Bridge International Academies Job Vacancy : Officer, Information Technology - Jobs in Kenya

Who We Are

Bridge International Academies is the world’s largest and fastest-growing chain of primary and pre-primary schools with more than 400 academies and 120,000 pupils in Kenya and Uganda. We democratize the right to succeed by giving families living in poverty access to the high-quality education that will allow their children to live a very different life. We leverage experts, data, and technology in order to standardize and scale every aspect of quality education delivery, from how and where academies are built to how teachers are selected and trained, and how lessons are delivered and monitored for improvement. We are vertically-integrated, tech-enabled, and on our way to profitability. Bridge expects to continue rapid expansion in East Africa, and will be launching operations in Nigeria in September 2015, with India to follow in 2016.

Join Us!

Do you believe that every child deserves the same quality of education no matter where they live, or who their parents are? Do you think that we need innovation in education? Do you want to challenge the status quo? Then join us!

Bridge is now the largest education organization in Africa and one of the fastest growing social enterprises in the world. We are looking for passionate, dedicated and energetic people to join our rapidly growing organization. If you believe in our mission and are looking for a fast-past, always changing working environment with room to grow and learn, we are looking for you!

Information Technologyat Bridge

The IT Department is responsible for supporting and maintaining the company’s IT systems and for providing efficient desktop and mobile support to all business users. The department is also responsible for resolving any IT-related faults quickly and efficiently, including a broad range of queries from how to set up an email account to system diagnostics, plus enhancing and developing the IT provision throughout the business.

About the role

The IT Officer role, located at Bridge Head Office, will ensure the provision of superior customer service throughout the business, through the maintenance, enhancement and efficient operation of IT functions. Additionally, the role will include responsibility for ensuring the security and integrity of IT operations and systems.

The flexibility to work outside normal business hours is integral to this role, as is the ability to work under broad direction and minimal supervision.

What You Will Do

• Provide IT Support contact for all Bridge staff, covering all Computing hardware, Servers, software and associated peripherals.


• Deploy computers and associated peripherals including new installations and redeployment of existing equipment.


• Maintain existing equipment to standards, by performing upgrades, new installations and carrying out routine maintenance procedures.


• Assist in the compilation and maintenance of an accurate inventory of hardware and software, and ensuring that records are kept up-to-date within the service desk system.


• Troubleshoot technical issues to resolution and/or escalate to colleagues, suppliers or partner organizations as required.


• Log and track all incidents and service requests in Bridge’s designated service desk system


• Participates in system maintenance/optimization/performance activities of the enterprise infrastructure


• Manage service desk tickets, planning and prioritizing systematically to minimize backlog and ensure operational efficiency


• Ensure system and data security is maintained at a high standard, ensuring the integrity of the Bridge network is not compromised.


• Expedite the repair of hardware faults and software configuration problems, notifying or forwarding to the relevant suppliers in a timely manner.


• Work with colleagues to monitor performance of Bridge systems, ensuring that issues are appropriately escalated and resolved.


• Conduct user training and change management from time to time on technology use.


• Provide technical assistance to project teams and undertake technical project roles when required.

What You Should Have

• A Degree from a recognized university with top marks in Computer Science or a related discipline


• 3-5 years with relevant IT/industry work experience


• Experience working within a fast-paced environment


• Relevant Microsoft certification


• Excellent technical knowledge of PC/Mac hardware


• Software and hardware troubleshooting


• Windows desktop (7/8) and Windows Server (at least 2008) experience


• Experience with Routers and Firewall technologies, switches and firewall experience


• Microsoft Office 2007/2010 support


• Active Directory administration


• TCP/IP


• Experience working and training on a variety of IT subjects and applications


• Excellent writing and oral communication skills


• Good research skills, including ability to identify and propose solutions to issues/crisis


• Knowledge of Android technologies, Smart Phones, LAN and Wi-Fi configurations


• Experience with admin of Microsoft systems such as Exchange, Navision, IIS, or Sharepoint.


• Understanding of Virtual and Cloud environments


• Self-motivated and result driven with high integrity and adaptable to a fast changing work environment.


• Demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines


• Exceptional self-confidence and interpersonal skills, and experience in cross-cultural team work within a fast-paced environment


• Must be highly driven, organized and a great team player


• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) skills


• Planning and organizing skills


• Able to operate with minimal supervision


• Able to manage time effectively and set priorities appropriately

You’re also

• A detailed doer– You have a track record of getting things done. You’re organized and responsive. You take ownership of every idea you touch and execute it to a fine level of detail, setting targets, engaging others, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. You can multi-task dozens of such projects at once and never lose sight of the details. Likely, you have some experience in a start-up or other rapid-growth company.


• A networking mastermind – You excel at meeting new people and turning them into advocates. You communicate in a clear, conscientious, and effective way in both written and oral speech. You can influence strangers in the course of a single conversation. Allies and colleagues will go to bat for your ideas.


• A creative problem-solver – Growing any business from scratch comes with massive and constant challenges. On top of that, Bridge works in volatile, low-resource communities and runs on fees averaging just $6 a month per pupil. You need to be flexible and ready to get everything done effectively, quickly, and affordably with the materials at hand. Every dollar you spend is a dollar our customers, who live on less than $2 a day, will have to pay for.


• A customer advocate – Our customers – these families living on less than $2 a day per person – never leave your mind. You know them, get them, have shared a meal with them (or would be happy to in the future). You would never shrink back from shaking a parent’s hand or picking up a crying child, no matter what the person was wearing or looked like. Every decision you make considers their customer benefit, experience, and value.


• A life-long learner– You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others. You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today.