VACANCY: MANAGER INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES

Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) is the regulatory body for the communications sector in Lesotho.  Following the adoption of the Lesotho Telecommunications Policy of 1999, the Authority was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000.  Presently, the Authority operates under the Communications Act of 2012 for the regulation of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), Broadcasting and Postal Services.

LCA invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Manager: Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) reporting to the Chief Technology Officer.

 Job Summary

The ICT Manager is responsible for leading and managing the Information Technology (IT) functions within the Authority, ensuring that all IT initiatives are aligned with the organizational strategy. The role includes overseeing enterprise IT services, ensuring robust IT governance, and managing national internet critical infrastructure, including the Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) registry and the Lesotho Internet Exchange Point (LIXP).

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Process Development
2. Collaborate with senior management to contribute to the development and enhancement of the Authority’s business processes, ensuring integration of ICT capabilities to support business objectives.
3. Provide input on how emerging technologies can be integrated into business processes to improve efficiency and service delivery.
4. Enterprise IT Planning and Management
5. Develop and implement IT strategies, policies, and procedures to support organizational goals.
6. Ensure the effective planning, provisioning, and management of Enterprise IT resources, including hardware, software, network infrastructure, and cloud services.
7. Oversee the delivery of IT support across the organization, ensuring minimal downtime and rapid resolution of issues.
8. Manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure the timely acquisition and maintenance of IT systems.
9. Define the enterprise information architecture
10. IT Governance and Risk Management
11. Coordinate IT governance activities, ensuring that IT policies, procedures, and standards are aligned with best practices and regulatory requirements.
12. Lead enterprise IT risk management by identifying potential risks and implementing controls to mitigate those risks.
13. Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards in the management of IT assets and operations.
14. Regularly review IT performance metrics and provide reports to senior management on the state of the IT infrastructure.
15. National Internet Critical Infrastructure Management
16. Oversee the operations of critical national internet infrastructure, including the ccTLD (.ls) Registry and the Lesotho Internet Exchange Point (LIXP), ensuring high availability and security.
17. Plan, organize, and implement strategies for the continuous improvement of national internet infrastructure to support growing national demands.
18. Develop mechanisms and technical solutions to enhance the performance and visibility of the LIXP and ccTLD registry.
19. Ensure effective collaboration with internet exchange point peers and support registrars to ensure optimal technical operations.
20. Stakeholder Engagement and Representation
21. Engage with national, regional, and international stakeholders to promote the development and use of the LIXP and .ls domain registry.
22. Ensure the registry is involved in global internet governance activities, participating in regional and international forums related to domain names, numbering resources, and protocol assignments.
23. Act as the primary representative of the Registry and LIXP at local and international events, including technical forums, policymaking bodies, and industry conferences.
24. Policy Development and Advocacy
25. Coordinate the design and implementation of policies and methodologies to ensure active participation by the Lesotho internet community in global internet governance processes.
26. Advocate for the adoption of best practices in internet governance within Lesotho, promoting the interests of the local internet community.
27. Provide expert advice to government agencies and other stakeholders on matters related to ICT, internet governance, and infrastructure development.
28. Technical Leadership and Support
29. Lead the IT team in providing high-quality technical support for internal users and external stakeholders, ensuring a customer-focused approach.
30. Manage system upgrades, patch management, and backup strategies to ensure the reliability and security of IT systems.
31. Ensure that all national internet critical infrastructure systems are secure, reliable, and perform optimally, adhering to global standards for resilience and redundancy.
32. Managerial Roles & Responsibilities (In-House)
33. Supervises the work of the section;
34. Mentors the staff of the section;
35. Participates in the preparation of sectional annual operational plans,
36. Prepares quarterly work plans, and budget and performance reports for the section;
37. Provides input in the process of developing skills and capacities to optimize performance;
38. Carries-out performance reviews and identifies any gaps that may be addressed through training and other capacity enhancement activities;
39. Participates in the formulation and implementation of the performance targets that relate to the section within the framework of the Performance Management System (PMS) of the Authority.
40. Participates in the timely preparation and production of sectional reports of all activities including budget and expenditure.
41. Performs any other relevant duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field. A Master’s degree would be an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in IT management, preferably within the telecommunications or internet infrastructure sector.
• Experience in managing national internet infrastructure, including ccTLD and IXPs.
• Proven experience in IT governance, IT service management (ITIL), and risk management frameworks.
• Experience in managing large-scale ICT projects, including infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity, and cloud services.
• Familiarity with global internet governance frameworks, including ICANN policies, IETF protocols, and best practices in domain name and numbering resource management.

Key Skills

• Leadership and Management: Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide IT teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term IT strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of IT systems, internet infrastructure, and emerging technologies relevant to national critical infrastructure.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex technical problems and develop effective solutions.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build and maintain relationships with local and international stakeholders in the ICT and internet governance fields.

Tenure

The position is permanent and pensionable.

Remuneration

The LCA offers an attractive and competitive package for the position.

How to Apply

Application letters accompanied by certified copies of relevant certificates, Curriculum Vitae and names and addresses of three referees should be emailed to: hr@lca.org.ls on or before 11 October, 2024. At 12 noon.