Systems Administrator at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Systems Administrator

Job Code: 20000166
Location: Abuja
Institution: ECOWAS Commission
Grade: P3/P4
Status: Permanent
Department: Internal Services
Line Supervisor: PO, Systems Acquisition & Implementation
Supervising: IT Assistant (2)

Role Overview

• Under the direct supervision the PO, Operations, Infrastructure and Maintenance, the incumbent will support multiuser computing environments and ensure the smooth operation of IT services within ECOWAS. 
• He/She will be involved in identifying network issues, fixing them, identifying cyber security threats, and devising ways to prevent intrusions. 
• This role is responsible for providing an excellent level of third line support to the ECOWAS Commission, by giving necessary/appropriate IT support across the whole Front and Back business office functions.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Identification of system problems, anticipate potential issues, repair systems and software.
• Maintenance and adequately provide necessary security protocols for ECOWAS’s intranets and entire IT systems.
• Provide ITIL Service disciplines, covering Incident, Problem and Change Management.
• Responsible for management of the rollout and support of desktop devices, including laptops and printers, and productivity tools such as Outlook and MSOffice, including installation and configuration of software and hardware; existing servers and network infrastructure.
• Ensure systems, processes and methodologies are maintained, to ensure effective monitoring, control and support of service delivery.
• Provide expert support in small/medium sized LAN/WAN – designing. Configuring and implementing
• Wireless network and internet– support the design/configuration and implementation of Windows 2003/2008 server.  Maintain server up time consistent with Business goals and metrics.
• Identify opportunities to simplify IT Service Desk operations through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct testing and analysis of all components of network and server infrastructure components. Develop and lead the replacement of infrastructure at end of life.
• Maintain and constantly improve file servers and network performance, reliability and security in line with BS 7799 / ISO 27001 and best practice.
• Contribute to ECOWAS’s IT strategy and contribute to the proper selection of technologies by providing information on advanced and appropriate technology, systems analysis, and software acquisition.
• Support and enhance computer technology and its use within ECOWAS to enhance staff productivity and improve the quality of the staff output.
• Work with the IT Service Desk team and other Specialist to set SLA criteria for the availability and performance of the IT infrastructure to ensure a timely, robust and comprehensive service transition process.
• Plan and implement upgrades needed to maintain service levels.
• Work with the Director, Operation, Infrastructure, and maintenance to establish standards and best practices for managing internal infrastructure, including network, access rights, desktops, servers, internal applications.
• Implement policies/standards to improve the quality and efficiency of support services based on ITIL methodology, including providing adequate antivirus and malware protection.
• Monitor, evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure and risk assess service delivery methods and procedures.
• Ensure the availability of technical documentation, manuals and IT policies and appropriate storage.
• Plan and execute DR tests as planned and agreed.
• Set up accounts and workstations.
• Support the trouble shooting of issues and outages and maintaining the administration of Active directory, MS Exchange server 2003-2013 – deployment, trouble shooting and administration.
• Monitor performance and maintain systems according to requirements.
• Ensure that the existing office and associated systems are always fully functional, therefore contributing to staff productivity and improving the quality of the Staff output.
• Recommend and implement new systems and upgrades as appropriate. Upgrade systems with new releases and models.
• Provide Citrix, VM and Hyper V support and administration.
• Provide Cisco & HP Switches, Firewall and Routers support and administration.
• Responsible for day-to-day system administration, including management of internal network, VPN, Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and system backups.
• Maintain a schedule of formal service reviews with key stakeholders and management of the key 3rd party providers who provide the IT operational service.
• Play an active role in the building and upgrading of the skills and knowledge of staff in the use of computers and relevant software applications as well as supporting a network of desktops, servers and associated printers and peripherals.
• Ensure delivery of individual and team projects allocated within aggressive delivery times.
• Develop expertise to train staff on new technologies.
• Manage the performance objectives and professional development of the Service Desk team including the initiation, monitoring, review and validation of individual training and development plans in line with organizational and business requirements.
• Provide occasional out of hours support.
• Perform any other duties as may be required from time to time.

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of a Bachelor`s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline from a recognized University.
• Professional certification (e.g. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), MCSE + Security) will be considered as an added advantage.
• At least five (5) years of appropriate experience supporting IT infrastructure and service delivery, preferably with a medium size organization.
• Experience with databases, networks (LAN, WAN) and patch management.
• Knowledge of system security (e.g. intrusion detection systems) and data backup/recovery
• Ability to create scripts in Python, Perl or other language.
• Familiarity with various operating systems and platforms
• Prince2 foundation certified (Desirable)
• Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) – (Desirable)
• CISCO Certified (Desirable).

Age Limit:

• Be below 50 years old. 
• This provision does not apply to internal candidates.

Ecowas Key Competencies:

• Ability to persuade/influence others to consider a certain point of view, adopt a new idea or implement new methods and practices.
• Ability to lead a team of trainees/junior staff and instill a spirit of teamwork to engage employees and achieve a well-defined set of activities.
• Ability to respect chain of command in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to resolve challenges that occur with minimal direction and/or to recommend and explain solutions or alternatives for approval.
• Ability to utilize the Code of Ethics to manage self, others, information, and resources.
• Ability to mentor others and create feedback loops with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates to build strong working relationships and improve performance.
• Contribute to maintaining organizational unit’s performance goals and standards.
• Interpersonal skills with ability to keep a client informed of progress or setbacks in projects of relevance to timeline, quality, and quantity.
• Ability to proactively interact with clients and build strong trusting relationships based on mutual respect and regular discussions.
• Ability to establish and sustain professional credibility with clients/stakeholders in a manner that anticipates their need, mitigates issues and that carefully balances professional obligations with the need to be sensitive and responsive to their needs.
• Ability to counsel, advise, consult, and guide others on matters pertaining to assigned client service responsibilities and established client service standards.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences, fairness, and ability to relate well with people from varied backgrounds, nationality, gender, ethnicity, race and religion.
• Understanding of diverse cultural views especially within West Africa, with sensitivity to group differences; ability to challenge bias and to practice tolerance and empathy.
• Ability to listen actively, consider people’s concerns and apply judgement, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive interactive environment that benefits from diverse strengths.
• Ability and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Ability to encourage, empower, and advocate for people in an unbiased and transparent manner.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS institutions, sectors, programmes and policies.
• Knowledge of ECOWAS internal operational requirements of programs, projects, services, and systems required to achieve work assignments and meet performance goals.
• Knowledge of rules and procedures of ECOWAS associated assigned responsibilities and ability to explain these clearly to others.
• Knowledge of the ECOWAS culture, structures and performance issues and priorities impacting assigned responsibilities.
• Knowledge of member states development trends, indicators, challenges, and opportunities as it relates to project/program assigned to own position.
• Ability to study data/information from a variety of sources, identify anomalies, trends and issues, present findings, and make recommendations.
• Ability to break down problems or processes into key parts to identify and solve gaps in service, quality assurance, compliance, and performance targets.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply techniques to generate creative ideas and new approaches to meeting goals.
• Ability to use evidence and research to inform policies and programs and identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including stakeholders, regional institutions and/or internal committees.
• Demonstrate operational computer proficiency using appropriate tools.
• Ability to make sound use of graphics and tables to effectively present numerical data to write semi-complex technical reports/proposals and edit/check templates, letters, etc.
• Ability to convey information clearly and concisely in a succinct and organized manner through both writing and verbal means.
• Exhibit interpersonal skills, make presentations, express opinions, and debate ideas with others in a constructive manner.
• Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT).
• Fluency in oral and written expressions in one of the ECOWAS official languages of the Community (English, French & Portuguese). Knowledge of an additional one will be an added advantage.
• Ability to develop, implement an individual action plan for achieving specific work goals.
• Identify, organize, and monitor tasks throughout to facilitate execution.
• Ability to contribute and/or lead on projects as per accepted project management standards and techniques, to co-ordinate contributions by others to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and work within timelines, giving attention to details, stakeholders, indicators, and risks.
• Ability to identify, collect and assess indicators to monitor performance and to take proactive remedial action as required.

Salary
UA 56,591.37 (USD 89,289.87) annually.

Application Closing Date
21st April, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications to: b52systemadministrator@ecowas.int using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Click here to download the application form (Docx.)

Note
Disclaimer:

• Selection and appointment will be subject to background and reference checks and other administrative requirements.
• ECOWAS does not charge for any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing in connection with application or recruitment processes and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
• Assessment method: Assessment of qualified candidates may include a written exercise and a competency-based interview.