Senior IT Specialist — Infrastructure, Site Support & Network Security

About the Role

We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Senior IT Specialist specializing in Infrastructure, Site Support, and Network Security to join our dynamic IT team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for maintaining the integrity, security, and optimal performance of our organization’s IT infrastructure across the head office and multiple plant and site locations. Your expertise in Fortinet FortiGate administration, enterprise networking, and infrastructure management will be critical in ensuring seamless operations, robust security, and high availability of our systems. As a technical escalation point, you will resolve complex infrastructure and security-related issues, mentor junior team members, and drive continuous improvement in our IT environment.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior IT Specialist, your core responsibilities will include:

• Fortinet FortiGate Administration: Design, configure, and maintain Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, including Firewall Policies, NAT, VPN, High Availability (HA), and SD-WAN to ensure robust network security and connectivity.
• Network Security Management: Administer advanced network security technologies such as IPS, Web Filtering, Application Control, SSL Inspection, and bandwidth optimization to protect against cyber threats and optimize performance.
• Infrastructure Monitoring & Maintenance: Continuously monitor firewall performance, internet utilization, and network health to ensure maximum availability and security. Proactively identify and resolve potential issues before they impact operations.
• LAN/WAN & Network Administration: Oversee the administration and support of LAN/WAN infrastructure, including switches, routers, wireless networks, VLANs, DHCP, DNS, and WAN connectivity to maintain seamless connectivity across all sites.
• VPN Solutions Management: Configure and maintain site-to-site and remote access VPN solutions to ensure secure and reliable connectivity for distributed teams and remote workers.
• Server & Virtualization Support: Provide technical support for servers, virtualization platforms, backup infrastructure, Active Directory / Entra ID, and endpoint security solutions to ensure data integrity and system reliability.
• Technical Escalation & Troubleshooting: Serve as the primary escalation point for complex IT infrastructure issues, offering advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving to minimize downtime and disruptions.
• Site Deployments & Standardization: Support the deployment of new sites, standardize infrastructure across all locations, and collaborate with ISPs and technology vendors to ensure seamless integration and compliance with organizational standards.
• Cybersecurity Compliance & Documentation: Ensure adherence to cybersecurity standards and maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation of infrastructure configurations, policies, and procedures to support audit and compliance requirements.
• Team Mentorship & Leadership: Mentor junior IT team members, share technical expertise, and contribute to infrastructure improvement initiatives and IT projects to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

Qualifications & Experience

To excel in this role, you will need the following qualifications and experience:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in IT Infrastructure and Support, with at least 4 years of direct experience with Fortinet FortiGate in a multi-site environment.
• Technical Skills: Strong expertise in Firewall Administration, VPNs, SD-WAN, LAN/WAN, VLANs, Routing, Switching, DNS, DHCP, and network security. Experience supporting distributed sites, industrial environments, or manufacturing operations is highly desirable.
• Problem-Solving: Exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues efficiently.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following additional qualifications:

• Certifications: Fortinet NSE 4 certification is required or strongly preferred; NSE 5/7 certifications are a plus. Additional certifications such as CCNA, CompTIA Network+, or Security+ are advantageous.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, FortiAP, and SD-WAN solutions. Knowledge of ITIL and ITSM tools is a valuable asset.

Key Competencies

To succeed in this role, you should demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

• Fortinet FortiGate Administration
• Enterprise Network Infrastructure Management
• Network Security & Firewall Management
• VPN & Secure Connectivity Solutions
• Active Directory / Entra ID Administration
• Infrastructure Troubleshooting & Problem Resolution
• Strong Communication, Leadership, and Analytical Skills