Network Administrator

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The genesis of Gulf African Bank (GAB) can be traced back to 2005, when a group of motivated Kenyans envisioned establishing an Islamic bank as an alternative to conventional banking in the country. By conducting business on the principles of Shari'ah, the bank would provide an ethical and fair mode of banking for all.

JOB SUMMARY

Qualifications, experience and job specific competenciesEducationBachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or related field.ExperienceMinimum 4 years’ experience in network administration within a complex, mission-critical environment.Proven experience in enterprise network environments, preferably in banking or financial services.Experience managing LAN/WAN, data center, and cloud networking environments.Technical SkillsStrong knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, DNS, DHCP).Hands-on experience with network devices (Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, or equivalent).Experience with firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, and network security technologies.Familiarity with virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V) and their networking components.Experience with monitoring tools (SolarWinds, Zabbix, or equivalent).Understanding of operating systems (Windows Server, Linux).CertificationsCisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or equivalentCisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (minimum requirement)Fortinet NSE / Palo Alto certifications (added advantage)ITIL Foundation (added advantage)Core competenciesCustomer Focus – Deliver reliable and secure network services to support business operations.Accountability – Ensure network uptime, performance, and security.Problem Solving – Diagnose and resolve complex network issues effectively.Performance Management – Maintain high availability and optimal performance

RESPONSIBILITIES

Network AdministrationAdminister, maintain, and support enterprise network infrastructure including LAN, WAN, WLAN, and data center networks.Configure and manage network devices including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and VPN gateways.Install, configure, and upgrade network hardware and software.Monitor network performance and ensure optimal availability and uptime.Network Performance and OptimizationMonitor network traffic, identify bottlenecks, and optimize performance across all network segments.Conduct capacity planning and recommend upgrades to support business growth and digital channels.Analyse network trends and implement improvements to enhance efficiency and resilience.Security and ComplianceImplement and enforce network security controls including firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, and network segmentation.Ensure compliance with regulatory and security standards (CBK, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, etc.).Conduct regular network security assessments, vulnerability scans, and audits.Collaborate with the Information Security team to mitigate risks and respond to threats.Backup, Disaster Recovery, and High AvailabilityDesign and maintain network redundancy and failover mechanisms.Support disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BCP) strategies for network infrastructure.Participate in DR drills and ensure network readiness for failover scenarios.Monitoring and Incident ManagementMonitor network systems using enterprise monitoring tools and respond to alerts proactively.Troubleshoot and resolve complex network issues within agreed SLAs.Perform root cause analysis and implement preventive measures.Ensure all incidents, problems, and service requests are logged and tracked.Vendor and Stakeholder ManagementWork with service providers, ISPs, and vendors to ensure service delivery meets SLAs.Participate in procurement, evaluation, and onboarding of network solutions and services.Collaborate with application, database, and systems teams to support business systems.Automation and DocumentationAutomate routine network tasks using scripting tools where applicable.Maintain up-to-date network diagrams, configurations, and documentation.Develop reports on network performance, availability, and security postureProject ImplementationParticipate in network-related projects including upgrades, migrations, and new deployments.Ensure projects are delivered within scope, time, and budget.Support rollout of new banking systems, branches, and digital platforms.Disaster Recovery & Business ContinuitySupport and test network recovery procedures during DR/BCP exercises.Ensure redundancy and failover mechanisms are properly configured and tested.Maintain DR documentation and network recovery plans.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Network management, System and network security, Network equipment installation, Troubleshooting

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree