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Role Overview
Manager - Network & Security at Aldar Education in Abu Dhabi for immediate start. This role supports Aldar Education's growing portfolio of owned and operated schools across the UAE.
Company Overview
Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. Since 2007, the Group has grown from 250 students to over 38,000 students served through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities. Aldar Education operates more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies in partnership with prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King's College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The Group delivers world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through K12.
Role Purpose
The Manager - Network & Security oversees the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of enterprise network and security infrastructure across Aldar Education. This position ensures network and security systems align with organizational standards and the five-year technology roadmap set by the Group Head of IT, while managing disaster recovery solutions, establishing security policies, and providing technical leadership to ensure business continuity and safeguard internal and external networks.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure Management
- Manage LAN/MAN/WAN data and communication network infrastructure and security, data transport media and mediums, interface types, interior and exterior gateway protocols, firewalls, antivirus, load balancers, multiple ingress/egress paths to the Internet, and satellite/branch office connectivity.
- Design, implement, operate, maintain and monitor Enterprise Network (Aruba, Juniper, Cisco), IP Telephony (Cisco Unity) and Enterprise Network Security infrastructure (Fortigate, Palo Alto, Juniper).
- Monitor MPLS, IOE, and other data communication links and provide periodic reports.
- Maintain network standardization and network equipment specifications.
- Manage network assets including network hardware and software and monitoring tools.
- Support contracts for network infrastructure devices.
- Manage ISP vendors and system integrators.
Standards & Strategy
- Establish organizational-wide standards for products, platforms, and appliance-based solutions related to network and communication technologies and security technologies that are adopted.
- Maintain and ensure network and security infrastructure is aligned as per the five-year technology plan, roadmaps, and visions set by Group Head of IT.
- Establish practices and procedures to maintain network and security infrastructure.
- Direct and utilize knowledge on best practices in areas related to network and security infrastructure.
- Ensure that all Network and Security technologies, policies and procedures across Aldar Education business streams are up to date, based on best practice and of the highest standards.
- Maintain network standardization and network equipment specifications.
Security & Policy
- Develop network and security policy and maintain ongoing assessment of security environment and recommend solutions for safeguarding the internal and external networks.
- Establish firewall and security policies and configuration standards across Aldar Education business streams.
- Coordinate security issues with IT Team and external security consultants.
- Conducts system security audits as per assigned schedule to detect weaknesses in the security system as per Aldar Education quality standards and procedures.
- Plan and guide VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) activities across the group.
- Prepares routine and special reports to highlight IT security issues, concerns, and criticalities.
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Manage and ensure that IT Disaster Recovery solutions are updated, tested and operated correctly during disasters, ensuring business continuity.
- Ownership of the complete IT Disaster Recovery assets and plan.
Project & Vendor Management
- Perform proof of concepts and assessments for different tech projects such as upgrades, conversions, infrastructure replacements and improvements.
- Manage and supervise system integrators and principal manufacturers to design, implement, and deliver network and security projects.
- Manage the requirement gathering and RFP creation to deliver network and security technologies that meet business needs.
- Guide the preparation of tendering documents (RFP, BoQ, SoW) and perform the technical assessment.
- Evaluate new network hardware and network solutions. Work with vendor/system integrators and principal manufacturer for new solutions design.
- Manage ISPs, vendors and system integrators.
Technical Analysis & Optimization
- Analyze existing technology landscape and research latest tech to propose new solutions or technology upgrades to improve the performance and security.
- Develop wireless performance data, metrics, algorithms, and reports to measure and track client, attendee, and staff wireless experiences against service standards.
- Monitor overall network and security landscape ensuring all are aligned as per Aldar Education standards.
- Generate various performance reports, analyze those reports and make recommendations to improve network performance.
Leadership & Governance
- Be the subject matter expert in all network and security technologies and provide direction and guidance to IT management and assist in their decision making.
- Manage and supervise network and security analysts, engineers, and technicians to provide leadership and direction.
- Resolve escalated L2 and L3 technical issues and coordinate with internal and external parties until closure.
- Act as the link between Aldar Properties and Aldar Education for all Network and Security matters.
- Supervise the technical integration of new schools and expansion projects, providing guidance to engineers and ensuring all standards and requirements are met.
Change & Asset Management
- Ensure network changes and supports are recorded in ITSM and following the corporate SLAs where applicable.
- Responsible for relevant Change Management processes related to Network and Security.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication or Computer Engineering.
Certifications
- Network Certification: CCNA, preferably CCNP.
- CCNA Security or equivalent.
- MSCE.
- Brand-specific certifications are a plus, such as Aruba and Cisco.
Experience
- 12+ years of experience in IT networking including administration and project management of IT infrastructure.
Skills & Competencies
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of Network Protocols, network components, network operating systems and Security Standards.
- Hands-on knowledge of procedures used for installation, modification, maintenance and repair of IT network hardware appliances, virtual appliances, and software.
- TCP/IP and IP Subnetting.
- Structure cabling and passive networking.
- SDWAN Solutions and Design Principles.
- Switching: Juniper, Cisco.
- Routing: Juniper, Cisco.
- Wireless: Aruba, Cisco.
- IP Telephony: Cisco IP Telephony.
- NAC Solution: Aruba.
- Perimeter and Core Firewall: Juniper SRX, Palo Alto, Fortigate.
- Central network management and monitoring tools: Juniper STRM, Panorama.
- VPN: Site-to-Site IPSec VPN, Client-based and Client-less SSL/IPSec VPN.
- DMZ networking.
- Web Application Firewall: On-premise and Cloud-based WAF.
- Anti-Virus Administration.
- Management and Monitoring Tools: SolarWinds, PRTG.
- Virtualization and DR Solution: VMware vSphere and SRM.
- SAN Storage: DellEMC, Pure Storage.
- Operating Systems: Windows Server and Windows 10.
Professional Skills
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to learn fast and keep abreast of new technologies.
- Technical and non-technical communication skills.
- Project Management and Vendor Management skills.
Additional Information
Benefits & Development
Aldar Education offers an attractive remuneration package including a range of benefits. The organization places special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training. Successful candidates have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.
Employment Standards
Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance. Aldar Education is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. The organization is dedicated to its national development strategy and encourages UAE Nationals to apply.