IT Officer, Innovations & Tech Lab at Ol Pejeta Conservancy (OPC)

Role summary

Reporting to the Senior Officer, Innovation & Tech lab, the successful candidate will play a vital role in supporting the rapid field-based experimentation, implementation, and iterative improvement of existing and emerging technologies aimed at enhancing Ol Pejeta's capacity for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. This position will also involve providing support, assisting in project management, stakeholder liaison, team coordination, and technical assistance to ensure the efficient operation of conservation technology initiatives.

This roles main responsibilities include: -
Project Assistance:

•  Support the Senior Officer in defining project plans, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with key stakeholders.
•  Ensure adherence to Technology Opex and Capex plans, SLAs, ICT service management plans, SOPs, and ICT asset management plans
•  Assist in coordinating communications and meetings with diverse conservation and technology stakeholders.
•  Assist in organizing and maintaining project documentation, including project plans, goals, and deliverables.
•  Assist in coordinating and scheduling meetings, trainings, and workshops for the Conservation Technology Lab team.
•  Collaborate with team members to ensure efficient workflow and communication within the lab.

Technology Support

•  Implement and adhere to the Technology Lab plan
•  Conduct research on technological innovations relevant to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.
•  Test and evaluate new technologies for their potential application in conservation initiatives.
•  Collaborate with the Senior Officer and team members to deploy innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation technology initiatives.
•  Assist in setting up and configuring hardware and software for conservation projects.
•  Provide basic technical support for hardware such as laptops, CCTV cameras, sensors, GPS trackers, desktop computers, printers, and access points etc.
•  Help in testing and deploying hardware and software solutions, and monitoring their performance.
•  Aid in managing simultaneous testing and implementation of technology deployments
•  Assist in collecting, storing, and organizing data generated through technology deployments.
•  Help in preparing data reports and presentations for various audiences, including researchers, stakeholders, and management.
•  Support the Senior Officer in representing the Conservation Technology Lab at industry events and engaging with technology and conservation communities.
•  Foster a positive and collaborative lab environment conducive to innovation and teamwork.
•  Maintain confidentiality of information and adhere to professional conduct standards at all times.

User Training and Documentation:

•  Provide training and assistance to users on ICT tools, systems, and best practices.
•  Develop and maintain user documentation, knowledge base articles, and troubleshooting guides for all systems.

Education, qualifications, essential skills, knowledge, and experience

•  Minimum 3 years’ experience of progressive enterprise IT operations with emphasis in project implementation, systems and network administration in a corporate organization;
•  Proficiency in server-side scripting languages such as PHP, C/C++, & PYTHON and technologies such as JSON & YAML
•  Experience in API development and integrating into IOT platforms
•  Good understanding of IoT, IoT edge computing, and device engineering
•  Working knowledge of structured databases such as MYSQL, MSSQL, POSTGRESQL
•  Proven experience in technology management, with a focus on implementing and managing technology systems and solutions
•  Strong knowledge of hardware, software, and network troubleshooting techniques.
•  Strong understanding of data management and analysis techniques, including data collection, storage, and presentation
•  Experience with stakeholder engagement and collaboration, particularly with diverse conservation and technology stakeholders.
•  Familiarity with industry events, technology hubs, and conservation networks to facilitate engagement and knowledge exchange
•  Ability to thrive in a high paced, fast turnaround business
•  Adaptable – ability to respond quickly to a shifting reality and adjust initiatives and priorities accordingly
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with users at all levels of technical proficiency