Africa IT Coordinator at Wildlife Conservation Society

Reports to: Executive Director of Global Information Technology in the US with a business reporting to Regional Director Sudano Sahel region

Country Program/Sector: GCP- Africa Programs

Start date: October 2020

Application deadline: 11 September 2020

Internal liaison: WCS Eastern Africa, Madagascar & Western Indian Ocean Regional Director and Central Africa Regional Director

Expected travel: Approximately 30%. As required within the region and US

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Position Description

• The “IT Coordinator, Africa” is responsible for developing and providing core IT services for WCS country programs (including offices and protected area field sites) in Africa and supporting the scaling of technology services across these programs.
• This person ensures that core IT services are effectively delivered across the three regional programs in Africa and that WCS IT policies and procedures are strictly followed.
• This person collaborates with local IT staff and consultants in each country program, in coordination with protected area landscape, country and regional leadership.
• This person is responsible for providing support for end user equipment and software, network and communications infrastructure, and Corporate systems.
• This person ensures that users and their technology are operated and supported in a manner the meets the needs of WCS. Additionally, this person provides support for information security protection, risk reduction, and compliance of WCS computing systems and users.

Position Responsibilities

• Provides broad technical support on IT issues including support for workstations, servers and network services.
• Builds and maintains inventory of IT hardware and software inventory of end user computing systems.
• Responds to escalation requests for technical support from country program technical staff and/or consultants and is the primary IT liaison between the regions and Global IT.
• Evaluates, plans and responds to Africa-wide protected area connectivity and local network needs in consultation with Africa Regional Directors.
• Maintains configurations and documentation of field communications infrastructure including UHF/VHF systems
• Installs, maintains and troubleshoots all approved end user computer hardware and software, primarily Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh based systems.
• Responds to user software problem calls onsite or remotely over the phone, email or other messaging methods.
• Trains users in startup and basic use of desktop software programs
• Develops an awareness of the methods used and the tools required to protect computing devices from security threats and help monitor the WCS computing environment for incidents, which put its systems at risk.
• Understands WCS technology computing policies and assists with their implementation and compliance.
• Documents, tracks and monitors problems reported by users using internal ticketing system to ensure resolution and monitor for trends that can reduce future support issues.
• Ensures that computing devices are refreshed on a regular interval based per WCS workstation lifecycle goals.
• Contacts vendors to obtain specifications, pricing, and other purchase-related information needed to guide programs and offices in their selection of computing solutions.
• Interacts with Internet service providers (ISP’s) and assists in acquiring internet services.
• Installs, maintains and troubleshoots VSAT (Satellite based Internet) infrastructure in several locations.
• Performs network modeling, analysis, and planning for new infrastructure deployments and upgrades.
• Provides network designs and innovative technical solutions based on both network modeling/analysis and documented research, in the context of evolving business and technical requirements.
• Identifies areas for improvements to network and communications infrastructure and its operations.
• Manages, responds to and mitigates threats to the security and stability of WCS LAN, WAN, and WLAN.
• Provides technical expertise to WCS staff to facilitate network access to various programs or applications.
• Maintains configurations and documentation of LAN, WAN, and WLAN infrastructure.
• Monitors internal and external bandwidth usage and overall network health.
• Deploys and manages WCS systems and applications hosted both on-premise and remotely which comprise the WCS systems infrastructure including programmatic website support for digital maps and dashboards.
• Manages the operating systems, applications, file systems and databases of enterprise servers and appliances.
• Manages the hardware components of the computing environment including servers, storage, and supporting components.
• Supports the implementation and maintenance of IoT (Internet of Things/Sensor) and UHF/VHF technology.
• Supports programs with the implementation and maintenance of conservation technology software.
• Identifies, evaluates, and installs new software releases, and system upgrades and patches.
• Participates in regular preventative maintenance and resolve any related problems.
• Provide back-up support to other IT Department personnel globally, as needed.
• Integrate with the Helpdesk, Network, Conservation Technology and other IT staff in resolving problems
• Work with vendors and other third parties in fulfillment of objectives.
• Liaise with other business units within WCS.
• Perform other IT duties as needed.

Qualification Requirements

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in technology with 2 of these servicing regional countries
• Working effectively both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is essential.
• Field experience supporting telecommunications (e.g. satellite) in remote areas in Africa.
• Strong spoken and written English language required, French language skills also a major benefit.

Work Conditions

• Some physical labor may be required at times to handle computing and other equipment.
• Significant international travel will be required, including regular visits to remote field sites across Africa