Joan Jemutai Masai
Nairobi
Summary
Seasoned tech professional with 10+ years of experience in project management, network design, implementation, and support. Specializes in ISP and enterprise network solutions. Excels at problem-solving and leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects from concept to completion. Passionate about continuous learning, staying updated on emerging technology trends, and mentoring others to unlock their potential. Strong advocate for digital rights and privacy, promoting ethical and inclusive use of technology. Thrives in independent and collaborative environments, always focused on achieving impactful results.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager, Schools Connectivity Initiative
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
01.2023 - Current
- Developed comprehensive technical proposals for government institutions and organizations such as the Communications Authority USF Fund, UNICEF, and Google to expand school connectivity across Kenya
- Crafted winning grant proposals and detailed financial budgets for connectivity projects, contributing to KENET's strategic funding efforts and securing KES 26M ($200,000 USD) from the Internet Society Foundation in 2022 to implement Internet connectivity in 20 educational institutions
- Managed the rollout of LAN/WLAN and solar power solutions in 20+ institutions, optimizing network coverage while tracking and managing resources and budgets
- Coordinated and supervised a team of 4+ contractors across multiple project rollouts, resulting in all projects being completed on time and within budget
- Managed procurement process for project, sourcing equipment from different vendors and analyzing quotes to justify purchases, resulting in a cost savings and adherence to project budget
- Collaborated with finance team to streamline purchase order process, reducing approval times by 30% and ensuring timely delivery of project to the beneficiary institutions
- Evaluated contractor bids and awarded purchase orders, ensuring successful rollout of network solutions across multiple institutions while documenting and adhering to the project budget
- Managed the implementation of fiber and P2P radio connectivity solutions in 20 educational institutions, resulting in a 100% increase in high-speed Internet access for students, teachers, faculty, researchers and staff members
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative strategies for grant proposal submissions, leading to successful funding approvals for connectivity projects
- Developed and executed project plans to implement last-mile connectivity solutions for 20+ educational institutions, resulting in improved access to digital resources for over 100,000 students, teachers, faculty, researchers and staff members
- Led monthly presentations to senior management, highlighting project milestones and budget tracking in both KES and USD, ensuring transparency and accountability for grant funds
- Prepared and delivered comprehensive interim and final reports to stakeholders, detailing the impact of grant funds on schools' connectivity initiatives, leading to a 20% increase in funding for future projects
- Secured KES 39M ($300,000 USD) in additional funding from the Internet Society Foundation in 2024 to expand the project, providing Internet connectivity to 28 more educational institutions nationwide
Senior Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
09.2019 - 01.2023
- Served as the primary escalation point for Level 2 and Level 3 network faults, ensuring an average resolution time of less than 30 minutes, exceeding company standards by 20%
- Managed a team of 10+ network engineers to maintain and optimize the KENET network, resulting in an average 98.7% availability for all members
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize the design of core, distribution, and access networks, leading to a 40% reduction in network downtime and a 20% improvement in overall network performance
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to assess the performance of current providers and identified areas for improvement, leading to a 20% increase in network reliability
- Participated in contract negotiations with leading colocation facility providers and undersea cable/IP transit providers, resulting in a 15% cost reduction for international L2 services and IP transit to KENET
- Implemented strategic upgrades to IP transit connections and international circuits for KENET, resulting in a 30% increase in network reliability and a 20% decrease in latency
- Led the successful implementation of LAN/WLAN projects in 30+ educational institutions, coordinating with IT, facilities, and instructional staff to ensure seamless integration and user adoption, resulting in at least 20% increase in bandwidth consumption
- Prepared detailed RFPs, RFQs, and tenders for network infrastructure projects
- Evaluated supplier proposals and negotiated contracts for network infrastructure projects, while aiming to reduce project costs and maintaining quality standards
- Executed project timelines with precision, ensuring timely delivery of network infrastructure projects and achieving a 95% on-time acceptance rate
- Participated in performance reviews of KENET's strategic plans and work plans, identifying key trends and making recommendations for future enhancements that aligned with the organization's goals
- Participated in capacity-building workshops focused on networking fundamentals, network monitoring and wireless network design for both internal team members and external clients, leading to a 50% decrease in network support incidences
- Developed a comprehensive training program on NOC Fundamentals, delivered using Moodle
- Maintained meticulous inventory records for KENET's IP address space, resulting in a 98% accuracy rate in tracking and reporting
- Provide technical advisory services to stakeholders and government institutions, developing proposals and financial plans to support scaling connectivity in Kenya
- Represented KENET at prestigious international conferences, including the Internet2 Technology Exchange, showcasing the organization's technological advancements and networking capabilities to over 500 industry professionals
- Led the successful migration of KENET's core network infrastructure from Cisco to Juniper routers, resulting in a 30% increase in network resilience and a 20% improvement in efficiency
- Managed the successful integration of secure WiFi with existing network infrastructure in KENET member institutions, resulting in a seamless transition process and minimal disruption to daily operations
Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
07.2017 - 09.2019
- Provided expert technical guidance for resolving complex cases, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings
- Led the upgrade of KENET 10G core backbone to 100G, improving network speed and efficiency by 50%
- Managed the integration of international circuits for Internet traffic, establishing peering with other Autonomous Systems/Organizations, optimizing network performance
- Led the upgrade of the KENET 10G core backbone to a more efficient 100G system, resulting in improved network performance and increased bandwidth capacity by 90%
- Managed the Schools Connectivity project as Project Manager, successfully connecting 150 schools in Nairobi to high-speed internet, improving access to educational resources for thousands of students
- Provided expert technical support for intricate cases, resolving issues affecting customer satisfaction and reducing resolution time by 30%
- Implemented innovative solutions to meet customer requirements, leading to a 30% decrease in network downtime and a 20% increase in overall system reliability
- Implemented new network architecture for upgraded core backbone from 10G to 40/100G, leading to a 20% decrease in downtime and an increase in overall network performance by 40%
- Planned and executed the installation of a new network infrastructure for company events, resulting in an increase in network stability and reliability during events
- Managed a team to design and deploy wifi solutions for over 20+ educational institutions, resulting in an increase in subscribed internet capacity and generating significant revenue for the company
- Provided expert advice to clients on network deployments and Internet planning, ensuring IT needs were met efficiently and effectively
- Integrated international circuits to optimize Internet traffic flow, resulting in a 20% reduction in latency and a 15% increase in overall network efficiency
- Implemented new protocols and configurations for seamless integration of international circuits, reducing downtime by 40% and increasing network reliability by 20%
- Conducted comprehensive technical training sessions for network engineers on Scalable Campus Networks, Wireless Networking, and Security, resulting in a 20% increase in network efficiency and performance metrics
- Deployed secure VPNs for 50+ clients, enabling remote access to resources; implemented VPNs for local banks utilizing ERP systems, resulting in a 75% increase in client satisfaction
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to assess network security needs and implement customized VPN solutions, resulting in a 40% reduction in potential security breaches
Assistant Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
06.2012 - 06.2017
- Configured and optimized multi-vendor equipment to improve network performance by 30%
- Implemented security protocols on all network devices, resulting in a 50% decrease in cyber attacks and breaches
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve connectivity issues across different network devices, reducing downtime by 40%
- Upgraded the 10G core backbone infrastructure to support increased data traffic by 30%, leading to improved network performance and reduced latency for end users
- Engineered and implemented a new routing protocol for KENET fiber network, resulting in a 20% increase in network efficiency and a reduction of downtime by 15%
- Executed installation of 50 software licenses and completed IOS upgrades on 100 network devices, resulting in a 30% increase in system performance
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop streamlined processes for license installations, leading to a 20% decrease in installation time and improving network efficiency
- Created detailed network diagrams utilizing to visualize complex network topologies, leading to a 20% increase in troubleshooting efficiency
- Implemented robust VPN solutions, resulting in a reduction in security breaches
- Managed and maintained VPN infrastructure for 500+ remote users, ensuring seamless connectivity and reducing downtime by 80%
- Documented all IP address allocations and recoveries in a comprehensive database, ensuring accurate tracking of resources and compliance with industry standards
- Implemented OSPF and BGP routing protocols across a network of 200+ devices, resulting in a 30% increase in network efficiency and a 50% decrease in latency
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop custom LAN solutions for clients, leading to a 30% increase in client retention rates
- Collaborated with IT team to create customized recommendations for each client based on audit results, improving client satisfaction ratings by 30%
- Conducted thorough client campus LAN audits, identifying vulnerabilities and inefficiencies, resulting in a 15% increase in network performance
- Conducted comprehensive network assessments for 5 clients, identifying security vulnerabilities and proposing advanced strategies that led to a 50% reduction in cyber threats
- Implemented VoIP solutions for clients, reducing their communication costs by an average of 30% per year
- Implemented RADIUS authentication solutions on Ubuntu and Debian Linux platforms for 50+ customer wireless networks, resulting in a 30% increase in network security
- Established proactive maintenance schedules for networking equipment, minimizing the risk of unexpected outages or performance degradation.
- Provided on-call support for network engineering duties.
Volunteer Network Administrator
Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
06.2010 - 09.2010
- Implemented innovative Internet connectivity solutions for the AMPATH project, resulting in a 40% increase in online training participation among doctors and nurses
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop a comprehensive report on VSAT uplink performance, highlighting key areas for improvement and leading to a 10% increase in overall network speed
- Performed on-site troubleshooting of faults in VSAT links, reducing downtime by 15% and ensuring seamless connectivity for end users
- Collaborated with offshore vendors to troubleshoot and resolve network issues, resulting in a 20% decrease in downtime and increased overall network reliability
- Analyzed network infrastructure for local businesses and county government, identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions that resulted in a 15% increase in network speed
- Organized and facilitated workshops on digital literacy, specifically focusing on leveraging ICT for development, leading to a 50% increase in youth interest in creating socially impactful businesses
Education
Master Of Science - Information Technology
Strathmore University
Nairobi06.2024
Bachelor Of Science - Networks and Communication Systems
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton
Eldoret06.2012
Skills
- Project Management
- Grant and Proposal Writing
- Network Design and Implementation
- Contract and Vendor Management
- Cybersecurity
- Capacity Building
- Network Development
- Network Engineering
References
Hillary Cheserek, Lead Technical Operations, Kenya Education Network, hcheserek@gmail.com, +254720282115
Maureen Njue-Musau, Digital Transformation Manager, Center for Reproductive Rights, wanja.maureen@gmail.com, +254721117827
Michelle Opiyo, Network Delivery Manager, Meta, michelle.opiyo@gmail.com, +254721627019
Skillsinterests
Project Management, Grant and Proposal Writing, Network Design and Implementation, Contract and Vendor Management, Cybersecurity, Capacity Building, Network Development, Network Engineering
Timeline
Project Manager, Schools Connectivity Initiative
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
01.2023 - Current
Senior Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
09.2019 - 01.2023
Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
07.2017 - 09.2019
Assistant Network Administrator
Kenya Education Network (KENET)
06.2012 - 06.2017
Volunteer Network Administrator
Voices of Africa for Sustainable Development
06.2010 - 09.2010
Master Of Science - Information Technology
Strathmore University
Bachelor Of Science - Networks and Communication Systems
University of Eastern Africa, Baraton
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