Lead, Network Operations and Support at Old Mutual Kenya

Job Description

Reporting to the Head of Technology Infrastructure, the candidate will be responsible for LAN and WAN Management, Capacity planning and maintenance, Securing Network Operations, Set up and operation of adequate Network Monitoring and Reporting Capabilities. The candidate will also support the IP Telephony and Contact Center environment as well as perimeter, data center network security deployments.

Infrastructure Management

• Responsibility for the support and management of the entire Oldmutual network
• Responsible for management and execution of all LAN, WAN, Wireless LAN, IP Telephony, Contact Center, Firewall and network security operations.
• Responsible for efficient operations of the entire network across all the mediums supporting the business.
• Routine maintenance operations and patching to ensure the health of the network is maintained and improved.
• Ensuring appropriate support agreements for external support are in place and effectively enforced.
• Ensure network operations are compliant to external and internal compliance regulations.
• Responsible for achieving SLA for as per business agreed timelines.
• Responsive or ensuring that all network resources on premise and on the cloud are available to the business.
• Ensure the firewalls and security deployments are operating efficiently and support any changes and upgrades required.
• Support regional teams in handling escalations and project initiatives.

Capacity planning and maintenance

• Responsibility for network capacity management tasks such as managing and installing bandwidth upgrades.
• Reporting and planning for capacity upgrade/downgrade changes and executing in manner that is cost efficient to the business.
• Set up of the required capacities for the networks to serve new and existing business projects.

Secure Network Operations

• Joint secure design, set up and support of all Primary and secondary MPLS Networks and connectivity installations.
• Review of the internal and perimeter network security working closely with Security Function, achieve acceptable network security.
• Achieve secure intra network data flow within the business systems and external partners.
• Be part of maintaining an up to date and compliant data center security solution.
• Vulnerability management support to ensure devices and appliances deployed are compliant with internal policies.

Set up and operation of adequate Network Monitoring and Reporting Capabilities

• Set up automated network monitoring and diagnostic technology.
• Produce adhoc, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly performance reports for the entire network and servers from the monitoring tools in place.
• Ensure both the internal and external SLAs are met for network services contracted to the business.

Incident, Problem and Change Management

• Adhere to access and change window for all approved infrastructure changes.
• Responsible for the set-up and execution of emergency response plan for all network outage incidents.
• Ensure all incidents, problems and changes logged and documented, evidenced, and closed within the stipulated SLA.

Vendor Management

• Managing vendors to derive quality as stipulated in contracts.
• Negotiate costs for services being rendered.
• Oversee Quarterly review meetings with infrastructure vendors.

Skills and Competencies

• Technical Knowledge
• Ownership
• Gaining Commitment/ Influencing
• Decision Making
• Business Awareness
• Building Relationships
• Aligning Performance for Success

Academic Requirements and Professional Affiliations

• Graduate in information systems or related discipline
• CCNA (Routing and Switching) certification.  CCNA/CCNP (R&S, Wireless, Voice) certification or higher will be an added advantage.
• Certification in Firewall technologies and solutions.
• Certification in cloud technologies will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years’ experience in networks and data center support including, but not limited to, LAN, WAN, Wireless, Firewalls, Network Access Control, VPNs, Contact Center Systems, Contact Center 3rd party applications (Call Accounting, Call Recording, Analytics, Reporting, Campaign management) and IP telephony infrastructure in a large, distributed environment.
• Specific experience and understanding of the Medical/ Banking/ Life/ General Insurance or Asset Management business. Specific experience in supporting an Insurance and Banking network and data center is a distinct advantage.
• Deep understanding of Network Architecture Models including virtual and cloud networking training and experience.
• Proven track record of support and management of virtualized server environments.
• Excellent and proven team worker.
• Good communication skills
• Analytical skills and out of the box thinking.
• Knowledge of emerging industry practices
• Proactive in seeking solutions to problems and identifying opportunities.
• Wide understanding of the insurance and/or financial services business processes
• Self-driven individual with the discipline to deliver within agreed guidelines.
• Effective team management skills
• Deep understanding of TCP/IP Architecture