Reporting to the Head of Network & Infrastructure, the Internal Systems Manager leads a team of engineers responsible for all internal IT systems, desktop services, office and remote networking, and the business applications used across Zen. You'll ensure reliable, secure delivery of the technology our people depend on every day, whether they're working from the office or remotely.
This is a role for someone who gets as much satisfaction from developing a junior engineer as from solving a complex infrastructure problem. You'll be leading a small, talented team at varying stages of their careers, and the best person for this role will bring genuine energy to building that team, not just managing it. The role also owns key areas of ISO compliance, the IS budget, and drives the internal technology roadmap.
What you'll do
Team leadership and service delivery
- Lead and develop a team of engineers, setting clear priorities and creating an environment where people grow, take ownership, and deliver high-quality work.
- Own the desktop support service, making sure staff can work effectively whether on-site or remote, and act as the escalation point for major incidents.
Systems and infrastructure
- Manage and administer core business systems, device management, identity and access, and the productivity and collaboration platforms the business runs on.
- Look after the office network and infrastructure: LAN, Wi-Fi, VPN, meeting room technology, firewalls and monitoring.
- Oversee VoIP and cloud telephony services.
Governance, compliance and finance
- Plan and manage capital and operational expenditure for internal systems, working closely with finance.
- Support ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 audit readiness, contribute to the annual finance audit, and handle SARs and HR-related investigations.
- Contribute to business continuity planning and the internal security posture.
Suppliers, assets and projects
- Manage supplier relationships, licensing renewals, the IT asset register and hardware lifecycle.
- Lead IS projects from initiation to completion, contributing to the wider N&I technology strategy.
What you'll bring
Leadership and people development: Proven experience managing an internal IT or service desk team, but more than that, a genuine approach to developing people. You'll know how to motivate engineers at different stages of their careers, have honest conversations, and build a team culture where people want to do their best work. We're a recognised Great Place to Work for Development, and we expect our managers to live that.
Technical credibility: A solid grounding in device management, identity and access, cloud services, and network infrastructure. You don't need to be doing the hands-on work every day, but you need to understand it well enough to lead people who are.
Governance and compliance: Experience owning or contributing to ISO 27001 or ISO 9001 compliance. You'll be comfortable with audits, controls and continuous improvement, not just aware of them.
Commercial awareness: A track record of managing IS budgets and supplier relationships, with the confidence to challenge costs and get value from contracts.
Stakeholder communication: The ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, from engineers on your team to senior leaders across the business. You'll be an advocate for IS, not just an operator of it.
Pace and adaptability: Zen moves quickly. You'll need to adapt when priorities shift, make good decisions with incomplete information, and keep your team focused and motivated when things change.
We’re building an inclusive work environment
At Zen, your individuality matters. Your gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, neurodiversity, background, and everything else that makes you who you are, we value it all. We want you to feel seen, respected, and supported from the very start of your journey with us.
Our Values shape how we work and who we are. We celebrate diversity and build strong communities where everyone belongs. We put people and the planet before profit, and we’re ambitious about the future, always learning, innovating, and striving to deliver award-winning service. Together, this means you’ll find opportunities not just to grow your career, but to make a meaningful impact.
We’re always open to conversations about part-time or flexible working, or reasonable adjustments, and we’ll support you wherever we can. Please feel comfortable sharing your preferences during the recruitment process.
If you’d like to find out more about what life is like at Zen, take a look at our careers page. Or, if you’d prefer to speak with someone about the role, call us on 01706 902 275 or email [email protected], we’d be happy to chat!
Please note that we do not need agency support to fill this role. We have a small, but great, pool of agencies on our PSL and will contact one of those if we need to.
Benefits
- 2 x Life Assurance Cover, with option to flex upwards
- 25 days Annual leave, rising to 30 days with length of service, with the option to purchase up to 5 more.
- Access to private Medical Healthcare and a Healthcare Cash Plan
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Car salary sacrifice scheme
- Continuous learning and development
- Discounted Mobile plans
- Flexible and Hybrid working
- Free onsite parking
- Internal coaching and mentoring opportunities
- Onsite Contemplation and Prayer room
- Onsite Electric Car Charging points
- Optional flexible critical illness cover
- People-friendly policies
- Recognition awards where we celebrate the most awesome people
- Retail discounts
- Salary sacrifice Pension- minimum of 3% Employee contributions for a 5% Employer contribution
- Six monthly salary reviews
- Subsidised Nursery fees
- Subsidised Onsite Restaurant
- Superfast Free Reliable Broadband
- Travel Loan and Ride2Work Schemes
- Two days’ paid leave per year for voluntary work
About Zen
At Zen, we’re redefining what it means to be a business, not just through what we do, but how we do it. We believe there’s a better way of doing business.
As the UK’s largest independently owned telecommunications and technology provider, we put people and planet before profit. We’re here for the long term, never for sale and driven by our purpose: Do right for people and planet. Being a certified B Corp is just one way we demonstrate our commitment to social and environmental responsibility. From award-winning services and industry-leading customer support to our focus on sustainability and community. Everything we do is guided by our core values, and yours.
At Zen, we know that our strength lies in our people. That’s why we celebrate individuality and diversity, creating a workplace where everyone belongs. We bring together our Zen values and personal values to build a supportive, open, and inclusive environment. Together, we grow, both as professionals and as people. We’re proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work across multiple categories: Large Organisation, Wellbeing, Women, Development, and Technology, a reflection of the inclusive, empowering, and future-focused culture we’ve created.
We’re ambitious. We embrace innovation and welcome change. We challenge ourselves to think differently, improve constantly, and lead by example. We see every challenge is an opportunity. Every voice matters. And every success fuels a much bigger purpose.
So, if you're looking for a job where your values matter, where you can help build a future where business is a force for good, join us and help make a difference. Whether you're just starting out or bringing years of experience, your work at Zen will have real impact on our people, customers, communities, and the planet.
Pay: £54,000.00-£62,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience of owning or contributing to ISO 27001 or ISO 9001 compliance?
- Have you managed and owned an IT budget for internal systems before?
- Have you overseen VoIP and telephony services before?
Experience:
- Desktop support : 2 years (preferred)
- people management : 1 year (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Rochdale
