Lead Technical Solutions Specialist - Networks and Voice

Lead Technical Solutions Specialist – Networks & Voice
£55,000 - £65,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 5) 
Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office as required for team days, meetings, and events (find out more about our hybrid working policy at  

We’re open to applications from people who may require flexible working arrangements. There’ll be an opportunity to discuss your flexible working requirements during the interview process, and at offer stage.

We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

We're looking for a Lead Technical Solutions Specialist - Networks & Voice to join our Digital, Technology & Data team and help us shape the future of network services across Co-op. You'll provide technical leadership for the network and voice services that connect our stores, support centres, depots, cloud platforms and business partners, ensuring they're secure, resilient and able to support the changing needs of our colleagues, customers and members. Working across a broad technology landscape, you'll be responsible for solution design, technical governance and the development of network capabilities that deliver long-term value to the business.

Why this role matters

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future direction of network and voice services across our Co-op, influencing investment decisions, technology roadmaps and major transformation initiatives. You'll work with senior stakeholders, strategic partners and specialist technology teams to solve complex challenges, improve resilience and service quality, and ensure our network capabilities continue to support Co-op’s mission.

What you’ll do

•    Lead the design and governance of network and voice solutions that support Co-op's business operations and technology strategy
•    Shape and deliver the Networks & Voice roadmap, helping to drive modernisation, lifecycle management, resilience improvements and future investment decisions
•    Provide expert technical leadership across technologies including LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN, cloud networking, digital voice and contact centre solutions
•    Work with business stakeholders, architecture, cyber security, service and delivery teams to develop solutions that meet business needs and deliver long-term value
•    Build strong relationships with suppliers, managed service providers and telecommunications partners to improve service quality, resilience and cost-effectiveness
•    Lead technical input during major incidents and service disruptions, supporting recovery activities and driving continuous service improvement
•    Assess technical risks, dependencies and architectural options, making recommendations that balance innovation, security, resilience and value for money
•    Coach and support engineers and technical specialists, helping to develop capability and share knowledge across the Networks function

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Significant experience designing, delivering and governing enterprise-scale network and voice services
•    Deep technical expertise across networking technologies such as LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, SD-WAN, cloud networking, digital voice, contact centre and network security solutions
•    The ability to translate business requirements into scalable, secure and supportable technical solutions
•    Experience developing technology roadmaps, supporting investment decisions and influencing technical strategy
•    Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence colleagues at all levels, including senior leadership
•    Experience working with suppliers and strategic partners to improve service performance, resilience and commercial value
•    A strong focus on operational excellence, continuous improvement and leading technical responses to complex service challenges

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions 
•    Private healthcare
•    Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands 
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it 
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice 
•    24/7 colleague support service 
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.