Izzat Nurali

Role Overview:
In my dynamic role as Caspian GeoUnits IT Manager, I spearhead the digital transformation and IT strategy within the GeoUnit(s), aligning technology initiatives with business goals to drive efficiency and innovation. My strategic approach to integrating cutting-edge technologies ensures that our IT infrastructure not only supports but also accelerates business operations. As a key architect of digital collaboration, I champion the adoption of digital tools, enhancing productivity and fostering a culture of technological agility across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

- Strategic Leadership: Direct a high-performing IT service delivery team, ensuring excellence in desktop, network, server support, and connectivity, pivotal for real-time global operations.
- Global IT Visionary: Serve as the primary liaison for global IT projects, orchestrating service delivery and resolving critical issues, reflecting a deep commitment to organizational success.
- Governance and Compliance: Uphold rigorous IT standards, processes, and compliance frameworks, safeguarding the organization's technological and operational integrity.
- Operational Excellence: Conduct comprehensive service quality assessments, manage IT budgets with a strategic focus, and drive continuous improvement through proactive stakeholder engagement.
- Innovative Campaigns: Launch impactful user awareness initiatives, adapting IT strategies to meet evolving operational demands, underscoring a user-centric approach to technology management.
- Team Development: Cultivate a culture of continuous learning within the IT team, enhancing skills and motivation, which are essential for delivering exceptional service.

Interactions: My leadership is characterized by a collaborative approach, engaging with my team and stakeholders through bi-weekly virtual meetings, regular one-on-one interactions, and strategic field visits, ensuring alignment and fostering a cohesive IT community.

• Strong onsite training of IT teams for IT departments across 3 countries.
• Management of IT Team of 20+ employees in 15 locations across 3 countries.
• Successful support of 1500 users across 3 countries.
• Successful roll out of IPT system integration in 7 locations.
• Roll out of Cloud solution integration across 3 countries.
• Implementation of Product Lines with document organization and dissemination during RIG mobilization.

• Management of onsite IT teams of employees in 5 locations within 2 countries.
• Successful deployment of corporate IT infrastructure for 60+ users in the newly opened office in Tbilisi-Georgia.
• $36K annual cost savings on international telephone bills via implementation of Skype For Business solution in Azerbaijan.
• $112K annual cost savings on printers’ consumables via implementation, and management of Secure Printing System upgrade project, based on Canon Uniflow Solution.
• AZE IT side of Schlumberger and Cameron acquisitions project management.
• Fostered an environment which encouraged continual process improvements.

• Onsite IT support staff leadership and management.
• Facilitation of inter-departmental communication to effectively provide user support.
• Implementation of staff shifts scheduling system to cover peaks and lulls in customer inquiries.
• IT procedures and services training management.
• Effective liaison between customers and internal departments.
• Managed work flow to exceed quality service goals.
• Investigated and resolved user’s inquiries and complaints in an empathetic manner.

• Provides second-line investigation and diagnosis
• Resolves and closes incidents/service requests as per help desk procedures & allocated timelines
• Escalates unresolved incidents/service requests within agreed timescales
• Logs relevant incident/service request details per help desk procedures
• Communicates with client regarding incident progress
• Ensures tickets are updated at all times until issues are resolved
• Conducts customer/user satisfaction callbacks/surveys
• Completes GET IT training for User Support Analysts
• Complies with QHSE and IT policies
• Liaises with clients, other SLB IT support groups and 3rd party providers when necessary
• Performs staging of PCs
• Performs IMAC (Install, Move, Add and Change)
• Conducts hardware and software maintenance and support
• Channels requests for help to the appropriate functions for resolution, monitors resolution activity and informs clients of progress
• Works with Infrastructure or Distributed Services team to deploy upgrades to customers LANs, WANs and wireless networks
• Advises junior members of the team
• Has authority to manage small, low risks IT projects at location
• Ensures process consistency through calls, group meetings and workshops
• Listens, understands, and interprets Client requirements in order to propose solutions which enable the business to be more efficient

• Provide technical advice regarding customers’ existing systems, product updates and IT infrastructure expansion.
• Resolve technical queries relating to proposed servers and network solutions.
• Provide advanced pre-sales support for networking opportunities.
• Assist Sales Specialists with presenting viable solutions to client.
• Accompany the sales team during important client visit, make presentations and secure orders/ projects..
• Develop strong working relation with customers’ administration team and provide timely and professional advice / solution to their issues.
• Managing group of IT engineers along with all technology aspects from inception to implementation.
• Steering daily project operations, delivering quality services and taking corrective measures.
• Develop, understand and deliver ICT infrastructure solutions for customers.
• Responsible for requirements gathering, implementation, configuration, pre-sales, end user training, demonstrations and post-sales support.
• Identify and work with hardware vendors such as Cisco, IBM, HP, Dell, Axis, Xerox, Canon, Acer, Epson, Tripp-Lite, APC, Apple, etc.
• Identify and work with software vendors such as Microsoft, Symantec, Kaspersky, VMWare, Netavis, PaperCut, etc.
• Identify and work with Service Centers such as HP, Acer, IBM, Apple, Dell, APC, Sony, Toshiba, Asus, Tripp-Lite, Cisco, etc.
• Manage company IT Staff including 2 IT Engineers and 4 IT Technicians.
• Implement cloud based customer support system for clients and ensure further developments.

Accountabilities:
• Define & implement short/ long term strategies in management of personnel/ asset budgets of the IT department.
• Involved in implementation, update & review of IT systems and development of various process improvement initiatives.
• Enhance system uptime through support & enhancement of IT infrastructure across all functions.
• Involved in project effort, estimation, costing, negotiation, staffing, risk management and mitigation. Involved in project effort, estimation, costing, negotiation, staffing, risk management and mitigation.
• Set up IT Help Desk Support system and enhance productivity through optimized resource utilization.
• Render support to functional heads with updated information/ solution to enable effective decision making.
• Guide IT engineers & technicians in identification/ adoption of new technologies & solutions.
• Focus on troubleshooting, systems backup, archival & disaster recovery.
• Liaise with external consultants in planning, organization, implementation of tasks for standardization of technologies & platforms.
• Coordinate with the training team in rendering technical training for managers & co-workers based on business requirements.
• Interact with the OD team regarding IT policies & procedures including security, disaster recovery, standards & service provisioning.
• Evaluate equipment performance records to determine repair or replacement.
• Coordinate with vendors & personnel to facilitate purchases.
• Involved in design, configuration, testing of computer hardware, networking & operating systems software.
• Collate data pertaining to requirements & usage of information to identify, predict, interpret & evaluate system/network requirements.
• Monitor network performance to evaluate adjustments & changes.
• Involved in operation of master consoles to monitor performance of computer systems & networks.
• Focus on performance of data backup, disaster recovery operations, routine network start-up/shutdown procedures & maintain control records.
• Define & implement network security measures to protect data, software & hardware.
• Manage various administrative aspects of the IT department encompassing staff appraisals & career development.
• Interact with the senior management in definition of SLA parameters with regards to IT services.
• Involved in configuration & setting up of new server systems required based on internal/ external requirements.
• Administer firewalls, internal network security, E-mail (MS Exchange), Data & SharePoint servers including Virtual Servers (ESXi), Mac OS Snow Leopard & Lion Server with Open Directory.
• Maintain existing anti-spam & anti-virus systems & setting up new anti-spam policies.

IT Engineer, Aug 2003 - Dec 2005

Accountabilities:
• Administered Level 3 (L3) Windows Server, IIS, Active Directory and VMware system.
• Optimized performance of enterprise Windows, WebHosting & VMware server infrastructure.
• Focused on improving service offerings, service availability/performance and users experience.
• Monitor infrastructure performance, develop & implement policies, procedures/ standards based on technology infrastructure. Guided team members & customers on new technologies.
• Worked on periodic implementation of business continuance plan including coordination, after-hours attendance, and documentation updates.
• Reviewed systems design & coordinated with team members in enhancing service offerings/ customer satisfaction.

Accountabilities:
• Rendered support to installation of computer hardware/ software, LAN, server
• Focused on enhancing information systems assurance and security
• Conducted performance tuning of office equipment services for Central Asia Business Consultants, Inc. (CABC), English Language Solutions, CSO Aker Rauma, United Nations Volunteers, Baku Coca-Cola Bottlers Ltd., ETI, OTI, MBask, Student Travel International, and Bank World Inc.

PAST ASSIGNMENTS:
AZINTEX ISP, Baku Azerbaijan, IT Technician, Jan 2001 - Jul 2001
PENSION FUND OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC, Baku Azerbaijan, IT Technician, Sep 1999 - Jan 2001
UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS, Baku Azerbaijan, IT Technician, May 1998 - Sep 1999