About the position
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
IT Leadership and Support Management
- Lead, supervise and manage the internal IT team.
- Allocate tasks, support requests and projects to IT team members.
- Monitor support quality, response times and resolution times.
- Set priorities, service standards and performance expectations.
- Provide technical guidance, training and support to the IT team.
- Manage escalations and critical IT incidents.
- Ensure that user support requests are properly logged, prioritised and resolved.
- Manage third-party IT service providers and suppliers.
- Ensure that IT services are delivered within agreed costs and service levels.
Server and Infrastructure Management
- Manage all physical, virtual and cloud-hosted servers.
- Monitor server availability, performance, storage, memory and processing capacity.
- Ensure operating systems, applications and firmware are updated and supported.
- Manage Active Directory, administrator access and system permissions.
- Maintain accurate server registers and configuration documentation.
- Plan and manage server upgrades, replacements and migrations.
- Investigate and resolve server failures and performance issues.
- Ensure that critical infrastructure is properly protected and monitored.
Network and Connectivity Management
- Manage the Group's local, wide-area, wireless and internet networks.
- Manage routers, switches, wireless access points and related equipment.
- Monitor network performance, security, capacity and availability.
- Maintain current network diagrams and configuration records.
- Manage IP addressing, VLANs, routing and network segmentation.
- Investigate connectivity failures, outages and performance problems.
- Manage internet and telecommunications service providers.
- Plan network expansion for new users, offices and business requirements.
- Ensure appropriate connectivity redundancy where operationally required.
Firewall, Cybersecurity and Endpoint Protection
- Ensure that all firewalls are correctly configured, updated, licensed and supported.
- Regularly review firewall rules, remote-access permissions and security policies.
- Monitor security alerts, logs and suspicious activity.
- Manage antivirus, endpoint protection and threat-detection platforms.
- Ensure that all servers and end-user devices are protected and compliant.
- Implement and manage multi-factor authentication where required.
- Manage email security, spam filtering and phishing protection.
- Investigate malware, ransomware, unauthorised access and other security incidents.
- Coordinate cybersecurity incident response and corrective action.
- Ensure security risks and incidents are promptly reported to management.
- Conduct or arrange cybersecurity awareness training for employees.
VPN and Remote Access
- Manage VPN services, remote-access systems and user permissions.
- Ensure that remote access is secure and limited according to business need.
- Regularly review active, inactive and external-support accounts.
- Remove access promptly when employees leave or change roles.
- Monitor VPN availability, performance and security.
- Ensure external service-provider access is controlled and time limited.
Cloud Storage and Business Systems
- Manage approved cloud-storage, collaboration and cloud application platforms.
- Manage user accounts, access permissions, licences and storage capacity.
- Control internal and external file-sharing permissions.
- Ensure confidential information is stored on approved platforms.
- Review inactive accounts, unnecessary licences and unused subscriptions.
- Monitor the availability and security of cloud services.
- Support the implementation and operation of internal business applications.
Backups and Disaster Recovery
- Maintain a documented backup policy and backup schedule.
- Ensure all critical systems, servers, databases and company information are backed up.
- Monitor failed, missed or incomplete backups.
- Ensure backups are encrypted and protected against unauthorised access, ransomware and accidental deletion.
- Maintain appropriate off-site, offline or cloud backup copies.
- Conduct and document regular data-restoration tests.
- Maintain a practical disaster-recovery and business-continuity plan.
- Report any backup or recovery risk to management immediately.
- Coordinate disaster-recovery testing.
Capacity Planning and Technology Planning
- Monitor server, storage, network, internet and cloud capacity.
- Forecast future infrastructure, equipment, licence and connectivity requirements.
- Identify capacity constraints before they affect business operations.
- Prepare annual IT infrastructure, capacity and replacement plans.
- Plan for business growth, additional users, new offices and new systems.
- Prepare IT budgets and motivate proposed technology investments.
- Identify opportunities to improve performance, reliability and cost efficiency.
IT Asset and License Management
- Maintain a complete and accurate IT asset register.
- Record serial numbers, users, locations, warranties and equipment status.
- Ensure all equipment is labelled and assigned to responsible users.
- Manage the issuing, transfer, return, repair and disposal of IT equipment.
- Conduct regular physical asset checks.
- Investigate missing, damaged or unaccounted-for equipment.
- Manage warranties, support agreements and equipment replacement dates.
- Ensure devices are securely wiped before disposal or reassignment.
- Maintain an accurate software licence and subscription register.
- Prevent the use of unauthorised or unlicensed software.
End-User Devices and Access Management
- Establish and enforce standard configurations for computers and mobile devices.
- Ensure all devices are patched, encrypted, protected and properly maintained.
- Manage user accounts, email accounts and access permissions.
- Ensure effective IT onboarding and offboarding of employees.
- Remove access promptly when employees leave the Group.
- Restrict unnecessary administrator rights and unauthorised software.
- Monitor device performance and replacement requirements.
- Ensure communication, meeting-room and collaboration systems remain operational.
Governance, Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate IT policies, procedures, diagrams, registers and configuration records.
- Maintain an IT risk register and identify single points of failure.
- Support compliance with POPIA and other applicable information-security requirements.
- Participate in internal and external audits.
- Ensure audit findings and identified vulnerabilities are addressed.
- Manage IT suppliers, contracts, renewals, subscriptions and expenditure.
- Provide monthly management reports covering system availability, support performance, backups, security, capacity, assets, projects, risks and costs.
- Immediately report critical system failures, security incidents or material risks.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Matric (Grade 12) - essential
- Relevant diploma or degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field
- Minimum of five years' relevant IT infrastructure and support experience
- At least two years' experience managing or supervising an IT team
- Practical experience managing a multi-site or multi-company IT environment
- Strong experience in server, network, firewall, cybersecurity, backup and endpoint management
- Valid South African driver's licence
- Willingness to travel between Group offices and operational sites
- Availability to assist with planned after-hours work and critical IT incidents
Relevant Microsoft, networking, cybersecurity, firewall, cloud, virtualisation or IT service-management certifications will be advantageous.
Desired Skills:
About The Employer:
A well established company is seeking an experienced and hands-on IT Manager to take responsibility for the Group's internal information technology environment and manage the internal IT team.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that all IT infrastructure, systems and devices across the Group are secure, reliable, properly maintained, adequately supported and aligned with the operational requirements of the business. This role requires a technically capable manager who can lead an IT team while remaining actively involved in infrastructure management, cybersecurity, IT support, asset management, capacity planning and problem resolution.
