Collins Sekhula
IT Specialist
Johannesburg
Summary
Insightful Information Technology Specialist with 11 years of IT leadership experience including oversight of infrastructure, application support and security services. Dedicated to customer satisfaction with focused delivery of technical solutions. Proven leader in directing operations, maintenance and support of complex systems. Develops creative business processes, leveraging diverse methodologies and delivering ict solutions to leading organizations. Highly adept in request for proposal development, technology needs assessments and staff training.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
IT Officer
Oxfam South Africa
Johannesburg
04.2019 - 09.2022
- Managed network and system performance, conducting troubleshooting, security patching, and maintenance.
- Oversaw IT department operations and training.
- Updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks.
- Created and terminated user's accounts from start to finish in business applications.
- Interacted and negotiated with vendors, Suppliers and contractors to secure products and services.
- Led technology selection and rollout, focusing on organizational planning and supplier service-level agreements.
- Coordinated technical training and personal development classes for staff members.
- Customized and repaired technology based on staff requests.
- Assisted in development of long-term strategies to grow department and resources.
- Coordinated IT operations activities to deliver smooth flow of daily business needs.
- Developed and implemented measures and procedures to protect IT systems from cyber threats and data breaches.
- Demonstrated familiarity with latest hardware, software and networking technology.
- Guided organizational technology strategy and roadmaps.
- Built, repaired and installed computer-related hardware based on deployment procedures.
- Communicated with executive team and CEO to maximize development efficiencies and resolve technology issues.
- Identified computer hardware and network system issues, performing troubleshooting techniques for remediation.
- Managed life cycle replacement of hardware and software.
- Collaborated with other departments to help meet IT needs and properly integrate and secure systems.
- Conferred with executives to advise and plan for short-term and long-term IT system upgrade needs.
- Oversaw daily performance of computer systems and immediately responded to issues to keep network up and running.
Independent ICT Consultant
Oxfam South Africa
Johannesburg
01.2017 - 03.2019
- Supported clients with business analysis, documentation, and data modeling.
- Liaised with customers, management, and sales team to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Prepared presentations to explain revisions, enhancements and process improvements of organization's systems and programs.
- Renegotiated outsourcing contracts to save considerable costs.
- Onboarded and managed new client accounts to boost retention rates.
- Integrated technology and business operations to identify targeted solutions to customer issues.
- Created and developed detailed work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines.
- Implemented practices and procedures to reduce expenditures and increase savings.
- Organized and analyzed primary and secondary research to understand industry, market and company trends.
- Analyzed problematic areas to provide recommendations and solutions.
- Collaborated with teams to define, strategize, and implement marketing and web strategies.
- Aligned closely with business owners and employees to gather information and gain operational insight.
- Observed packing operations to verify conformance to specifications.
- Developed effective improvement plans in alignment with goals and specifications.
- Cultivated positive relationships with vendors to deliver timely and cost-effective supply of services and materials.
- Gathered, organized and input information into digital database.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Helped meet changing demands by recommending improvements to business systems or procedures.
- Maintained database systems to track and analyze operational data.
- Maintained overall safe work environment with employee training programs and enforcement of safety procedures.
- Generated reports detailing findings and recommendations.
- Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
- Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
- Optimized customer experience by delivering superior services and effectively troubleshooting issues.
- Devised and implemented processes and procedures to streamline operations.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
- Provided reporting for forecast analysis and ad-hoc reporting in support of decision-making.
IT Manager
Optisphere Technologies
Johannesburg
06.2014 - 12.2016
- Oversaw IT department operations and training.
- Managed network and system performance, conducting troubleshooting, security patching, and maintenance.
- Developed and implemented measures and procedures to protect IT systems from cyber threats and data breaches.
- Oversaw daily performance of computer systems and immediately responded to issues to keep network up and running.
- Communicated with executive team and CEO to maximize development efficiencies and resolve technology issues.
- Interacted and negotiated with vendors, Suppliers and contractors to secure products and services.
- Updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks.
- Coordinated technical training and personal development classes for staff members.
- Built, repaired and installed computer-related hardware based on deployment procedures.
- Created and terminated user's accounts from start to finish in business applications.
- Demonstrated familiarity with latest hardware, software and networking technology.
- Collaborated with other departments to help meet IT needs and properly integrate and secure systems.
- Assisted in development of long-term strategies to grow department and resources.
- Coordinated IT operations activities to deliver smooth flow of daily business needs.
- Understood key product management roadmap objectives and requirements to develop product technology strategy.
- Guided organizational technology strategy and roadmaps.
- Led technology selection and rollout, focusing on organizational planning and supplier service-level agreements.
- Conferred with executives to advise and plan for short-term and long-term IT system upgrade needs.
- Customized and repaired technology based on staff requests.
- Implemented and maintained technology and software budget.
- Managed life cycle replacement of hardware and software.
- Identified computer hardware and network system issues, performing troubleshooting techniques for remediation.
- Led technical upgrade projects for clients by working and coordinating with consultants and developers for integrations.
- Analyzed network security and current infrastructure, assessing areas in need of improvement.
- Oversaw development and implementation of improvements to support network operations.
- Wrote strategic business plans outlining need for departmental information technology resources.
- Liaised with other departments to minimize network interruptions and possible downtimes.
- Coordinated secure system access of users to various department systems and platforms.
- Communicated regularly with customers concerning data exchange and technology integration.
- Managed asset disposal processes from bidding to data destruction and refurbishment.
- Supported Sales team with technical advice and liaised with customers for technical specifications and recommendations.
- Managed Refurbished computer workshop
- Offered technical training to new IT Graduates.
- Engaged directly with clients for managed ICT Service contracts.
- Helpdesk global administrator.
- Network design and installations.
IT Technician
Optisphere Technologies
Johannesburg
01.2011 - 06.2014
- Explained technical information in clear terms to non-technical individuals to promote better understanding.
- Responded to support requests from end-users and patiently walked individuals through basic troubleshooting tasks.
- Maintained office PCs, networks and mobile devices.
- Managed system-wide operating system and software deployments as well as related software upgrade problems.
- Corrected connectivity faults to restore user access to local networks, cloud-based storage and public web.
- Established, repaired and optimized networks by installing wiring, cabling and devices.
- Monitored systems in operation and quickly troubleshot errors.
- Performed troubleshooting and repaired peripheral devices such as printers and scanners .
- Set up PCs, projectors and microphones for use in video conferencing rooms.
- Configured systems according to prescribed software and hardware frameworks.
- Monitored server room, wireless network and other server infrastructure, keeping systems running smoothly.
- Linked computers to network and peripheral equipment.
- Used diagnostic tools to identify hardware failures and replace non-functional components.
- Tested and installed motherboards, processors, and graphics cards on desktops and laptops for corporate staff.
- Refurbished PC systems and peripherals such as monitors, networking equipment, printers, and more.
- Recommended new and replacement hardware and software purchases.
- Set up and maintained user accounts and client access.
- Performed troubleshooting to correct computer hardware and software malfunctions.
- Executed technology implementation projects with minimal downtimes and business disruptions.
- Recovered critical information from data back ups to restore functionality.
- Performed installation, maintenance and repair for complex internal computer hardware and various software applications.
- Served as backup for staff members, responding to system failure and maintenance emergencies.
- Explained technical information in clear terms to promote better understanding for non-technical users.
- Completed routine and complex software installations, assisting users of various levels of computer sophistication in operation of new and existing software.
Education
Higher Certificate - ICT
Edutech Computer College
Johannesburg 02.2010 - 12.2012
Information Technology
COMPTIA & MICROSOFT
JOHANNESBURG 01.2012 - 12.2019
CYBER SECURITY
FORTINET
ONLINE 01.2023 - 08.2023
Skills
Excellent Communication
Teamwork and Collaboration
Clerical Support
Attention to Detail
Planning and Coordination
Teambuilding
Self-Motivated
PPE Compliance
Maintenance and Repair
Infrastructure development
Agile framework
Requirements analysis
Security planning
Project lifecycle management
Budget administration
Quality assurance
Documentation and reporting
Risk mitigation planning
NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
Ethics in cybersecurity
Information Security (INFOSEC)
Security Audits
Incident Response Playbooks
Firewall
Endpoint Security
Network Access Control
Web Application Firewall
Web Filter
Secure Email Gateway
Accomplishments
In my capacity as Ict Consultant i have successfully managed to move Oxfam South Africa's IT Infrastructure from being hosted in Australia by Oxfam Australia to South Africa including onboarding of new users onto Oxfam International Staff Portal (OKTA). I have also been able to oversee the movement of the IT Infrastructure through 3 offices in johannesburg and that included decommissioning and new network design and installation.
In my capacity as IT Officer i have successfully managed to introduce work from home systems and offered staff training as the country was moving into lockdown. as the only IT personnel i managed to support a staff compliment of 33 plus an emotional 5 hosted staff members from the confederation based in south Africa. The organization worked from home from the don of lockdown till march 2022 and i managed to give them Remote IT support through out lockdown till 2022 back at the office.
Researching Technology Trends
I always lookout for trends in ICT hence my recent interest in cyber security.
Timeline
CYBER SECURITY
FORTINET
01.2023 - 08.2023
IT Officer
Oxfam South Africa
04.2019 - 09.2022
Independent ICT Consultant
Oxfam South Africa
01.2017 - 03.2019
IT Manager
Optisphere Technologies
06.2014 - 12.2016
Information Technology
COMPTIA & MICROSOFT
01.2012 - 12.2019
IT Technician
Optisphere Technologies
01.2011 - 06.2014
Higher Certificate - ICT
Edutech Computer College
02.2010 - 12.2012