IT Infrastructure Team Leader

African Sales Company; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

African Sales Company is seeking an IT Infrastructure Team Lead to design, implement, and support our global infrastructure across retail stores, distribution centres, and head office. The role focuses on ensuring system availability, strengthening security, and leading a team to deliver reliable technology services.

You will manage servers, network, cloud, ERP integrations, and POS systems while partnering with Operations, Store Management, and vendors to optimise uptime and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in IT, CS or related field.
• Relevant certifications such as ITIL, Azure, Fortinet are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead administration and support of servers, storage, virtualization, cloud, and network infrastructure.
• Ensure high availability of critical systems across stores, distribution centres, and head office.
• Manage performance, capacity planning, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Oversee backup, disaster recovery and business continuity solutions.
• Implement security controls and manage incident response across locations.
• Lead service desk and infrastructure projects, including store deployments and cloud initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations, store management, and ERP/vendor teams.
• Budgeting, procurement, and technology roadmap planning.

Skills

Windows Server Admin

Azure Admin

Active Directory

Fortinet Firewall

Backup & DR

Endpoint Security

Monitoring Tools

POS Systems

WMS

SYSPRO ERP

Teams Telephony

Leadership

Analytics

PM

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in IT

Tools

Microsoft 365

Azure

Job description

The IT Infrastructure Team Lead will be responsible for the design, implementation, support, security, and continuous improvement of ASCO’s infrastructure environment across retail stores, distribution centres, and head office operations. This role combines technical expertise, project delivery, operational management, and people leadership to ensure maximum system availability and business continuity.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure & Operations Management

• Lead the administration and support of servers, storage, virtualization platforms, cloud services, and network infrastructure.
• Ensure high availability of business-critical systems supporting retail stores, warehouses, and head office operations.
• Manage infrastructure performance, capacity planning, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Oversee backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.
• Ensure infrastructure standards are consistently implemented across all locations.

Retail Store Technology Management

• Manage and support IT infrastructure across all retail branches.
• Ensure continuous availability of Point of Sale (POS) systems, payment integrations, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and retail peripherals.
• Coordinate store openings, relocations, upgrades, and technology rollouts.
• Minimise downtime impacting store trading and customer experience.
• Work closely with Operations and Store Management teams to resolve infrastructure-related issues.

Warehouse & Distribution Systems Support

• Support infrastructure underpinning warehouse and distribution operations.
• Ensure reliable connectivity and performance for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), handheld scanning devices, wireless networks, and logistics technologies.
• Collaborate with warehouse management teams to improve operational efficiency through technology.

ERP & Business Systems Infrastructure

• Support and maintain infrastructure requirements for ERP systems including SYSPRO, Sage, and related integrated business applications.
• Work closely with application teams and vendors to ensure optimal system performance and availability.
• Support system integrations between ERP, POS, warehouse management, CRM, loyalty, and finance systems.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Implement and maintain cybersecurity controls across all business locations.
• Manage endpoint protection, firewall administration, email security, vulnerability management, and patching processes.
• Support compliance with company governance, audit requirements, and security standards.
• Lead infrastructure-related security incident response activities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Infrastructure Support Team.
• Manage workload allocation, performance management, and skills development.
• Foster a culture of service excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure service desk escalations are resolved effectively and within SLA targets.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, service providers, and implementation partners.
• Lead infrastructure projects including network upgrades, cloud initiatives, security improvements, and store deployments.
• Assist with IT budgeting, procurement, and technology roadmap planning.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies that improve operational efficiency and business performance.

Service Delivery

• Ensure timely resolution of infrastructure incidents and service requests.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Produce infrastructure performance and availability reports.
• Work closely with business stakeholders to understand operational requirements and deliver technology solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree, National Diploma, or equivalent qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Relevant certifications such as Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate, Azure Solution Architect, Fortinet, ITIL, or equivalent will be advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years of IT infrastructure experience within a retail, wholesale, distribution, or multi-site environment.
• Minimum 3 years in a supervisory or team leadership role.
• Experience supporting multiple retail stores and distribution centres.
• Proven experience managing infrastructure supporting ERP, POS, and warehouse management systems.
• Experience working with third-party vendors and service providers.

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Windows Server Administration
• Microsoft 365 and Azure Administration
• Active Directory and Group Policy
• Fortinet Firewall Administration
• Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions
• Endpoint Security and Patch Management
• PRTG or Similar Monitoring Solutions
• Retail Point of Sale Systems
• Warehouse Management Systems
• SYSPRO ERP Platforms advantageous
• Microsoft Teams Telephony and Collaboration Technologies
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Customer-focused mindset with a passion for service delivery
• Project management and planning skills
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Strategic thinking with operational execution capability
• Ability to learn and adapt to new systems and technologies quickly.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Infrastructure uptime and availability
• Store technology availability
• ERP and business system performance
• Cybersecurity compliance and risk reduction