IT Specialist

Job Purpose The IT Specialist provides technical management of Kursi Group's information technology environment, with responsibility for infrastructure, enterprise applications, information security and IT asset governance across all Group locations, and for day-to-day IT support to staff. The role combines hands-on technical authority with the planning, standard-setting and oversight needed to keep the Group's systems secure, reliable and aligned with its operational and compliance requirements. The role also provides technical direction and supervision to the IT Officer covering the Bode Saadu and Ilorin locations, setting the standards by which IT service is delivered, reviewing performance, and ensuring a consistent, secure and well-documented IT environment across all Group locations. Key Responsibilities Day-to-Day IT Support Provide hands-on daily IT support to staff, responding to requests and faults in person and remotely, and keeping users informed until closure. Maintain the working condition of desktops, laptops, printers, scanners, phones, email and Microsoft 365 applications used by staff. Prepare and configure workstations, accounts and equipment for new joiners, and retrieve and reset equipment for leavers. Support meetings and presentations by ensuring projectors, screens, conferencing tools and office connectivity are working. Carry out routine checks of office equipment, network, backups and attendance devices, and fix issues before they disrupt work. End-User Services and Technical Escalation Own the delivery of IT services across the Group, ensuring requests and incidents are logged, prioritized, resolved and closed within agreed service timelines. Diagnose and resolve complex hardware, software and systems incidents, including device and data recovery, applying root-cause analysis to prevent recurrence. Act as the first technical escalation point for Group staff, and provide structured IT orientation and training to staff during onboarding. Enterprise Applications and Identity Management Administer and optimize the Group's business platforms, including Zoho and Echo CRM, covering configuration, user roles, permissions, integrations and system-level troubleshooting in collaboration with process owners. Govern user identity and access lifecycle management, ensuring accounts, email and system privileges are provisioned and revoked in line with HR joiner, mover and leaver notifications. Oversee the deployment, configuration and integrity of biometric attendance systems, and ensure reliable attendance data is available to HR. Manage software licensing, patch management and update cycles across the Group's computing estate. Network, Server and Infrastructure Management Design and configure, administer and monitor the Group's network and server infrastructure, including LAN, Wi-Fi, routers, switches, firewalls and VPNs, to maintain high availability and performance. Manage relationships and service levels with internet service providers and technology vendors, and drive prompt resolution of outages. Lead infrastructure design and deployment for new offices, sites and workstations. Maintain up-to-date network diagrams, IP allocations and configuration baselines. Information Security, Data Protection and Business Continuity Implement and enforce information security controls, including endpoint protection, firewall policy, password standards and access control management. Oversee backup and recovery arrangements, and validate restoration through periodic testing. Ensure IT systems and stored data comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and the Group's confidentiality requirements. Lead the response to security incidents, suspected breaches and loss of data or devices, and escalate material risks promptly to the Head, Human Resources and Administration. Technical Oversight of Site IT (Bode Saadu and Ilorin) Provide technical direction, supervision and performance management to the IT Officer covering the Bode Saadu and Ilorin locations. Define and enforce standard operating procedures, security baselines and service standards for both locations, and monitor compliance. Provide advanced remote and on-site technical support for complex incidents escalated from site, and conduct periodic site visits and assessments. Review and authorize IT equipment requests and expenditure raised by the IT Officer, and consolidate asset, support and incident records from both locations. Coach and develop the IT Officer to build technical capability and sound judgement. IT Asset Governance, Procurement and Vendor Management Maintain the Group IT asset register as the central record of IT equipment, ensuring traceability of equipment, assignment and status. Govern the issue, return, replacement and decommissioning of IT equipment, including asset recovery during staff exit. Develop technical specifications, evaluate vendor quotations and validate deliveries to ensure value for money and fitness for purpose. Manage warranties, maintenance contracts and vendor performance. IT Projects, Planning and Technology Advisory Plan, lead and deliver IT projects, including system upgrades, migrations and new deployments, with minimal disruption to operations. Implement preventive maintenance and capacity planning to reduce recurring incidents and downtime. Engage with department heads to understand business requirements and translate them into effective technology solutions. Evaluate new technologies, tools and solutions, and provide technical input to management on options that improve efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness across the Group. Policy, Documentation and Management Reporting Implement and enforce the Group's IT policies, procedures and standards, including acceptable use, email, password and data handling, to safeguard reliability, compliance and security. Work with the IT Consultant on system design, security and vendor decisions, as required, and implement agreed recommendations. Refer major infrastructure, security and expenditure decisions to the Head, Human Resources and Administration for approval, with input from the IT Consultant where required. Maintain comprehensive technical documentation of systems, configurations and procedures to support continuity, knowledge transfer and training. Prepare periodic management reports to the Head, Human Resources and Administration on service performance, downtime, assets, risks and security posture across all locations. Qualifications and Experience Education Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering or a related field is required. Experience Minimum of six (6) years' progressive experience in IT systems, infrastructure or network administration, including experience supervising IT staff and delivering IT services across more than one office or site. Demonstrated experience administering networks, servers, identity and access, backup and recovery, and end-user environments in a multi-user organization. Experience administering enterprise business applications such as CRM, accounting or HR systems is required. Experience in a multi-site or industrial organization is an advantage. Certifications Relevant professional certification such as CompTIA A+/Network+, CCNA, Microsoft or equivalent is an advantage. Required Skills and Competencies Advanced diagnostic and root-cause analysis capability across hardware, software, server and network environments. Strong command of Windows and Microsoft 365 environments, server administration, and email and identity management. Solid grounding in networking, firewalls, VPNs and information security principles. Leadership and mentoring ability, with the capacity to supervise and develop a team member at a remote location. Project planning and delivery skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and vendors. Ability to translate technical matters into clear business language for management and non-technical colleagues. Strong governance mindset, with rigorous documentation and attention to detail. High level of integrity, discretion and confidentiality when handling staff and company data. Technical Competencies Competency Area Expected Capability Network and Server Administration Ability to configure, administer, secure and troubleshoot LAN, Wi-Fi, routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs and servers. End-User Services and Escalation Ability to resolve complex incidents across Windows and Microsoft 365 environments, devices and peripherals, and to apply root-cause analysis. Enterprise Applications Ability to administer, configure and optimise Zoho, Echo CRM and similar platforms, including roles, permissions and integrations. Information Security and Data Protection Ability to design and enforce access control, endpoint protection, backup and recovery, and ensure compliance with the NDPA. IT Asset Governance and Procurement Ability to govern the asset lifecycle, evaluate vendors and specifications, and ensure value for money. IT Project Delivery Ability to plan and deliver upgrades, migrations and new deployments with minimal disruption. Technical Leadership and Reporting Ability to supervise and develop IT staff, set standards, and report clearly to senior management. Performance Metrics Specific targets and weighting for the metrics below will be defined in the IT Specialist's annual performance agreement/KPI scorecard. Timely resolution of IT support requests and issues within agreed timelines. Uptime and reliability of key IT systems and network connectivity. Compliance with IT security requirements (antivirus updates, backups tested, access control, password standards). Reduction in recurring IT issues through preventive maintenance. Completion of IT tasks and projects (upgrades, installations, migrations) within agreed timelines. Accuracy and completeness of IT documentation (asset register, configurations, system records). User satisfaction and responsiveness to internal support requests. Proper management and accountability for IT assets and equipment. Timely creation and removal of user accounts and access. Uptime and data accuracy of biometric attendance devices. Quality, timeliness and performance of the IT Officer's support work at Bode Saadu and Ilorin. Accuracy and timeliness of IT reports to the Head, Human Resources and Administration.