Network Solutions and Delivery Lead: KZN

First Technology Pty Ltd; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology services company in South Africa seeks a Network Solutions and Delivery Lead. This role involves owning the customer-facing technical delivery lifecycle for network services and requires strong hands-on networking skills. The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience, effective leadership capabilities, and the ability to translate commercial commitments into technical realities. The position demands strong coordination skills across various teams and a commitment to excellent customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in hands-on networking with production responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to lead delivery outcomes across multiple teams.
• Strong customer-facing skills including expectation management.

Responsibilities

• Own the customer-facing technical delivery lifecycle for network services.
• Convert signed scopes and sales promises into delivery-ready technical briefs.
• Run structured go-live and early-life stabilization checkpoints.

Skills

Hands-on networking

Delivery leadership

Customer-facing skills

Routing and switching

Security technologies

SD-WAN

Monitoring

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Network Solutions and Delivery Lead: KZN

Role purpose

Own the customer-facing technical delivery lifecycle for network services, acting as the connective tissue between Sales, Service, Delivery/PMO, and Operations. Translate sales commitments and scopes into executable designs and delivery briefs, govern installations and changes to land cleanly, and personally perform hands‑on networking work for ~30% of the role. Drive solution quality and delivery repeatability without owning day‑to‑day network operations

Reporting line & key interfaces

Reports to: Technical Manager

Key internal interfaces:

Sales & Pre‑Sales, Project Managers, Service Desk, Network Operations Manager and NOC, Field/Install teams, Vendors/Carriers.

External interfaces:

Customers’ IT teams and decision makers.

Core accountabilities

1. Customer experience ownership (delivery lifecycle)
   • Be accountable for customer outcomes from signed order through go‑live and early‑life support.
   • Ensure expectations are explicit, realistic, and aligned across teams.
   • Lead resolution of delivery‑related friction impacting customer trust.
2. Scope-to‑delivery translation
   • Convert signed scopes and sales promises into delivery‑ready technical briefs.
   • Validate feasibility, assumptions, dependencies, and risks before build starts.
   • Ensure PMs/install teams have unambiguous scope, acceptance criteria, and design intent.
3. Cross‑functional delivery leadership
   • Run handovers and kickoffs Sales → PMO/Delivery → Operations.
   • Track delivery readiness: materials, access, configs, customer prerequisites, scheduling.
   • Escalate blockers early to Ben Munn / relevant owners; drive decisions to protect timeline and quality.
4. Hands‑on technical networking (≈30% daily)
   • Execute or lead high‑risk/complex tasks tied to delivery:
   • design, configuration, migrations, commissioning, escalated install troubleshooting.
   • Support field teams during critical cutovers or recoveries within delivery scope.
   • Maintain strong real‑world capability across routing/switching, firewalls, SD‑WAN, wireless, WAN/carrier services, monitoring.
5. Solution and network design authority (customer + internal)
   • Co‑design customer networks with pre‑sales/architects and the customer.
   • Produce/review HLD/LLD inputs, IP plans, standards‑aligned configs, and as‑built docs.
   • Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, and supportable in your operating model.
6. National network optimization (design + improvement pipeline)
   • Identify systemic design weaknesses affecting customer experience or delivery repeatability.
   • Propose and lead project‑based optimization initiatives (not BAU ops).
   • Partner with Network Ops Manager to transition approved optimizations into operational ownership.
7. Handover excellence into Operations
   • Run structured go‑live and early‑life stabilization checkpoints.
   • Deliver complete handover packs: as‑builts, configs, diagrams, monitoring requirements, support notes.
   • Confirm Operations acceptance and readiness before exiting delivery ownership.

Success measures / KPIs

• Install/projects delivered on time, on scope, first‑time‑right.
• Reduction in scope ambiguity, rework, and install escalations.
• Improved customer CSAT/NPS across delivery and early‑life phases.
• Reduction in delivery‑originated repeat incidents post handover.
• Documented national network improvements delivered as projects and successfully transitioned to Ops.

Required experience and skills

Must have

• 3+ years in hands‑on networking with production responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to lead delivery outcomes across multiple teams.
• Strong customer‑facing skills: workshops, expectation management, trade‑off communication.
• Deep practical networking skills (enterprise + WAN/carrier): routing, switching, security, SD‑WAN, wireless, monitoring.
• Ability to translate commercial commitments into technical/delivery reality.

Behavioural profile

• End‑to‑end delivery owner; refuses “over‑the‑wall” behaviour.
• Root‑cause thinker and process improver.
• Calm, decisive, and technically credible under pressure.
• Balances precision in design and scope with delivery pragmatism.
• Trusted by customers, respected by engineers, credible with sales.
  

Notes:

• You will be expected to fulfil any duties reasonably required by the business.
• Your job description may be subject to reasonable amendments from time to time, based on its validity and reasonableness. You will be expected to serve the Company or any Associated Entity in any capacity as reasonably required by management.
• It is essential that you perform your duties faithfully, diligently, and to the best of your abilities. You agree to make every effort to promote the best interests of the Company and any Associated Entity.
• Within reasonable limits, you may be requested to work outside of your designated duties and/or assume multiple roles as needed.