Networks & Security Team Lead at Sportpesa

As the Networks & Security Team Lead at Sportpesa, you will lead a dynamic team of Network & Security Administrators, ensuring the reliability, security, and scalability of our network infrastructure. Your primary focus will be to maintain high availability, oversee network-related projects, and act as the primary escalation point for all network-related incidents. This role demands a strong blend of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management:

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 3-5 Network & Security Administrators, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
Drive the professional growth of the team by identifying training needs and ensuring they are equipped to handle evolving network technologies.

Network Operations & Maintenance:

Schedule and oversee preventive maintenance activities for the entire network infrastructure to ensure optimal performance.
Guarantee 99.99% network uptime through proactive monitoring, timely issue resolution, and effective resource management.

Incident Management & Escalation:

Act as the primary Level 1 escalation point for all network-related incidents, ensuring swift and effective resolution.
Serve as the Resolution Manager during critical network incidents, coordinating cross-functional teams to restore services efficiently.

Network Configuration & Documentation:

Ensure all network configurations are standardized, backed up, and documented accurately.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory of all network equipment and spares, ensuring readiness for immediate deployment.

Strategic Planning & Budgeting:

Develop and manage both Capex and Opex budgets for network infrastructure, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Collaborate with Service Providers to ensure adherence to SLAs, striving for 100% compliance.

Research & Innovation:

Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends to recommend and implement innovative solutions that enhance network performance and security.
Lead research initiatives to explore new tools, technologies, and processes that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the network infrastructure.

Collaboration & Project Management:

Work closely with the ITSM/Service Delivery Manager to align network projects with overall IT & Service strategies.
Lead network-related projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (Mandatory).

Certifications:

CCNP (Mandatory); CCIE (R&S, SP, Data Centre, or Security) is highly desirable.
Check Point Security (CCSE/CCSM) Certification (Mandatory).
Fortinet & Cisco Firewall Certifications are an added advantage.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience managing and/or installing complex multi-vendor networks (Mandatory).
Telco/Service Provider experience is a plus.
Extensive experience with BGP & OSPF routing protocols, Cisco Nexus switches, Juniper QFX, high-performance routers (e.g., Cisco ASR1k), firewall hardening (Cisco ASA, Juniper SRX), Network Access Control, and Traffic Engineering.

Skills & Competencies:

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
Proven leadership and people management abilities.
Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver projects and IT services.
Flexibility to work outside regular hours as needed.