous improvement, fostering collaborative, cross-functional ways of working.
• Ability to shape strategy and drive innovation, applying Agile and DevOps practices across the full lifecycle from concept to delivery.
• Confident decision-making skills, with sound judgement, integrity, and the ability to navigate complex challenges and resolve issues constructively.
• Technical expertise in networking (e.g. CCNP or equivalent, ITIL knowledge) with deep understanding of multi-vendor and software-defined environments, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to senior stakeholders.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Understanding of network and software-defined networking data network technologies such as Cisco, Aruba, Juniper, Arista, Fortinet and emerging technologies across the full IT spectrum.

Our Package

Tailored benefits make a real difference. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range to support your growth, wellbeing, and everyday life. You can design the package to suit you and your lifestyle. Your core benefits include:

• Company car scheme (or cash alternative)
• 15% on target annual bonus
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• Access to an online private GP 24/7 for you and your immediate family
• Market-leading paid carers leave with up to 2 weeks off
• Equalised maternity, paternity, and adoption leave – 18 weeks’ full pay and 8 weeks’ half pay
• Discounted EE and BT products, including mobile and broadband
• Market leading Pension scheme – 5% from you and 10% from us
• Holiday purchase scheme You can select additional benefits, including healthcare, dental, gym memberships and more when you’re ready

Flexible Working
This role offers a 3 together, 2 wherever working model. This means you are required to be at your contractual location or customer site for 3 days a week with 2 flexible days per week.

With over 180 years of heritage, BT Business has brought together our best people and capabilities into a B2B powerhouse serving 1.2 million business customers in the UK

We’re a leader for secure connectivity and collaboration platforms for businesses of all shapes and sizes, from big household names and government departments, right through to sole traders and new start-ups. But it’s not just the technology that matters, it’s what it can do to help them build stronger, smarter, more secure businesses.

We are Customer-First Challengers, who are Committed, Clear and Connected. We value diversity and inclusion and believe in making a positive impact. We connect for good by championing digital inclusion and equipping people, businesses, and communities with digital skills to thrive.

As a member of our team, you will be part of an organisation that celebrates difference, fosters innovation and provides you with opportunities to be your best. With millions of businesses relying on us daily, joining BT means you can be part of a diverse and multi-skilled team that makes a significant impact to society.