Network Infrastructure Specialist - Department of Information Technology Services at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

JOB PURPOSE: 

• The Network Infrastructure Specialist’s role is to ensure the installation and maintenance of the University’s data and network infrastructure and network room layout. Responsible for the planning of installation, configuration and maintaining the data and network infrastructure and network rooms layout. The role also involves providing technical knowledge, support, and implementation standards of data and network infrastructure and network room layout to all project teams, consultants, and contractors.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidates’ responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Network infrastructure administration and maintenance:
• Manage the quotations, planning and coordination of installation; 
• Ensure quality assurance checks are completed in terms of standards; 
• Manage and oversee network equipment for projects; 
• Compile draft documents for projects, including any identified risks, and submit to relevant stakeholders; 
• Compile and submit information, drawings and documents for installations; 
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders to contribute to the Network Campus Map; 
• Provide vendors with relevant information and standards; 
• Research and recommend industry trends for approval; 
• Participate in network planning for both project and maintenance requirements; 
• Provide explanation of technical network related procedures, standards and processes, to relevant stakeholders;

Implementation and technical inspections:

• Liaise with relevant project teams and contractors for information and user requirements for network services; 
• Provide technical guidance of cable and route specifications with drawings, including network room requirements in line with policies and procedures; 
• Conduct site visits during construction for quality assurance in line with safety and quality standards, with relevant stakeholders, to identify and communicate risks;
• Escalate any concerns or problems to management; 
• Perform IP address allocation and modification for network attached equipment; 
• Monitor and assess current or planned construction projects to ensure ITS infrastructure is not impacted; 
• Enterprise service management:
• Log enterprise service management calls for IP address assignment for security and related equipment; 
• Attend to requests/incidents/problems on the enterprise service management; 
• Compile and submit reports to the relevant manager; 
• Contribute to and assist in maintaining knowledge articles; 
• Ensure communication to the relevant stakeholders; 
• Adhere to ITS change management processes; 
• Adhere to ITS policies and procedures; 
• Respond to incidents according to service level agreements (SLAs); 

Building projects:

• Provide technical expertise and operational insight for planned construction projects, and ensure documentation is kept up to date; 
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure the efficiency, compatibility, security, integrity and ease of ongoing operations of all new technologies; 
• Provide support to relevant stakeholders on quotations and technology specifications; 
• Coordinate and oversee installation and commissioning of equipment as per project workstreams;
• Participate in meetings;

Vendor support:

• Liaise with vendors to troubleshoot on network, incidents and problems; 
• Inspect sites with vendors prior to cabling to ensure site readiness; 
• Support vendors as required in line with project scope; 
• Provide project vendors with relevant information; 
• Report and escalate faults to vendors when required. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A Bachelor’s or BTech degree in an applicable field such as Computer Science, Informatics, or Information Technology from a recognised tertiary institution, WITH

A total of four years’ experience in: 

• Network engineering, network operations, and network performance analysis; 
• Networking principles; 
• Optical fibre and UTP cabling standards;
• Building construction standards;
• A valid driver’s license;
• Relevant data network certification;
• ITIL foundation certification;

OR

• A National Higher Diploma in Electronics, Computer Engineering, or Information Technology from a recognised tertiary institution, WITH

A total of six years’ experience in: 

• Network engineering, network operations, and network performance analysis; 
• Networking principles; 
• Optical fibre and UTP cabling standards;
• Building construction standards;
• A valid driver’s license;
• Relevant data network certification;
• ITIL foundation certification.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):
Knowledge of:

• Network hardware and design;
• Networking concepts;
• WIFI technologies and design; 
• Physical infrastructure architecture;
• DDI;
• Enterprise Service Management;
• Cabling and fibre infrastructure;
• Technical competencies:
• Networking infrastructure;
• WiFi infrastructure;
• Data cabling infrastructure;
• DDI;
• Behavioural competencies:

Ability to:

• Convey information clearly and concisely to groups or individuals, either verbally or in writing, to ensure that they understand the information and the message;
• Follow instructions through a standard work process;
• Actively participate as a member of a team to move toward the completion of goals;
• Be proactive;
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients or customers by listening to the client/customer, and understanding and responding to identified needs;
• Build and maintain ongoing, collaborative, working relationships with co-workers to achieve the goals of the work unit;
• Accomplishes tasks and processes accurately and completely;
• Maintain social, ethical, and organizational norms;
• Compile, assimilate, organize, and store printed and electronic information;
• Coordinate and manage facilities, equipment, supplies and related resources as necessary for the project;
• Manage disappointment and/or rejection while still working effectively;
• Attend to high stress situations calmly and effectively;
• Remain with a job or plan until the desired objective is achieved or is no longer reasonably attainable;
• Be relied upon to ensure that projects within areas of responsibility are completed in a timely manner;
• Understand the impact of technological change on the organization;
• Understand internal/external customer technologies, and problem resolution techniques;
• Generate innovative solutions in work situations;
• Identify problems, determine possible solutions, and actively work to resolve the issues;
• In possession of knowledge of program procedures, methods and practices, and their application to specific situations, usually acquired on the job.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• An Honours degree in an applicable field, such as Computer Science, Informatics, or Information Technology from a recognised tertiary education institution;

Three years’ experience in: 

• Managing the complex network infrastructure in a large enterprise environment; 
• IP address management; 
• Customer relations management;
• Quality assurance principles;
• Cabling and fibre certification.
• The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent’s level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium. 

CLOSING DATE: 26 June 2026