VM & Networks Specialist Job Vacancy at NBC

NBC is the oldest serving bank in Tanzania with over five decades of experience. We offer a range of retail, business, corporate and investment banking, wealth management products and services.

Job Summary

The role is responsible for the design, implementation, management, and optimization of the bank’s virtualization and network infrastructure. This role combines technical expertise in VMWare environments with in-depth knowledge of networking technologies to ensure high availability, security, and performance. The Specialist will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative and reliable solutions that align with the bank’s strategic goals, this includes;

1. Virtualization Management:
– Deploy, configure, and manage virtual machines using platforms like VMware, Hyper-V, or KVM.
– Monitor virtual infrastructure performance and resource utilization.
– Implement virtualization best practices for efficiency and reliability.
2. Linux System Administration:
– Install, configure, and maintain Linux servers (e.g., CentOS, Ubuntu, Red Hat).
– Manage user accounts, permissions, and file systems.
– Perform system updates, patches, and security enhancements.
– Troubleshoot system and network issues, including performance tuning and optimization.
3. Backup and Disaster Recovery:
– Develop and maintain backup and disaster recovery strategies for virtualized and Linux-based environments.
– Conduct regular backups and test recovery procedures to ensure data integrity and business continuity.
4. Security Management:
– Implement security measures to protect virtualized and Linux systems from cyber threats.
– Configure firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and access controls.
– Conduct security audits and compliance assessments to ensure regulatory requirements are met.
5. Collaboration and Documentation:
– Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support application deployments and infrastructure projects.
– Document system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting steps for knowledge sharing and training purposes.
6. Coaching and Knowledge Sharing:
– Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members on virtualization, Linux, and related technologies.
– Conduct training sessions and workshops to share best practices, technical knowledge, and skills development.
– Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth within the team.
7. Capacity Management:
– Develop and implement capacity management strategies for virtualized environments, including CPU, memory, storage, and network resources.
– Forecast future capacity requirements based on historical data, growth trends, and business needs.
8. To manage and oversee the implementation, maintenance, and daily operations of the virtual environment from physical hosts, SAN switches, Network Switches and Storage Devices for both Production & DR site. Focusing on stable day to day operations, documentation and optimizing resources of the VM infrastructure and it components.
9. Decrease IT infrastructure costs by virtualized physical server, optimizing and consolidating services through physical to virtual process.Job Description​

Operational Activities:

• Assesses malfunctions  of  hardware  and/or  software  applications  for  the  purpose  of  determining appropriate actions to maintain computer, network, and database operations.
• Creates, tests, and executes data management languages.
• Analyzes and sustains capacity and performance requirements.
• Monitors systems and platforms for availability.
• Oversees backup, clustering, mirroring, replication and failover.
• Implements and maintains infrastructure functions on windows and other hardware components example storage media, virtual environments and file servers.
• Develops, manages and tests restored data from backup systems.
• Develop a road map for capacity planning for infrastructure requirements and oversee the end to end sourcing process.
• Prepares written  materials  for  the  purpose  of  documenting  activities,  providing  written  reference, and/or conveying information.
• Prepares and distributes reports, including but not limited to weekly and monthly status reports to the IT Operations Director.
• Attends seminars, conferences, in-service training and staff meetings as required
• Manage virtual and physical servers with Windows Server and RHEL operating systems
• Manage Active Directory, Microsoft Office 365, and server and workstation patching with SCCM.
• Manage the physical and virtual environment (VMware).
• Ensure the security of the server infrastructure by implementing industry best-practices regarding privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and maintain documentation about current environment setup, standard operating procedures, and best practices.
• Manage end user accounts, permissions, access rights, and storage allocations in accordance with best-practices.
• End to end management of NBC Virtualization environment from physical server, cabling, capacity planning, license management and resource allocation as part of daily operational activities.
• Perform and test routine system backups and restores.
• Anticipate, mitigate, identify, troubleshoot, and correct hardware and software issues on servers, and workstations. Escalate incidents as necessary.
• Practice server asset management, including maintenance of server component inventory and related documentation and technical specifications information.
• Recommend, schedule, and perform software and hardware upgrades, patches and reconfigurations.
• Develop required reports in response to business user and management needs.
• Manage vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure software products and services
• Manage the physical environment of the server racks including cable management, documentation, labeling, and configuration of KVM switching for console and remote access.
• Build and deploy new servers on the network as needed.
• Timely installation firmware and security patches on servers and database.
• Actively participates in planning the installation of new organization-wide systems and applications.
• Monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of all database resources and thus, keep the flow of work uninterrupted owing to technology.
• Ensures maximum service through identification of opportunities for improvement and make new recommendations.
• Continuous review and evaluation of the software, hardware, service delivery, and updates as and when required.
• Maintains a data standard and security measures through the implementation of information technology plans, policies, and standards.
• Troubleshoot the problems [if any]. It includes a quick understanding of the problem and its resolution, restoration of the data, rectify the issue and minimize the damage.
• Actively attends and participates in the professional group meetings. Thus, acquire knowledge of the new and upcoming trends and innovations in the IT field.
• Monitor the changes in regulations, technology, and its impact on operations and implement the new or better ones as required.
• Continuously research on the emerging products and enhancements. Accordingly, execute special projects for remodeling and upgrade.
• Promote and develop both tactical and strategic ways to drive productivity and efficiency within the core responsibility areas. Analyze effectiveness of processes, systems and technologies used in the department and make recommendations for improvements.
• Understand our customers’ needs and pursue the success of our clients, enabling effortless delivery.
• Articulates business strategy and vision, and is able to translate vision into objectives, for the greater team, in order to reach desired end state.
• Coordinate the efforts of the different operational areas under management to ensure minimal duplication of efforts, maximum efficiency and to maximize value for money.
• Provide holistic support of  NBC servers and virtual environment availability to Business Users whenever required.
• Take actions to achieve reductions in frequency and duration of incidents that impact NBC servers and storage availability.
• Ensure shortfalls in NBC servers, backup and storage availability are recognized and appropriate corrective actions are identified and progressed.
• Take action on agreed appropriate actions with Head of Infrastructure services to maintain or improve GTIS servers, backup and storage availability levels.
• Maintain an awareness of technology advancements and best practices that support NBC technology infrastructure estate availability.
• Review performance of the area/unit against balanced scorecard components as prescribed by the Executive, discuss gaps and agree action plans to close gaps.
• Provide and maintain detailed backup and recovery procedures by ensuring that daily and monthly backups on supported servers are performed.
• Continuous review of open audit related items and timely closure of issues before due date.

Manage Risks and Compliance:

• Together with Risk and Compliance review the key risk and compliance challenges identified in the area and the key areas of concern/surveillance.
• Together with the Risk and Compliance team implement measures to address notable risks and regulatory challenges.
• Implement measures to review the risk and compliance performance of the unit/function on a regular basis and take corrective action.
• Complete all relevant Management Assurance or Risk reports and attestations as required.
• Ensure that processes, control requirements and risk management frameworks that impact the area are documented and understood by all members of the team.
• Work with Absa Internal Audit and Management Assurance during the scoping of audits to ensure fair coverage.
• Own and agree corrective action items with Internal Audit and Management Assurance for findings related to the functional area under management.
• Arrange issue assurance for closed audit findings.
• Complete required compliance and SOX attestations and ensure that impacted team members complete their attestations.
• Ensure that the team understands all compliance requirements and call for the area’s Compliance Officer to conduct briefing sessions if gaps are identified.
• Working with managers/professionals in the team, develop Detailed Risk and Control Assessments (DRACA’s) for the function and update at the required intervals (normally quarterly). Complete attestations to testify to the adequacy of controls on request.
• Ensure that managers/team leaders in the team understand their responsibilities in terms of risk and compliance Build relationship with country IT Risk and Governance team and provide support wherever required.
• Contribute and deliver to the improvement of the risk profile by delivering improved governance, risk management, controls and compliance requirements.
• Ensure the security controls under servers and Database are within the agreed thresholds.

Drive Service Levels:

• Increase revenue potential for the business by effectively managing service levels of critical applications.
• Minimize time-to-resolution(TTR) of business service disruptions through fast real-time root cause analysis that spans complex multi-tiered application environments.
• Minimize cost of IT infrastructure through optimizing delivery and performance of business services.
• Raise the profile of the team as a key service provider to the relevant business units, serving as its customer.
• Adhere to and chair governance structures and frameworks to ensure effective customer management including actively participating in all internal client reviews from a service perspective. Where applicable, and within control, external vendors also need to be effectively managed.
• Implement actions resulting from formalised service reviews (including questionnaires, production reporting, loss event reporting, etc.)
• Continuously monitor service levels and implement tactical measures to improve customer satisfaction.
• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships within the Bank to understand the business needs and changes in customer needs.
• Participate in Bank wide forums and governance structures as required or directed.
• Communicate and track the achievement of Service levels (documented in Service Level Agreements) on an ongoing basis and take corrective action as required.
• Manage the operational teams to ensure they deliver reliable services.

Manage Resources:

• Develop a proposal and control the units’ annual budgets and workforce plans.
• Ensure facilities, infrastructure and human resources are fit for purpose and effectively maintained and improved.
• Adhere to sound financial and governance controls to support sound resource management and financial control within the unit.
• Ensure adherence to all required compliance requirements, financial policies and supply chain policies within the bank.
• Manage departmental budgets including signing off of invoices and quotes within mandate. Escalate out of budgets items to the relevant parties for approval.
• Sign off capital expenditure within budget. This includes approving purchase or sell decisions for desktop computers, laptops, departmental equipment etc.
• Rebalance resources between different areas e.g. reallocating headcount and budgets, but within overall approved resources for the year.

People Management:

• Develop a high performing team by embedding formal performance development and informal coaching. Encourage frequent knowledge sharing between team members.
• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the team.
• Ensure leave plan is adhered to and aligned to team’s succession plan.
• Motivate team members and ensure that their efforts are recognised.
• Participate in the creation and implementation of Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) actions for the entire team.
• Responsible for driving own Performance Development, collating relevant documentation, preparing for and arranging reviews.
• By utilizing skills matrix, identify training and development requirements, formulating own plan to be agreed with team leader. Responsible for ensuring own plan is completed within agreed timescales.
• Undertake all necessary training in order to perform the role to the required standards, including gaining accreditation where appropriate.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree – Information Technology, Experience in a similar environment at management level