Location: Sankore International School, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Business Manager
Start date: August 1

About Sankore International School

Sankore International School is a new, mission-driven school being established by SHOFCO in Nairobi. Opening in 2026, Sankore will serve early years through primary and expand one grade per year toward full capacity. Sankore combines an international curriculum with a strong Kenyan identity and a commitment to access, diversity, inclusion, and community-rooted excellence.

The school is designed as a deliberately diverse learning community where students build the skills and strengths of character to create a better world for themselves and all of us. As a founding school, Sankore requires strong operational systems, reliable infrastructure, and careful stewardship of information from the beginning.

Role Overview

The ICT and Data Protection Associate[1] [2] [3] [4] will support the daily reliability, security, and effectiveness of Sankore’s digital infrastructure. Reporting to the Business Manager, the Associate will maintain school connectivity, support servers and devices, manage school applications and platforms, troubleshoot software and hardware issues, and help staff and learners use technology safely and effectively.

This role also supports Sankore’s data protection and privacy responsibilities, including careful handling of student, family, staff, and operational data. Kenya’s Data Protection Act requires personal data to be processed lawfully, fairly, transparently, for explicit purposes, and with appropriate limits and safeguards. The role should also help embed safeguarding-aware digital practice, since international school safeguarding guidance treats child protection as a whole-school responsibility across all staff and systems.

Core Responsibilities

1. ICT Infrastructure and Connectivity

• Maintain reliable internet connectivity across classrooms, offices, learning spaces, and administrative areas.

• Monitor and troubleshoot networks, routers, access points, firewalls, switches, and related connectivity equipment.

• Support school servers, backups, shared drives, and cloud-based infrastructure.

• Coordinate with internet service providers, vendors, and technical contractors to resolve issues promptly.

• Maintain documentation of network architecture, credentials, licenses, warranties, and support contacts.

2. Devices, Hardware, and Technical Support

• Provide first-line ICT support to staff, learners, administrators, and school leadership.

• Set up, configure, maintain, and track laptops, tablets, printers, projectors, smart boards, phones, and other ICT assets.

• Manage device inventories, asset tagging, repair logs, replacement schedules, and safe disposal.

• Troubleshoot hardware, software, connectivity, access, and user-account issues.

• Support ICT readiness for school events, assemblies, admissions activities, assessments, and staff meetings.

3. Applications, Platforms, and Software Administration

• Administer core school platforms, including email, productivity suites, learning platforms, student information systems, admissions tools, and finance or operations systems as assigned.

• Manage user accounts, permissions, password resets, onboarding, and offboarding.

• Support integration between platforms where appropriate, ensuring data quality and secure access.

• Train staff on effective use of school applications and digital tools.

• Maintain software licenses, renewals, version updates, and vendor support records.

4. Data Protection, Privacy, and Information Security

• Support compliance with Kenya’s Data Protection Act and related school policies.

• Help ensure student, family, staff, financial, health, and safeguarding-related data are handled securely and only for legitimate school purposes.

• Support secure access controls, data retention practices, backups, encryption, and incident reporting procedures.

• Assist with data protection impact assessments, consent records, privacy notices, and staff awareness.

• Work with the Business Manager and school leadership to maintain clear protocols for data collection, sharing, storage, and deletion.

• Support responsible management of data breaches or suspected breaches, escalating promptly and documenting actions.

5. Cybersecurity and Digital Safeguarding

• Help protect school systems from malware, phishing, unauthorized access, data loss, and inappropriate online content.

• Maintain antivirus tools, endpoint protection, software updates, secure Wi-Fi access, and user-permission protocols.

• Support child-safe digital learning environments, including appropriate filtering, monitoring, and responsible-use practices.

• Train staff and learners, as appropriate, on digital citizenship, cyber hygiene, password safety, and responsible technology use.

• Contribute to safeguarding-aligned ICT policies and ensure technology systems support student wellbeing.

6. Systems Development and Continuous Improvement

• Identify gaps in ICT systems and recommend practical improvements as the school grows.

• Develop simple user guides, standard operating procedures, checklists, and troubleshooting guides.

• Track recurring ICT issues and propose preventive solutions.

• Support procurement decisions by advising on fit-for-purpose technology, software, service providers, and maintenance needs.

• Help build scalable systems that can grow as Sankore expands grade by grade.

7. Collaboration, Service, and School Culture

• Work closely with the Business Manager, school leadership, teachers, operations staff, and external providers.

• Provide calm, timely, and service-minded support in a busy founding-school environment.

• Maintain confidentiality and professional judgment when handling sensitive information.

• Model Sankore’s values of Consciousness, Curiosity, Courage, Continuous Growth, Creativity, and Community Citizenship.

• Contribute to a school culture where technology enables joyful, rigorous, and safe learning.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related field.

• At least 2–4 years of relevant ICT support, systems administration, network support, or school technology experience.

• Strong working knowledge of networking, Wi-Fi management, hardware troubleshooting, cloud systems, user administration, and software support.

• Experience administering productivity platforms such as Google Workspace for Education, Microsoft 365, or equivalent systems.

• Familiarity with data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, or information governance requirements.

• Ability to manage multiple support requests, document solutions, and communicate clearly with non-technical users.

• Commitment to safeguarding, child protection, confidentiality, and ethical handling of sensitive information.

• Strong written and spoken English.

Preferred

• Experience working in a school, international school, nonprofit, or child-centered institution.

• Certification or training in one or more of the following: CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+, Microsoft, Google Workspace, Cisco, ITIL, cybersecurity, or data protection.

• Familiarity with Kenya’s Data Protection Act and Office of the Data Protection Commissioner guidance.

• Experience supporting student information systems, learning management systems, admissions platforms, or finance/operations software.

• Basic server administration, firewall management, cloud backup, or endpoint security experience.

• Ability to support staff training and digital literacy.

Core Competencies

• Technical problem-solving: Diagnoses ICT issues quickly and resolves them with practical, durable solutions.

• Systems thinking: Builds organized, scalable systems rather than relying on informal fixes.

• Data protection judgment: Understands that student, family, and staff data must be handled with care, restraint, and confidentiality.

• Service orientation: Supports staff and learners with patience, clarity, and respect.

• Cybersecurity awareness: Anticipates risk and promotes safe digital practice across the school.

• Documentation discipline: Keeps accurate records of assets, configurations, licenses, incidents, and procedures.

• Training and communication: Explains technical issues in accessible language and builds staff confidence.

• Integrity and discretion: Handles sensitive information and access privileges responsibly.

• Adaptability: Works effectively in a founding-school environment where systems are still being built.

• Commitment to mission: Sees technology as a tool for access, inclusion, safety, and learning.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Sankore’s internet, classroom technology, core platforms, and administrative systems are reliable and ready for daily school operations.

• Staff and learners receive timely, respectful, and effective ICT support.

• Devices, licenses, platforms, and technical assets are accurately tracked and maintained.

• User accounts, permissions, backups, and access controls are managed securely.

• The school has clear, practical ICT and data protection procedures from launch.

• Staff understand their responsibilities for safe technology use, privacy, and data handling.

• Sensitive student, family, staff, and operational information is protected through strong systems and careful practice.

• Technology supports teaching, learning, operations, safeguarding, and family engagement.

Why Join Sankore?

This is an opportunity to help build the digital backbone of a new school from the beginning. The ICT and Data Protection Associate will help create systems that make Sankore safe, connected, efficient, and ready to grow. The role is practical and hands-on, but it also carries a larger purpose: ensuring that technology serves learning, protects children, respects families, and strengthens a diverse school community.

I truly have no idea what a Data Protection Associate will do - maybe we share this with Joe? Or does Jacob know?

Jacob flagged it to me. And I said put it on the tech guy? And he said yep.

right - but what does he/she actually do....

Dunno. Just a required thing. In charge of knowing the data protection policies or something

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• CV

• Cover letter highlighting the experience in the area of the specialization

Application Deadline: 9th June 2026
Send applications to: recruitment@shofco.org
Subject Line: ICT and Data Protection Associate
SHOFCO is an equal opportunity employer. Women, youth, and persons with disabilities are strongly
encouraged to apply.