Networks Administrator

One Acre Fund

Nairobifull time~KES 120k – 200k/moJust now

Quick Take

The Role

Design, implement, and manage One Acre Fund's enterprise LAN, WAN, and internet networks across East Africa, ensuring high availability, security, and performance while mentoring Country IT Officers.

You Need

Enterprise networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, BGP, OSPF), hands-on hardware/software troubleshooting (routers, switches, firewalls), and network monitoring tools (PRTG, Nagios, Zabbix).

You Get

Competitive salary (KES 120–200k/mo), meaningful impact across hundreds of thousands of farming households, leadership opportunity in a respected nonprofit, and technical growth in a multi-country infrastructure environment.

Job Description

•Role Overview

One Acre Fund is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers across East Africa through asset-based financing and practical agricultural training. Operating at scale across multiple countries, the organization relies on robust, high-performance IT infrastructure to deliver impact to hundreds of thousands of farming households.

As a Networks Administrator based in Nairobi, you will be at the heart of keeping that infrastructure running. You will design, implement, and manage the organization's LAN, WAN, and internet connectivity ecosystems — ensuring stability, security, and scalability. You will proactively identify opportunities for automation and cost reduction while maintaining compliance with internal information security policies.

•Key Responsibilities

Implement and administer enterprise IT networks including LAN, WAN, network segments, and internet connectivity across One Acre Fund's operations
Ensure network connections maintain high availability, stability, and compliance with InfoSec policies at all times
Install, configure, and maintain networking hardware and software, coordinating upgrades and repairs through Country IT Operations (via established SOPs)
Train Country IT Officers (CITOs) on network management procedures and best practices
Maintain and update comprehensive network documentation to reflect current configurations and changes
Identify and implement opportunities for improvement through automation, cost reduction, or service enhancement
Design and implement monitoring, alerting, and threshold systems to detect potential service disruptions before they escalate
Manage network events and incidents — assess significance, execute the correct control action, and mitigate impact promptly
Implement networking redundancies and backup solutions to safeguard service continuity
Resolve Tier 2 and Tier 3 network incidents within agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Service and fulfil network requests from internal stakeholders in a timely and professional manner

•Required Skills & Experience

Demonstrate working knowledge of enterprise networking protocols and standards (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, BGP, OSPF) and apply them in real-world configurations
Configure and troubleshoot both hardware (routers, switches, firewalls, access points) and software networking components independently
Apply information security principles to network design, ensuring all connections align with organizational InfoSec policies
Use network monitoring tools (e.g., PRTG, Nagios, Zabbix, or similar) to proactively manage performance and uptime
Demonstrate basic project management skills — plan and execute network upgrades, migrations, or expansions on schedule and within budget
Understand device lifecycle management and industry best practices for network infrastructure
Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, providing regular status updates and documentation
Work collaboratively across distributed, cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

•Salary & Benefits

One Acre Fund offers a competitive compensation package aligned with NGO sector benchmarks for Nairobi-based technical roles. The estimated monthly salary range for this position is KES 120,000 – KES 200,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition to base salary, the organization provides a comprehensive benefits package that supports both professional and personal well-being.

•Who Should Apply

Ideal candidate: You are a proactive, detail-oriented IT professional with hands-on experience managing enterprise networks in a multi-site or multi-country environment. You thrive in environments that demand both technical precision and cross-functional collaboration. You are passionate about using technology to support social impact and are comfortable working within structured processes while identifying ways to improve them. You have a Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Networking, or a related field and relevant certifications (e.g., CCNA, CompTIA Network+) are a strong advantage.

Do not apply if: You have no hands-on experience managing enterprise-grade LAN/WAN infrastructure, if you are looking for a purely remote role with no on-site responsibilities, or if you are uncomfortable working within NGO budget constraints and structured operational procedures.

•How to Apply

Prepare an updated CV highlighting your networking experience, certifications, and measurable achievements in previous roles
Write a concise cover letter explaining why you are interested in One Acre Fund's mission and how your skills align with this role
Submit your application through the One Acre Fund careers portal or the job platform where you found this listing
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — early submission is strongly encouraged
Deadline for applications: 16 September 2026

Requirements Breakdown

Must Have

Demonstrated working knowledge of enterprise networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, BGP, OSPF) in production environments
Independent ability to configure and troubleshoot routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points
Proficiency with network monitoring tools (PRTG, Nagios, Zabbix, or equivalent)
Understanding of information security principles and ability to apply them to network design
Strong communication skills and ability to work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Nice to Have

Experience managing multi-country or distributed network infrastructure
Familiarity with network automation tools and scripting
Project management experience with network upgrades or migrations
Experience training IT staff or junior team members

Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →

Salary Context

Competitive mid-to-senior level salary for Networks Administrator in Nairobi

The KES 120–200k/mo range is competitive for an experienced Networks Administrator role in Kenya, reflecting both the technical complexity and the non-profit sector's premium for skilled infrastructure roles. Pay variation depends on prior experience, certifications (e.g., CCNA, CompTIA Network+), and the scale of networks previously managed.

About One Acre Fund

One Acre Fund is a high-impact nonprofit organization that equips smallholder farmers across East Africa with asset-based financing and agricultural training to increase yields and incomes. Operating at significant scale across multiple countries, the organization depends on reliable, secure IT infrastructure to serve hundreds of thousands of farming households. Working here offers the chance to apply technical expertise toward measurable social impact while supporting critical operations across a growing, mission-driven organization.

Likely Interview Questions

1
Tell us about a time you designed or implemented a network upgrade in a multi-site or geographically distributed environment. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
2
Describe your experience with network monitoring tools. Which have you used, and how have you used alerting and thresholds to prevent service disruptions?
3
How do you approach information security when designing and maintaining network infrastructure? Can you give an example of a security improvement you've implemented?
4
One Acre Fund operates across multiple countries. How would you approach managing and supporting network issues across remote locations with limited on-site IT staff?
5
Tell us about your experience training or mentoring junior IT staff. How do you ensure knowledge transfer and build technical capability in your team?

Application Tips

Highlight specific enterprise networking protocols you've configured in production (BGP, OSPF, VPN, DHCP) and mention real-world scenarios where you applied them, not just textbook knowledge.
Emphasize hands-on troubleshooting experience with specific hardware brands (Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, etc.) and monitoring tools the job mentions (PRTG, Nagios, Zabbix) — list these explicitly if you have them.
Showcase experience in a mission-driven or resource-constrained environment (NGO, startup, or multi-country operation) to demonstrate adaptability and resourcefulness, which align with One Acre Fund's scale and context.

Career Path

Roles that lead here

Junior Networks Administrator or IT Support Technician (2–3 years)

Systems Administrator with networking responsibilities

Network Technician in a large enterprise or ISP environment

YOU

Where this leads

Senior Networks Administrator or Network Operations Manager

IT Infrastructure Manager or IT Director (broader responsibility)

Solutions Architect or Network Engineer (design-focused role)

Skills & Keywords

networks administratornetwork engineer nairobilan wan managementit infrastructure jobs kenyaccna jobs nairobingo it jobs kenyanetwork monitoringfull time it jobs nairobi

Honest Assessment

Green Flags

Clear, well-defined responsibilities with measurable outcomes (availability, SLAs, incident management, cost reduction) — suggests a mature IT organization with good documentation.
Mentoring and knowledge-transfer expectations (training CITOs) indicate investment in team development and potential for career growth within the organization.
Mission-driven nonprofit with proven scale and impact across East Africa — meaningful work and organizational stability.
Competitive salary range (KES 120–200k/mo) reflects recognition of the role's technical complexity and the value of reliable infrastructure in a nonprofit context.

Watch Out

The job description mentions 'coordinate upgrades and repairs through Country IT Operations (via established SOPs)' but does not clarify lines of authority or whether the Networks Administrator has direct control over these activities — potential ambiguity in decision-making power.
No mention of benefits, remote work policy, professional development budget, or certifications support — important factors for technical roles in Nairobi.
Tier 2/3 incident resolution within SLAs is expected, but no detail on on-call or after-hours support requirements, which is typical for a role managing multi-country infrastructure.

A Day in the Life

☀️

Your week typically begins with a stand-up with the Country IT Operations team to review any overnight incidents or pending network requests. You spend mornings on hands-on tasks: configuring a new switch in a regional office, diagnosing a DNS failure flagged by your monitoring system, or reviewing PRTG dashboards for performance trends. Mid-week, you mentor a Country IT Officer on VPN configuration best practices, then spend an afternoon planning a WAN upgrade across two countries, budgeting and coordinating timelines with stakeholders. You respond to Tier 2 and Tier 3 incidents as they arise, document all changes meticulously, and close the week by identifying automation opportunities—perhaps a script to reduce manual provisioning work—that you'll prototype the following week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to be a Networks Administrator at One Acre Fund?

You need hands-on, production-level experience with enterprise networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, BGP, OSPF), the ability to independently configure and troubleshoot networking hardware (routers, switches, firewalls) and software, and proficiency with network monitoring tools like PRTG, Nagios, or Zabbix. A formal certification (CCNA, CompTIA Network+) is not explicitly required but would strengthen your application.

Is the Networks Administrator role at One Acre Fund remote?

The job posting specifies the location as Nairobi, suggesting an office-based or Nairobi-based role. The job description does not mention remote work options, so it is best to clarify this during the application or interview process.

How much does a Networks Administrator earn at One Acre Fund?

The posted salary is KES 120,000–200,000 per month, which is competitive for an experienced Networks Administrator role in Nairobi and reflects the technical seniority and multi-country infrastructure scope required.

What are the career growth opportunities for this role?

The role includes mentoring and knowledge-transfer responsibilities, positioning you to transition into a Senior Networks Administrator, IT Infrastructure Manager, or broader IT leadership role. Working in a multi-country nonprofit environment also builds skills in managing distributed, resource-constrained operations—valuable in any organization.

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