Senior Telecom & Network Assistant (6 Months Contract)

SUMMARY:
The objective of this Terms of Reference (TOR) is to engage a highly skilled network engineer to support the Bank’s network and unified communications team in executing targeted tasks aimed at enhancing network access, connectivity, switching, routing, Quality of Service (QoS), resilience, and security in the Bank’s regional office in South Africa.

POSITION INFO:

SCOPE OF THE SERVICES

Under the administrative authority of the IT Infrastructure and Operations Division Manager (TCIS.3), and under the direct supervision of the Regional IT Coordinator Technology and Corporate Services in South Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office (RDGS), the incumbent’s specific tasks will be as follows:

• The Senior Network Assistant is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle design, implementation, optimization, and maintenance—of the organization’s campus and data centre network infrastructure (LANs and WANs Technologies). This role ensures high availability, scalability, and security across wired and wireless systems while providing foundational oversight for security technologies.
• Plan, design, implement and provide ongoing support of campus and data center network systems of high complexity.
• Work with the Information Security Office to ensure solutions deployed meet the Bank’s Security Requirements and provide technical assistance for investigation and analysis of security alerts.
• Implement and manage firewalls (NGFW), VPNs, and Access Control Lists (ACLs).
• Develop processes and procedures for use by the Network team and third parties in the management of the bank’s network environments.
• Deploy and configure high-performance switching, routing, and wireless solutions (WLAN controllers, APs), SD-WAN solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with global and local service providers; third parties on network and connectivity support issues.
• Provide high levels of hands-on experience with the configuration, optimization and maintenance of MPLS, and L2 VPN VRF, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, Multicasting, DMVPN and QOS.
• Oversee the operation of VSAT terminals, ensuring satellite link alignment, bandwidth management, and failover integration for redundant internet/WAN connectivity.
• Monitoring & Optimization: Proactively monitor network health using SNMP/Syslog tools; perform root-cause analysis for complex outages.
• Interpret existing configurations and understand how the systems hardware fits into the overall AfDB network design and client solution.
• Provide detailed knowledge transfer to customers on solution sets and work with the Bank’s system engineers to implement leading edge server and storage environments.
• Integrate existing systems with new systems to create redundant, scalable, resilient environments.
• Provide network-level support for Building Management Systems (BMS), CCTV (IP-based), and Electronic Access Control (EAC) to ensure they are segmented and reachable.
• Utilize strong interface skills to work closely with the Bank staff and third partners to create an atmosphere of teamwork.
• Perform technical hands-on integration of various products
• Troubleshoot and monitor network performance and resolve performance and connectivity issues
• Sign and implement new network topologies as required, incorporating best practices around collaborations, datacenter, LAN/WAN, mobility, and disaster recovery.
• Facilitate the preparation of technical documentation related to the executed operational activities to be kept in the knowledge database.

Soft Skills

• Problem-Solving: Ability to remain calm and methodical during critical network failures.
• Collaboration: Ability to work with different teams within TCIS department, facilities teams (for BMS/CCTV) and external vendors (for Internet, VSAT and other solutions).
• Documentation: Diligent in maintaining network diagrams (Visio), IP address schemes, and change logs.

PROFILE OF THE SENIOR TELECOM AND NETWORK ASSISTANT

• At least a Master/Engineer degree in Computer Science or Information Systems or Electronics/Electrical Engineering or an equivalent diploma with strong knowledge of IT Networks and Telecoms and Network Security.
• Minimum 5 years of professional IT Networks and Telecoms or related experience, gained within a similar position.
• Familiar with the LAN/WAN System software that controls activities such as input, output, dynamic resource allocation and error reporting within the operation of computer network configuration
• Wired and wireless LAN and WAN Network Administration and implementation certifications
• Proficient with networking and Communication technologies including the planning and management of the interaction between many networking systems, and intelligent network implementation such as SD-LAN, SD-WAN
• Knowledge at the associate to intermediate level of TCP/IP networks, WAN protocols, wiring and cabling, and network management solutions.
• Experience with Network Traffic Monitoring and Diagnostic Tools.
• Experience and/or knowledge with QoS implementations, VoIP, VSAT, WAN switching and routing, load-balancing and application-delivery solutions.
• Aware of ITIL concepts and general framework.
• Strong computer skills and ability to use standard technology packages and Bank’s standard software (word, excel, outlook, Power Point, MS Projects, SAP etc…); and
• Ability to communicate (verbal and written) effectively in English or French, with working knowledge of the other.
• The eligibility criteria, the establishment of a short list and the selection procedure shall be in conformity with the Bank’s Rules and Procedure for the Use of Short-Term Staff.