Location: Hybrid, with travel to education sites across the UK
Working pattern: 2 to 3 days per week from home
Role type: Permanent
About the company
Our client is a fast-growing UK technology group providing managed IT services, cloud, infrastructure, cyber security, communications, and business technology solutions.
The business has a strong reputation within the education sector, supporting schools, academies, and Multi-Academy Trusts with secure, scalable, and reliable IT solutions.
MFK Recruitment has recruited 46 IT professionals across the group over the past six years, with 31 still employed within the company, reflecting the progression, stability, and long-term opportunities available.
The role
We are looking for an experienced and technically strong Education Solutions Consultant to design, scope, and support the delivery of technology solutions for schools and Multi-Academy Trusts across the UK.
This is a senior technical role sitting between consultancy, pre-sales, solution design, and delivery oversight. It is not purely pre-sales and not purely hands-on delivery. You will take ownership of the technical solution from discovery and design through to high-level delivery oversight and technical sign-off.
The successful candidate will ideally have held a senior IT role within education, such as IT Manager, Network Manager, Senior Network Manager, Head of IT, or Education IT Consultant. You will understand how IT operates within schools, academies, or trusts, and be confident engaging with senior stakeholders, internal technical teams, and customers.
The role is hybrid, with 2 to 3 days per week from home. You will need a full UK driving licence, access to your own car, and the ability to travel to different education sites across the UK.
Key responsibilities
* Design technical solutions for schools, academies, and Multi-Academy Trusts
* Lead technical discovery sessions with customers and stakeholders
* Review existing customer environments and provide roadmap recommendations
* Produce high-level solution designs, implementation scopes, and technical recommendations
* Align solutions with DfE Digital and Technology Standards, Cyber Essentials, GDPR, safeguarding considerations, and security best practice
* Provide high-level oversight during implementation projects
* Work with Project Engineers and Project Managers to ensure technical delivery quality
* Act as an escalation point for complex deployments
* Perform technical sign-off on completed solutions
* Ensure solutions can be supported by Service Desk and Managed Services teams
* Produce and maintain solution designs, network diagrams, migration plans, technical standards, and implementation documentation
Skills and experience required
* Previous senior IT experience within the education sector
* Background as an IT Manager, Network Manager, Senior Network Manager, Head of IT, Education IT Consultant, or similar
* Strong understanding of school, academy, or Multi-Academy Trust IT environments
* Experience designing, managing, or improving IT solutions across education sites
* Strong technical knowledge across networking, infrastructure, cloud, security, and end-user computing
* Good knowledge of Microsoft 365, Azure, Active Directory, Intune, Windows Server, networking, firewalls, wireless, switches, VLANs, and site connectivity
* Understanding of cyber security requirements within education
* Ability to engage confidently with school leaders, business managers, IT teams, and technical stakeholders
* Experience creating technical documentation, scopes, designs, or project recommendations
* Strong written and verbal communication skills
* Full UK driving licence, own car, and willingness to travel across the UK
Desirable experience
* Experience working for an education-focused MSP
* Knowledge of DfE Digital and Technology Standards
* Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus knowledge
* Experience supporting tenders, bids, or technical presentations
* Microsoft, networking, cyber security, or cloud certifications
* Experience with cloud migrations, wireless refreshes, server upgrades, security improvements, or wider infrastructure projects
Personal attributes
The successful candidate will be technically strong, consultative, and confident working with education customers. You will understand the pressures and priorities within schools and trusts, and be able to design practical technology solutions that improve reliability, security, and user experience.
You will be comfortable speaking with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, explaining recommendations clearly, and taking ownership of the technical solution from discovery through to sign-off
Salary description
£50000.00 - £60000.00 per year