Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Technical Skills
Timeline
Generic
Thabang Sewe

Thabang Sewe

Manager Engineering And Technical Services
Pietermaritzburg

Summary

I'm a creative and strategic thinking IT executive with over 11 years of technical experience that thrives in fast paced and challenging environments. I have solid mix of technology, leadership, and business development skills. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Successfully managed projects within the private sector and the local government to ensure the availability of necessary systems and the delivery of services to the customers/clients.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education

Work History

Manager Engineering and Technical Services

Mzansi Comnet
Pietermaritzburg
10.2018 - Current
  • Plan, devise, build, configure and commission telecommunications equipment, networks, and systems, including voice, data, satellite, microwave, digital data systems, etc
  • Identify the requirements and determine the cost of equipment, devices, and services
  • Assess and obtain new services and products from vendors
  • Choose, and develop new telecommunication sites
  • Prepare specifications, drawings, and procedures for the use of telecommunications equipment
  • Maintain records on installation, resolution of issues, and replacement of equipment and parts
  • Identify the telecommunication requirements of the organization and recommend purchases accordingly
  • Keep in touch and up to date with all the latest developments in telecommunication technology
  • Discuss with vendors and sales teams on new products and upgrades
  • Develop telecommunications policies and procedures and its best practices for the organization and ensure that they comply with the government regulations
  • . Identify and assess the requirements and issues of current telecommunications’ systems, such as interference and clarity, to come up with the most suitable ways of cutting down, removing, and preventing existing and future issues and improving communications
  • Oversee telecommunications systems to understand the requirements for upgrades, improvements, new systems, and preventive maintenance and act promptly to resolve issues if any
  • Calculate performance levels of system software and hardware to anticipate future requirements
  • Develop short-term and long-term plans for increasing capabilities, improving existing systems, and updating equipment in order to provide better telecommunications
  • Monitor the performance of my subordinate team members in their daily activities.
  • Delegate tasks and provide training to new employees, besides providing training on new telecommunication equipment to existing personnel
  • Established and monitored budgets and deliverables
  • Collaborated with business units to define projects scope, budgets, resources and timelines
  • Established new processes, procedures and methodologies for projects execution and new technologies deployment
  • Collaborate with sales, and marketing to deliver technology solutions in in support of our clients marketing efforts, including web design, campaign management, leads processing, reporting and analytics, and content delivery
  • Moved company and clients data centers to redundant co-location data centers in geographically disperse areas
  • Consolidated server into a unified computing environment with SAN storage
  • Virtualized company and client servers utilizing WMware and Hypervisor
  • Created, implemented, and documented IT policies and security policies to create a secure environment that is legislative compliant
  • Implemented and tested Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity plans
  • Managed technical relationships with clients and vendors
  • Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication.
  • Devoted special emphasis to punctuality and worked to maintain outstanding attendance record
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed
  • Created plans and communicated deadlines to complete projects on time
  • Resolved conflicts and negotiated mutually beneficial agreements between parties
  • Managed team of employees, overseeing hiring, training and professional growth of employees
  • Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic
  • Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly and monthly reporting
  • Worked within applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment

Senior Support Engineer

JEC Technologies (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg
07.2016 - 09.2018
  • Oversee and update assigned support service requests
  • Handle daily technical support activities on desktop support, data network and server management
  • Grow clients and communicate to Account Manager by determining new opportunities
  • Setup computers, peripherals, and test network connections
  • Install and test software applications and internet browsers
  • Test computers to ensure proper functioning of computer systems
  • Train end users on usage of computer hardware and software
  • Develop and manage effective professional working relationships with contractor personnel, co-workers and clients
  • Adhere to policies as per corporate manuals and directives
  • Extend computer support for systems’ software and hardware
  • Setup computers and install software for various applications and programs
  • Interact with staff on technical problems and their resolution.
  • Network and connect computers within organization to better communication
  • Order or buy computer systems and liaise with purchase and supplies department
  • Maintain computer peripheral devices like printers and resolve associated problems
  • Assist in planning and executing projects relating to the technical requirements
  • Patched software and installed new versions to eliminate security problems and protect data
  • Broke down and evaluated user problems, using test scripts, personal expertise and probing questions
  • Reviewed engineering design proposals and completed drawings to determine feasibility of each plan and assess conformance with both safety and sound engineering practices standards
  • Performed root cause analysis and general troubleshooting
  • Collaborated with vendors to locate replacement components and resolve advanced problems
  • Monitored systems in operation and quickly troubleshot errors
  • Devised and implemented updates and resolutions for handling risks, maintaining compliance and improving designs

Client Services and Support Manager

Sigma Info Tech
Durban
05.2015 - 07.2016
  • Accountable for full project life cycle design, development, and implementation of enterprise-wide solutions
  • Managed the migration of systems both manual to automated and automated
  • Execute project tasks
  • Maintain clients relations
  • Implement clients projects
  • Identify new business opportunities
  • Respond to client’s queries
  • Manage SigmaIT clients' sites
  • Provide technical support
  • Overseeing the designated sites and supervising the site managers
  • Any additional duties as instructed by the Directors
  • Established and managed budgets and deliverables
  • Created, prepared and delivered reports to various departments.
  • Standardized office structures and processes to promote collaboration and increased performance.
  • Prepared employee schedules for maximum coverage during key hours.
  • Established and updated work schedules to account for changing staff levels and expected workloads.
  • Prepared agendas and took notes at meetings to archive proceedings.
  • Monitored employee and customer interactions to assess quality of service.
  • Communicated best practices among on-site and external personnel to align efforts and goals.
  • Encouraged departmental employees to present positive, exemplary image to customers.
  • Planned, created, tested and deployed system life cycle methodology to produce high quality systems to meet and exceed customer expectations.
  • Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
  • Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.

Solutions Architect

Meso Systems
Pretoria
09.2014 - 05.2015
  • Provide planning, consultancy, documentation and knowledge transfer expertise as required to the business unit and customers for new technologies
  • Carry out the evaluation and selection of vendors for the provision of solutions to meet customer and business requirements
  • Build, develop and maintain effective working relationships between the business unit and customers to fulfill business goals, and other groups within the organization (for example, Product management, Software Development, Infrastructure services, Enterprise Architecture etc.), to ensure policies, strategies and objectives are met
  • Develop and maintain effective business/project relationships with operations and infrastructure teams, ensuring all requirements from the business unit and customers are met
  • Gather business requirements and create complex technical solutions to meet customer requirement
  • Effectively consider trade-offs between performance, scalability, reliability, availability, maintainability, manageability and business requirements
  • Support sales groups or competency centres during the pre-contract phases (qualification, proposal and contract) with inputs to project approval board process, ensuring that the offers and contracts are realistic and achievable in delivery from a technological standpoint
  • Furnishing customers with comprehensive, up-to-date information on current products, product enhancements and new solutions, through customer meetings and workshops
  • Understand customer's business, commercial and technology drivers, and translate into the best solution
  • Produce professional materials and reports to the customers in agreed form and time scale
  • Successfully transition design responsibilities from a bid phase into a delivery design phase
  • Liaise with various internal stakeholders, such as Pricing, Customer Service, and Project Management, to build business cases for customer proposals
  • Own the technical and commercial parts of proposals submitted to customers
  • Work closely with project/bid manager to ensure efficient transfer of projects for implementation
  • Participate in the selling process together with the sales team
  • Follow IT market developments, keeping technical knowledge and skills up to date
  • Design and coordinate the development of complex business solutions which may involve different parties and develop sales strategies that enable customer solutions
  • Contribute to and develop technical account strategies with the sales team to ensure maximum account penetration and commercial benefits in the long term
  • Design, validate and conduct demonstrations and Proof of Concept transformational products.
  • Worked with developers and engineers to realize technological solutions.
  • Maintained current and in-depth understanding of business processes, needs and objectives.
  • Broke down technical ideas and issues into non-technical terms for business executives.
  • Participated in weekly meetings with client to discuss project direction and milestone achievement.
  • Built and maintained network infrastructure consisting of Windows, Linux and virtual products.
  • Wrote and maintained custom scripts to increase system efficiency and performance time.
  • Managed and monitored installed systems for highest level of availability.

Site Manager

Sigma Info Tech
Durban
12.2011 - 09.2014
  • Providing overall executive direction through subordinate senior management staff for all authority ICT functions to ensure successful completion of projects
  • Providing policy direction to assigned major functional areas
  • Directing the establishment of goals, major priorities, and advise in the development strategies and resolution of major problems
  • Direct the implementation of ICT projects and objectives, policies, work standards, and controls for professional staff and consultants
  • Evaluate project performance against goals and take necessary actions to address deviations.
  • Direct the preparation of and present managerial and policy issues with recommendations on matters related to the projects to the Managing Director
  • Provide overall direction and control of projects technical management team and involved stakeholders
  • Direct the execution of studies, investigations, and analysis of technical issues for the MD, including reports of findings, corrective action recommendations and supporting research
  • Represent the company at meetings and conferences with elected and public officials, the community, private citizens, and public and private organizations
  • Supervised contractor work processes and adherence to project schedule.
  • Complied with safe operating practices and assessed operational procedures against best practices.
  • Facilitated change management activities for department and staff of 250 individuals.
  • Attended weekly meetings to discuss safety procedures, compliance issues and facility maintenance.
  • Created weekly and monthly reports and presentations for management team.
  • Verified completed projects met approved time, quality and cost estimates.
  • Delegated assignments based on plans, project needs and knowledge of individual team members.
  • Inspected cleanliness of common areas and offices.

Information Technology Specialist

Sigma Info Tech
Durban
01.2010 - 11.2011
  • Provide desktop support
  • Provide printer support
  • Provide software support
  • Provide technical/ hardware support
  • Manage systems and data security
  • Draft and implement backups, backup testing and restore policies
  • Design, implement, and manage network security (LAN/WAN)
  • Plan and conduct ICT Security Awareness programs
  • Controlled and managed server room, wireless network, server infrastructure, audiovisual equipment, laptops and video conferencing equipment.
  • Use PowerShell scripting skills to contribute to internal technical tools.
  • Liaised effectively with others to promote ongoing network design, reevaluation and optimization, scaling with company growth.
  • Drafted and distributed training manuals for devices used by various employees.
  • Used ticketing systems to manage and process support actions and requests.
  • Managed customers' expectations of support and technology functionality in order to provide positive user experience.
  • Developed and maintained strong client relationships to deliver exceptional customer service and problem resolution.
  • Resolved escalated issues by serving as subject matter expert on wide-ranging issues.
  • Supervised and monitored delivery of contractual services according to SLA agreements.
  • Attended regular client meetings to report project progress and address questions.
  • Communicated regularly with customers concerning data exchange and technology integration.
  • Prepared reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information.
  • Researched product and issue resolution tactics to address customer concerns.
  • Performed tests of functionality, security and performance of different workstations and devices.
  • Set up network profiles, security permissions and file sharing systems.
  • Created support documentation that enabled user community to extend skills, leverage system features and find resolutions to questions without intervention from support team.
  • Worked closely with management teams to plan, develop and execute technical strategies aligned to client's vision.
  • Assisted with updating technical support best practices for use by team.
  • Performed daily system monitoring, verifying integrity and availability of hardware, server resources, systems and key processes.
  • Facilitated best user experience through continuous support and communication of system changes.

Education

MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
Pietermaritzburg
01.2022 - Current

Microsoft 365 Certified Fundermentals - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Academy
Pietermaritzburg
03.2021 - 03.2021

EPMP Certificate - Computer Networking And Telecommunications

Cambium Networks
Durban
12.2019 - 12.2019

ITIL Foundation - Information Technology

Cybrary
Online Learning
02.2017 - 02.2017

Certified Network Associate - Computer Networking And Telecommunications

Miro Training
Durban
09.2015 - 09.2015

High School Diploma -

Le Reng Secondary School
Ladybrand
12.2015 - 12.2015

Evolution Consultant - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
Durban
12.2013 - 12.2013

Advanced Evolution Practitioner - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
Durban
12.2012 - 12.2012

Evolution Practitioner - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
Durban
12.2012 - 12.2012

COMPTIA A+ - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
Pietermaritzburg
10.2012 - 10.2012

COMPTIA N+ - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
Pietermaritzburg
10.2012 - 10.2012

ND: Information Technology - Information Technology

Durban University of Technology
Durban
12.2011 - 12.2011

Computer Literacy - Computer And Information Sciences

Letsete ICom Tech
Ladybrand
12.2005 - 12.2005

Skills

    Engineering standards

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Technical Skills

Systems:

Windows 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012 Server; Exchange 2008, 2013,2016; Windows 95/98/XP/Vista/7/8/10, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft office 365


Hardware:

HP, IBM, Dell, Intel based Server and Desktop platforms

ION Port Security Hardware

MikroTik Routers

HP Laserjets

Toshiba Colour Copiers

Switchtel VOIP phone system

Fortigate Firewalls

IBM Servers

Lenovo Equipment

Software:


Microsoft: Windows 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012,2016 Server; Office (97,2000, XP,2003,2007,2010, 2013, 2016) Visio, Publisher, Excel, Power Point, Outlook; SharePoint (2010, 2013, 2016)

Symantec: PC Anywhere, Antivirus, Utilities

McAfee Virus Scan

ESET Antivirus

Adobe: Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator

Adware, Spyware, Malware, Virus-Removal

Mac OS


Databases:

SQL Database

MySQL

MS Access


Languages:

Visual Basic

SQL

HTML

ASP .Net

CSS

C#

Java Script


Networking:

TCP/IP, Wireless 802.11 a/b/g, DNS, WINS, DHCP, FTP


Others:

N/w Hubs

Bridges

Routers

Crystal Reports

UML

SDLC

PABX

Timeline

MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
01.2022 - Current

Microsoft 365 Certified Fundermentals - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Academy
03.2021 - 03.2021

EPMP Certificate - Computer Networking And Telecommunications

Cambium Networks
12.2019 - 12.2019

Manager Engineering and Technical Services

Mzansi Comnet
10.2018 - Current

ITIL Foundation - Information Technology

Cybrary
02.2017 - 02.2017

Senior Support Engineer

JEC Technologies (Pty) Ltd
07.2016 - 09.2018

High School Diploma -

Le Reng Secondary School
12.2015 - 12.2015

Certified Network Associate - Computer Networking And Telecommunications

Miro Training
09.2015 - 09.2015

Client Services and Support Manager

Sigma Info Tech
05.2015 - 07.2016

Solutions Architect

Meso Systems
09.2014 - 05.2015

Evolution Consultant - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
12.2013 - 12.2013

Advanced Evolution Practitioner - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
12.2012 - 12.2012

Evolution Practitioner - Management Information Systems

Sage Pastel
12.2012 - 12.2012

COMPTIA A+ - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
10.2012 - 10.2012

COMPTIA N+ - Computer And Information Systems Security

IT Certification Acardemy
10.2012 - 10.2012

Site Manager

Sigma Info Tech
12.2011 - 09.2014

ND: Information Technology - Information Technology

Durban University of Technology
12.2011 - 12.2011

Information Technology Specialist

Sigma Info Tech
01.2010 - 11.2011

Computer Literacy - Computer And Information Sciences

Letsete ICom Tech
12.2005 - 12.2005

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Thabang SeweManager Engineering And Technical Services