Extending a Snr Tech role

[donkeymusic]

Afternoon,

 

I'm just looking for some guidance, I have just had a meeting with our Headteacher regarding my current role as a Snr Tech to see how I can develop my role. We already have a Network Manager in place so I feel anything I suggest will be already being done, and dont want to step on anyones toes.

 

The reason for my post is im wondering if any of you that are currently in a tech role, do you do anything around the school that doesnt fall into the scope of a tech role? I need to come up with some suggestions that can potential help me move up a scale.

 

Any advice/guidance is much appreciated.

 

Thank you

[dmj]

SRE/devops style automation for systems almost never falls into a school tech role - it should do but from my experience on this forum nobody seems to actually do it ( or all left schools for 60k+ jobs)

Here's a checklist you can work to: https://github.com/bregman-arie/sre-checklist

[Ditto]

I'm assuming you want to stay with the school? Is there a succession plan angle to this. How about Assistant Network where you build up to the same skillset, offering cover for the times when the NM is not available, busy with other products or even just for the 'under a bus' scenario. I'd also discuss with the NM how you can balance your career development with the needs of the school - do you report to the head or NM. If the former, I presume you are at least dotted line to NM?

[themightymrp]

At my last job, I added support for the Reprographics and AV department into the mix which helped me get a bit of a boost. In my current job I've ended up doing a lot more data work on top of the usual NM role (so making analysis dashboards from MIS data) and also taken a bigger lead on GDPR related things. It's helped me raise the salary

[Ex-MGSTech]

I created an Assistant NM job to give my senior tech some progression, went with the suggestion above and SLT were happy to look at offering some form of progression and pay towards staff retention.

 

So it can be done....pay's still not fantastic but its at least something to aspire into

[gaz350b]

I would try and add some cyber security focus to the role.

[Ditto]

I would try and add some cyber security focus to the role.

That's a great shout! With a bit of effort, you could pull together a report of school attacks and the stories behind, the damage it has caused. Anything that reduces the schools chances of getting hit, has the potential to save the school a lot if financial (and reputational) pain. Can be a tricky sell sometimes, but maybe you could push the school towards Cyber Security Essential Plus. I think DfE promote CSE moves so that'll strengthen the case for doing so.

[donkeymusic]

Good Morning,

 

Thank you for the responses.

 

So the scenario is, I have been at the school for 19 years, pretty much as a Snr Tech working alongside a Network Manager for 16 of these years. He left this summer and the school appointed an external candidate.

 

I have no desire to leave the school anytime soon due to its location, my history at th school and also my son has just started in Year 7.

 

Just to reference a few of the replies.

 

I dont need to train up to match the NM as i am training him and at times doing his job.

 

We already cover Av and Repro as a department with me taking the lead on Repro support.

We are already working on Cyber Essentials and GDPR is covered as well.

 

As a school we are well covered, so its possible for me to try and find soemthing outside of ICT that i can approach the head with.

 

Thanks

[Net_Man]

Could running a club or some sort of data management for student grades be an option. I have just taken on an additional role aimed at helping pupil premium, EAL etc improve their ICT skills and found it very rewarding.

[psydii]

some things that spring to mind: Clubs, lunchtime duties, being back up for the duty member of staff, working parties, chairing working parties, outreach to other schools, training staff on behalf of other teams (e.g. finance systems, hr processes etc), running procurements, first aid, fire marshalls, and whisper it quietly *teaching*.

[Oaktech]

My Snr Tech role was expanded to cover all AV and Theatre tech. It already included some DevOps and Cyber Security.

[PotNoodleTech]

Do you have another technician below you?

 

I would be expecting a senior tech to be doing some basic line management of the tech, and gettting much more involved in the network, servers, infrastructure, cyber security, some future planning and strategy with the network manager, etc

 

May also be worth seing if the manager wants you to start to specialise in something - servers, or networks as specialisation is a good way forward into the wider world, not many companies apart from schools actually want a jack of all trades sadly. (some do, not many).