Cloud & Security Specialist
The Cloud & Security Specialist will lead the Family of Schools’ cloud-first strategy, ensuring a secure, efficient, and structured transition from on-premise infrastructure to Microsoft Azure and the broader Microsoft 365
ecosystem.
This role will be responsible for maximising the potential of the M365 ecosystem, ensuring that the full range of cloud services, collaboration tools, automation capabilities, and security features are effectively implemented and leveraged to enhance operational efficiency, teaching & learning, and administrative processes across the organisation.
A key focus will be the development, standardisation, and governance of Microsoft 365 policies, best practices, and frameworks across the Family of Schools, ensuring consistency, security, and compliance in areas such as
Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Power Platform, and identity management. The postholder will also oversee the integration of cloud services with existing IT infrastructure, ensuring seamless interoperability and a futureproofed digital environment.
Automation and modern cloud-native approaches will be critical to this role, driving efficiency, scalability, and resilience in IT operations. The postholder will champion the use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), serverless
computing, cloud automation tools, and self-healing systems to reduce manual intervention, enhance performance, and ensure a secure, reliable cloud environment.
Additionally, the Cloud & Security Specialist will take a proactive approach to cybersecurity, automation, and business continuity planning, embedding robust security controls, compliance frameworks, and resilience measures
into cloud operations while driving innovation through cloud-native best practices.
Key Responsibilities include:
Cloud Infrastructure, Automation & Strategy
Microsoft 365, SaaS Management & Device Management
Cloud Security & Cybersecurity
SSL/TLS Certificate Management
Domain Name System (DNS) & Domain Management
Identity & Access Management (IAM) for Cloud Security
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Monitoring, Reporting & Incident Management
API & Cloud Integration
Collaboration & Cross-Team Support
Vendor & Stakeholder Collaboration
Essential Criteria
• Extensive experience in managing Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 environments within a school or enterprise setting.
• Strong expertise in cloud security, including Azure Security Center, Microsoft Defender, and Identity Protection tools.
• Experience in migrating on-premise services to cloud-based solutions, particularly in education environments.
• In-depth understanding of networking concepts, including firewalls, VPNs, and zero-trust security models.
• Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, ARM templates, or PowerShell.
• Hands-on experience with SIEM tools, monitoring platforms, and cloud-native security solutions.
• Experience in API integrations, automation, and cloud workflow optimisation
For more information and the job description go here 2025.04 Cloud and Security Specialist Candidates Information Pack or to apply hit the apply button below
Job summary
Sector:
Cloud & Security Specialist
Location:
Eltham, London Borough of Greenwich
Salary:
£45-55K plus excellent benefits
Contract type:
Permanent
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I wanted to extend my gratitude for the pivotal role you’ve played Steve in aligning me with the opportunity. Your proactive outreach, upon noticing the update on my LinkedIn profile, opened the door and throughout this process, your regular updates and unwavering support have been invaluable, and for that, I am extremely grateful.
It’s rare to find someone with the commitment and patience you’ve exhibited. Your professionalism and dedication are deeply appreciated, and I genuinely appreciate everything you’ve done to facilitate this match.
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Will Townsend at ESP is excellent at sourcing candidates in very specialist areas, which we may otherwise not have found. He is open and honest, service oriented and prompt in any correspondence – I recommend Will and ESP wholeheartedly.
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Tara Day – HR Manager
Your contractor has been a fantastic support to the IT department over the past weeks and we can highly recommend him for any future contracts you arrange on his behalf.
Friern Barnet school
Business Manager
You have been an amazing help and I can’t thank you enough!
The Coopers’ Company and Coburn School
Sue Hay – Headteacher
Thank you for all of your assistance with this vacancy, it was a positive experience for us and we are grateful for your professional support throughout.
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Leathersellers Federation of Schools
I have known William for many years. He was my first call when I began looking for a new job and matched me up with a great employer within a few weeks. He stayed in touch throughout the recruitment process and followed up after I began my new job to see how I was settling in. If you work in this area of education and are looking to recruit or move on from your current job this is the place to start.
Mark Blackwood Senior MIS Consultant
Senior MIS Consultant
William is both friendly and professional. Always prepared to listen and advise but never pushy. He found me a job doing what I have always wanted to do. Thank you!
Lesley, MIS and SIMS Consultant
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Thank you for your help with this, you certainly do have some contacts and always find someone for us.
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I am delighted with the service that ESP has provided, in particular Nick Sion, who has worked hard to secure me a position at a brilliant school in London. He has kept in touch with me at all stages of the recruitment process and has been extremely helpful to me.
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Justin, iSAMS Reporting Manager
I was contacted by ESP regarding a potential contract and from the first phone call over a year ago, to our continued communications, they have always been courteous, professional, and informative. Nick who is one of the Senior Consultants was especially helpful when organising my CV, paperwork and interviews before I started. He has also negotiated several extensions to my contract including a pay rise on my latest renewal.
Will, Marysia, Lewis and the whole team have also been very helpful when dealing with any queries I have had and they always go out of their way to ensure that I am paid on time. I would recommend ESP to contractors as they go the extra mile to make sure everything is in place, before and during the time you work for them.
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Mark, IT Contractor
Nick has been amazing and has supported me while I was looking for my next career move. He was always available if I had any questions or queries and went above and beyond when I was going through the hiring process for my new role. Nothing was ever too much trouble and I would not be in the role I am in today without his persistence and expertise.
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Luke, Candidate
I just wanted to drop you an email to comment on the excellent service I have received from Steve. From the very beginning of the recruitment process, Steve has been professional, helpful and very responsive in communications. I’ve been especially impressed by the updates I have been sent about the progress of the application without me having to chase. It’s a pleasure nowadays to find this sort of service. I have been very happy to deal with ESP.
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Job Candidate
Steve Simms has been fantastic through the whole process, he has made what can be a stressful process into something easy and relaxed. Steve took all my questions and concerns and provided me with honest and quick answers. He was always contactable and made me feel comfortable throughout. I thank Steve and ESP for landing me my dream job.
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Candidate
ESP is my first port of call for any new positions I need to fill or for new positions for myself.
Lee Dowling, IT Manager
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I would personally recommend Nick and ESP to any employer or job seeker in the education sector.
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Will has done me proud whenever I’ve needed him over the years and I have recommended ESP to many friends and colleagues, whether they were hiring or looking to be hired. He clearly puts effort into matching people and roles, rather than just shoe-horning unsuitable people in.
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ESP’s thorough and professional approach to recruitment is a refreshing change compared with other agencies that send unqualified candidates who do not meet requirements. The standard and consistency of candidates is always good and so is the level of communication and understanding of our requirements, which is most welcome.
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Throughout the four years I have worked with ESP, they have provided me with interesting and challenging IT contracts in schools. They are the best.
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