Principal Systems Consultant
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
Information and communication servers (ICS) consolidate all computing, audio-visual, telephony, access control CCTV and print and copy services as well as information management into a single, integrated division across UKZN’s 4 colleges, 5 campuses, and the 50 affiliated units and sites of operation including hospitals and research institutes.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The University of KwaZulu-Natal requires a Principal Systems Consultant (PSC) for the Systems & Services team within the Infrastructure, Networks & Communications (INC) section of the Information & Communications Services (ICS) division.
The incumbent will provide specialist expertise in the areas of Enterprise Resilience, Backup, Storage and Disaster Recovery across the University’s enterprise ICT environment.
The role is responsible for the architecture, governance, implementation, optimisation and operational management of enterprise backup, recovery and disaster recovery platforms, ensuring that institutional systems and data remain secure, recoverable and resilient.
In fulfilling the role of Principal Systems Consultant, the incumbent will provide technical leadership, contribute to enterprise ICT programmes and projects, and support the integration and alignment of systems and services across the broader ICS environment in line with institutional standards and strategy.
The incumbent will also contribute toward the strategic evolution of the University’s enterprise infrastructure platforms, while maintaining strong working knowledge across related infrastructure domains including virtualisation, identity, cloud integration and enterprise systems operations.
Minimum requirements
Enterprise Resilience Architecture & Planning
- Architect, implement and maintain enterprise backup, storage and disaster recovery solutions aligned to institutional ICT strategy.
- Develop, implement and maintain scalable, secure and resilient recovery architectures across hybrid on-premises and cloud-integrated environments.
- Participate in infrastructure lifecycle planning, platform modernisation, migrations and technology refresh initiatives.
- Research and recommend emerging technologies and best practices relating to enterprise resilience, cyber recovery and disaster recovery capabilities.
- Collaborate with infrastructure, systems, networking and security teams to ensure integrated and resilient enterprise services.
Backup, Recovery & Disaster Recovery
- Administer and optimise enterprise backup and recovery platforms including Veeam, Rubrik or equivalent enterprise-class solutions.
- Develop and maintain backup policies, retention schedules, replication strategies and recovery standards.
- Ensure critical enterprise systems and data are protected through secure, validated and recoverable backup solutions.
- Implement and maintain immutable and cyber-resilient recovery capabilities aligned to modern ransomware protection principles.
- Develop and maintain disaster recovery procedures, recovery documentation and operational runbooks.
- Conduct and coordinate disaster recovery testing, recovery validation exercises and remediation activities.
- Develop and maintain recovery strategies aligned to institutional Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO).
- Monitor, optimise and report on backup, storage and recovery platform performance, capacity and operational health.
- Act as a senior escalation point for complex backup, storage and disaster recovery incidents.
Governance, Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure enterprise backup and recovery environments align with POPIA, institutional governance frameworks and information security standards.
- Support audit and compliance processes through the provision of technical evidence, reporting and recovery validation documentation.
- Maintain governance and operational documentation including:
o backup and recovery procedures;
o disaster recovery runbooks;
o testing reports;
o retention policies;
o and platform standards.
- Ensure appropriate security controls including encryption, immutability, privileged access management and recovery isolation principles are implemented across backup and recovery platforms.
Technical Leadership & Operational Support
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the Systems & Services team.
- Participate in enterprise projects requiring resilience, recovery and infrastructure integration expertise.
- Provide technical guidance relating to backup, disaster recovery and enterprise resilience practices.
- Contribute toward infrastructure standards, procurement specifications, platform evaluations and operational planning.
- Liaise with vendors and service providers to ensure adherence to support agreements and service delivery expectations.
- Maintain awareness of industry trends, emerging threats and evolving best practices in enterprise resilience and disaster recovery.
The incumbent must possess strong enterprise-level experience in relation to the Backup, Restore and Disaster Recovery domain across the following technology areas:
Operating Systems: Windows Server and Linux Server
Virtualisation: VMware and Hyper-V
Cloud & Hybrid Platforms: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Entra ID, Hybrid identity integration and Cloud-integrated backup and recovery solutions
Enterprise Backup & Recovery Platforms
Proven practical experience with one or more of the following: Veeam Enterprise Backup & Recovery Platforms, Rubrik Data Protection, CommVault, Cohesity, or equivalent enterprise-class backup and recovery platforms
Automation & Scripting: PowerShell and Automation of backup, reporting and operational management processes
The incumbent must possess strong working knowledge across related enterprise infrastructure domains including:
- Active Directory and enterprise identity services
- Enterprise messaging and Microsoft 365 integration
- DNS, DHCP and core infrastructure services
- Enterprise storage and virtualisation platforms
- Information security and cyber resilience principles
- Enterprise infrastructure monitoring and reporting
- Recovery considerations for enterprise applications and databases
MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE
- Matric; AND
- Relevant and industry-recognised professional IT certification(s) in enterprise backup, virtualisation, cloud or infrastructure technologies (e.g. VMCE, VCP, Microsoft, Rubrik or equivalent); AND
- Relevant 3-year degree or equivalent qualification at NQF Level 7; AND
- A minimum of eight (8) years proven enterprise-level experience in systems, infrastructure, backup, storage and disaster recovery environments within a large and complex Information Technology organisation.
ADVANTAGES
- Formal Disaster Recovery and/or Business Continuity training
- Experience with hybrid on-premises and cloud-integrated enterprise environments
- Experience with cyber resilience and ransomware recovery methodologies
- ISO 22301 and/or ISO 27001 awareness
- COBIT and/or ITIL framework awareness
- Experience conducting enterprise disaster recovery testing and recovery validation exercises
- The incumbent may be required to participate in standby and after-hours support arrangements.
- The incumbent may be required to work extended hours during maintenance activities, recovery testing or major incidents.
- A valid Code 8 driver’s licence is required.
- Short-listed candidates may be required to undertake a technical skills assessment.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 01 October 2026.
To apply please click on the link https://ukzn.ci.hr/applicant/index.php OR visit the career portal on https://ukzn.ac.za/
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.
- Please do not send us copies of your degree and other certificates. We will request certified copies if you are short listed for interview.
- Please read the advertisement carefully. We do not consider applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements.
- The University is committed to Employment Equity.
- The University reserves the right not to fill a vacancy.
- Should you not hear from us within six weeks of the closing date, please assume you are unsuccessful
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