Johannesburg: Information Technology Specialist

The IT Specialist will be responsible for the full spectrum of IT operations, infrastructure, support, and technology initiatives within the organization. This role replaces the external IT supplier and is designed to ensure greater control, responsiveness, and alignment with internal policies, culture, and strategic objectives. What you’ll do: IT Operations & Support Oversee daily IT operations, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of hardware, software, and network systems. Provide first, second, and third-line support to all staff, ensuring timely resolution of technical issues. Manage help desk operations, call logging, and troubleshooting for hardware, software, networking, and printing. Maintain security and anti-virus protocols across all devices and systems. Conduct regular network backups and ensure disaster recovery readiness. Offer remote support to staff and clients as required. Infrastructure & Systems Administration Administer Microsoft Server environments, Office 365 etc. Manage virtualization platforms, storage solutions, and backup technologies. Oversee firewall configuration and network security. Implement and maintain hosted infrastructure, telecommunications, emails, switches, firewalls, and fibre technologies. Evaluate, test, and advise on IT systems and projects, including integration with third-party platforms. IT Leadership & Project Management Manage IT projects from conception to completion, including process improvement initiatives, software development, and infrastructure upgrades. Define project scope, allocate resources, set deadlines, and establish communication strategies. Assemble and guide project teams, ensuring adherence to schedules and budgets. Track milestones, deliverables, and change requests for smooth project progression. Present progress reports and integrate feedback for continuous improvement. Collaborate with executives, department heads, and external vendors to align IT strategy with business goals. IT Governance, Compliance & Budget Management Establish and enforce IT policies, procedures, and strategies to guarantee robust data security and compliance with regulatory requirements. Oversee and manage the IT budget, handling procurement and expenditure for all hardware, software, and services. Maintain comprehensive documentation for all changes related to users, system functions, and infrastructure. Strengthen the IT infrastructure by implementing new technologies and conducting routine security checks. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication Serve as the main liaison for IT matters, communicating updates on changes, milestones, and other important information. Provide training and support to staff on IT systems and best practices. Manage relationships with internal and external IT service providers, ensuring high-quality service delivery. Your Expertise: 3–5 years of proven experience encompassing IT management, systems administration, and project management. Experience with software testing, API integration, and data analysis. Ability to manage IT budgets and procurement. Demonstrated knowledge of various hosting models (shared vs cloud) and experience in planning, recommending, and executing migration strategies from traditional hosted environments to major cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure). Advanced technical expertise in Microsoft Server, Office 365, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, Linux, VMware, Veeam, firewalls, networking, and database administration (SQL/MySQL). General coding proficiency in PHP and mySQL, and the ability to modify and troubleshoot code within a WordPress environment. Intermediate understanding of C# coding language is advantageous. Advanced Microsoft 365 Suite Skills (including Excel, Power Bi, Teams and Power Automate Qualifications: Certificate or Advanced Certificate in Information Technology