IT Operations & Infrastructure Manager at Baobabplus

Responsibilities
Infrastructure Management & Network Operations:

• Perform capacity planning for IT infrastructure needs across branches, ensuring budget alignment with the Country Head, IT.
• Guarantee network security, collaborating with the Security Committee & Chief Security Officer to oversee CCTV deployment across branches.
• Manage firewall installation and establish company-wide internet access policies.
• Ensure network design and implementation follow company standards for existing and new branches.
• Maintain up-to-date network topology documentation for all IT solutions.
• Manage cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and deploy fault-tolerant architectures.
• Oversee firewall, hardware, and network equipment configurations with Group IT and local IT team.
• Monitor cloud resources for performance and cost optimisation. Deploy monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., AWS CloudWatch, Detectify) to track infrastructure performance
• Deploy and manage network monitoring tools to ensure high uptime and proactive issue detection.
• Implement a daily / monthly backup policy to prevent data loss.
• Build & monitor the CI / CD pipeline in the cloud environment with appropriate security controls.
• Develop and enforce the company's IT contingency policy to ensure business continuity.

Ensure Windows devices are updated, managed, and monitored:

• No Windows updates older than 10 days.
• No antivirus updates older than 3 days.
• 100% of PCs under management with valid licenses.
• Ensure mobile devices are managed via Mobile Device Management (MDM).

Regional IT Support & Troubleshooting:

• Provide 2nd-level support for all IT operations across all regional branches.
• Oversee Regional IT Support Officers, ensuring issue resolution within 48 hours.
• Ensure all IT tickets are attended to within 4 business hours.
• Ensure deployment and functionality of network monitoring tools to diagnose and troubleshoot wireless, security, and switching issues.
• Support LAN, VLAN, WLAN, VPN, DHCP, Radius Server, and AWS networking across the company.
• Ensure the branch infrastructure maintenance program is carried out without fail.

Applications & Identity Management:

• Develop and enforce an Identity Management Process, ensuring accurate User Account Management within 48 hours.
• Oversee shared folder access management and enforce security best practices.

Project Management & IT Procurement:

• Lead IT infrastructure projects, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget.
• Manage IT procurement processes, analysing hardware and network needs while optimising purchase costs.

Reporting Responsibilities:

• Submit reports on user accounts created, suspended, or deleted for all services before the 5th of each month.
• Send IT maintenance reports to business and IT management within 48 hours after execution.

Provide a monthly IT asset management report, detailing:

• New purchases, depreciation, retired, and faulty assets.
• Recommendations for asset management and upgrades.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in leading a team across multiple locations and readiness to get the hands dirty.
• 8+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, system & network administration, and cloud management.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • LAN, WAN, VLAN, VPN, Firewall Security, Wireless Networks, and Cloud Infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Networking protocols: TCP/IP, Layer 2 & 3 network management.
  • Identity & Access Management (IAM) solutions.
• Experience in managing cloud resources and security compliance.
• Proficiency in automation and infrastructure as code (IaC) using tools like Terraform, Ansible.
• Strong knowledge of SAGE Applications and Core Banking Systems (e.g., T24).
• Familiarity with IT Standards such as PCI-DSS, ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 is an added advantage.
• Familiarity with Change Management System
• Strong staff and user management skills.

Certifications Preferred:

• Microsoft MCSE (desired)
• Cisco CCNA or CMNA (required)
• AWS, Azure, or GCP certifications (preferred)
• UEWA/CWNA knowledge or certification (preferred).