Arizona State University
Position Title: IT Specialist
YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS’ INITIATIVE LEGACY AND LOCALIZATION
SUMMARY
The Young African Leadership Initiative Legacy and Localization (YALI L&L) project, led by Arizona State University, seeks qualified candidates to serve as the IT Specialist on a USAID project supporting the next- generation expression of the Regional Leadership Centers (RLC) component of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), the United States’ premier investment in young African leaders. As the on- continent component of the YALI program, in 2015 USAID launched four YALI RLCs at higher education institutions in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. The RLCs have provided access to leadership and functional training to 22,000 young leaders aged 18–35 from 49 sub-Saharan countries in three tracks: business and entrepreneurship, public management, and civic leadership. YALI 2030 will build on the RLC foundation to create an expanded pan-African youth development model that will harmonize training curriculum, serve underrepresented/underserved youth, build alumni network capacity and professional development opportunities, and develop new program-related partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders and donors. ASU has hosted YALI Mandela Washington Fellows annually since 2014, led public management cohorts at the East Africa Regional Leadership Center, collaborates with the Mastercard Foundation on an eLearning Initiative with African universities, implemented higher education projects for USAID with multiple universities on the continent, and maintains an African hub and a network of alumni through ASU-Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Position location: This is a full-time national position and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Main Purpose of Job
We are seeking to recruit a results-oriented IT Specialist.
The holder of this position will report to the Finance and Administration Senior Director and will be responsible for ensuring proper maintenance and backups, setting up, maintaining, and supporting the IT and network infrastructure. She/he will assist with technical specifications, budget and forecast the IT requirements for the project and coordinate the procurement for the same, maintain proper inventory of IT equipment and provide first tier support and end user training on hardware and software usage.
Key Responsibilities
- Install and configure appropriate software and functions according to specifications
- Maintain network infrastructure including Internet connections, perimeter equipment, network switches, wireless access points and printers
- Check computer hardware (HDD, mouses, keyboards etc.) to ensure functionality
- Develop and maintain local networks in ways that optimize performance and ensure security and privacy of networks and computer systems
- Assist with technical specifications, budget, and forecast the IT requirements for the offices and coordinate the procurement for the same and follow up on warranty claims for IT equipment.
- Provide orientation and guidance to users on operating new software and computer equipment
- Organize and schedule upgrades and maintenance without deterring others work
- Perform troubleshooting to diagnose and resolve problems-repair or replace parts, debugging
- Ensure economic maintenance of the organizational IT infrastructure with regards to the economic life of a device and the maintenance cost.
- Ensure compliance with ASU Information Security policies, procedures and standards and train other project staff on IT policy
- Maintain proper inventory of IT equipment
- Supervise the performance of any local IT firms or staff hired to support the project offices.
Key competencies
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
- Expertise delivering performance excellence
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent strategic planning skills, Strong judgement and decision-making skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills and excellent report writing skills.
- Experience with the use of the internet, including social media for fundraising purposes.
- Ability to work in a team and be a self-starter.
Required Qualifications:
- Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems or relevant field with at least 3 years of proven experience as an IT Technician or any other related certification and 6 years of relevant experience in IT support.
- Certification as IT Technician will be an advantage (e.g. Microsoft Certified IT Professional)
- Ability to troubleshoot common hardware, software and network issues
- In depth understanding of diverse computer systems and networks
- Good knowledge of internet security and data privacy principles
- Aware of the ethical and professional standards of IT personnel.
- Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills
- Excellent oral and written English and good communication skills
- Demonstrable planning and organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
- High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
- Willingness to be flexible in working hours and adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet targets and deadlines.
- Problem solving ability
How to apply
How to Apply
Interested qualified candidates are invited to submit their application and Curriculum Vitae indicating full contact details of three professional referees to YALI@asu.edu by 24th October, 2023.
Applicants must include the POSITION TITLE in the subject line of their email. Please do not attach copies of certificates.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. YALI LL is an equal opportunity employer.