Manager, IT at Digital Divide Data (DDD Kenya)

Purpose of the role

• This position's main jobs are to maintain information technology strategies by managing staff; researching and implementing technological strategic solutions. The Manager of IT will play a key role in advising and assisting the management team.

Job Description
Deliver on-time and uninterrupted IT performance:

• Has full responsibility of IT operations on daily and regular basis.
• Direct and lead IT function to successfully deliver smooth uptime IT performance to support DDD business up and running.
• Optimize DDD existing IT best practices and drive IT process improvements
• Take ownership and leadership around IT infrastructure and security, business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Provide regular and on-time accurate IT performance dashboard to senior management.

Provide people and technical thought leadership to IT staff:

• Plan, Monitor, manage and lead IT department including hiring, budgeting, cost controlling, on the job training, coaching, motivating and managing people’s performance.
• Create environment in IT department where people are engaged and open.

Lead by example

• Provide leadership and maintain company culture and values, ethical and legal practices and service levels.

Collaborate and Partner with other functions:

• Work with Production Manager, ensure that IT supports the production work in tasks as needed, including maintenance and support of all equipment.
• Work closely with Project Managers in planning IT capacity including network, servers, and storage spaces.
• Work with HR Department in designing training curriculum for improving employees and volunteers with IT skills.
• Regularly check the quality of computer, software, hardware, network and other office equipment and manage the replacement and upgrade strategy.
• Manage the organization’s help desk
• Work closely with Finance Department in updating PPE and tracking IT licenses.
• Support marketing in handling donated IT equipment and software.
• Control major facility components such as generators and fire suppression equipment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in some form of Computer Engineering discipline
• Extensive knowledge of IT systems  required, CCNA is a plus
• Minimum 7 years experience leading IT department
• Management skills in delegation, follow-up, monitoring, and evaluation of the IT department
• Very good interpersonal skills
• Good written and spoken English
• Able to work under pressure
• Be a ‘change agent’ in using technology, tools, and processes to increase competitive advantages.
• Should have a strong understanding of IT infrastructure,      Configurations, and VPN. load balancing
• Should be well versed with cloud infrastructure, AWS, ISP- P2P, Internet leased lines, Configuring and optimizing systems Knowledge of Storage, UPS Monitoring tools, Configuration of firewalls, Wi-Fi, operating systems & version tools, Server configuration and upgradation and management. Implementing Security Policies, Managing local LAN / WAN infra. Strong exposure of switches/routers. Understanding for implementing effecting load balancing, understanding of VM and remote monitoring.
• Should be well versed with the certification of ISO 270001, SOC 2, and VAPT.

Preferable Attributes:

• 1+ years in IT managerial role in IT Company or any form of Business Processing Outsourcing environment.
• Experience or has any in interest in machine learning and AI services including training data services, computer vision, and AWS Cloud is an advantage.
• Knowledge on solution development through software and/or automation is a plus.
• Be passionate in social business