Cosmas Wamala
IT Pre-Opening Manager
Kampala,
Summary
Results-driven IT professional with 10+ years of experience in technology leadership, project management, and IT infrastructure development. Specializes in pre-opening IT operations for luxury hotels, ensuring seamless technology integration and exceptional guest experiences. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and implementing innovative IT solutions to drive operational efficiency and business growth in the hospitality industry. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance guest satisfaction and achieve organizational goals.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Implementation Engineer
Reivernet
12.2023 - Current
- Spearhead the planning, design, and implementation of network infrastructure for new hotel openings and existing hotels, ensuring alignment with Marriott’s GPNS standards and brand requirements to achieve GPNS certification.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including network engineers, vendors, and stakeholders, to define project scope, goals, and deliverables.
- Developing and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure on-time and within-budget delivery.
- Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to minimize project disruptions.
- Monitor project progress, prepare status reports, and present updates to senior management and stakeholders.
- Negotiate contracts with technology vendors and service providers, achieving significant cost savings while maintaining high service levels
IT Manager
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
04.2022 - 12.2023
- Managed large-value IT projects, including systems and network upgrades, migrations, and new technology implementations.
- Deployed cutting-edge guest technologies, such as mobile check-in/check-out, and smart room controls which increasing guest satisfaction in GuestVoice.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget, achieving a 100% success rate.
- Conducted security risk assessment and implemented zero trust security strategies and SIEM for the hotel to have a holistic image on network security posture.
- Developed and implemented IT policies and procedures, including disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
- Managed the upgrade guest and network infrastructure, VOIP, IPTV , and virtualization of the data center to HCI.
- Provided technical support to the mission critical systems and resolved issues promptly to minimize downtime.
IT Lead - Pre-Opening
DoubleTree and Hampton by Hilton Downtown
02.2022 - 04.2022
- Managed vendor relationships for hardware, software, and services procurement, ensuring quality products at competitive prices.
- Collaborated with other departments to help meet IT needs and properly integrate and secure systems.
- Conducted training sessions for hotel staff on new systems, including Property Management Systems (PMS), OnQ, Hotsos, Micros (POS), and other guest-facing technologies.
- Collaborate with system integrators, and vendors to oversee the installation of structured cabling, network systems, and audiovisual equipment
- Installed servers, desktops, printers and POS devices.
IT Manager
Megha Group of Companies
04.2021 - 02.2022
- Reduced IT operational costs by 40% by installing an open source PABX system and creating VPN to link multi-layered services across through multiple branch offices and sister companies.
- Built and mentored a team of 10 IT professionals, implemented IT service desk to track all IT support requests achieving a 60% improvement in support ticket resolution times.
- Implemented robust cybersecurity measures, including next-gen firewalls, SIEM tools, and EDRs.
- Integrated IoT devices and AI-driven solutions in Best Western Hotel - Entebbe to enhance operational efficiency and reduced room maintenance costs.
Cluster IT Supervisor
Westin Mina Seyahi and Le Meridien Airport Cluster
01.2017 - 02.2021
- I oversaw the IT operations and infrastructure across 4 Marriott properties, ensuring consistent performance, reliability, and compliance with brand standards.
- Manage the installation, configuration, and maintenance of IT systems, including Property Management Systems (PMS), Point of Sale (POS), network infrastructure, and guest-facing technologies.
- Provide technical support and troubleshooting for hardware, software, and network issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.
- Monitor and optimize network performance, including LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, and VoIP systems, to ensure high-speed connectivity and seamless guest experiences.
- Train and mentor IT staff across properties, ensuring they are equipped to handle day-to-day IT operations and provide exceptional support.
IT Assistant
Westin Mina Seyahi Dubai Cluster
12.2014 - 12.2016
- Responded to queries on phone, via email or through IT ticketing system.
- Provided timely technical support to employees, minimizing downtime and maintaining workflow continuity.
- Ensured accurate record-keeping for all IT assets, aiding efficient planning for future investments.
- Managed inventory of IT equipment by organizing consistent stock tracking and ordering processes, avoiding shortages or excesses.
- Managed system backups and was responsible to routine test of the DR/BCP
Education
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
Makerere University
Kampala 04.2001 -
Skills
- Pre-Opening Project Leadership: Expertise in managing IT pre-opening activities, including timelines, budgets, and vendor coordination
- Vendor Management: Skilled in negotiating contracts and managing relationships with technology vendors to ensure cost-effective solutions
- Budget Management: Proven ability to manage multimillion-dollar IT budgets while optimizing costs
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Adept at working with architects, contractors, and corporate IT teams to deliver projects on time
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Skilled at working with departments like operations, finance, and marketing to align IT solutions with business goals
Timeline
Project Implementation Engineer
Reivernet
12.2023 - Current
IT Manager
Sheraton Kampala Hotel
04.2022 - 12.2023
IT Lead - Pre-Opening
DoubleTree and Hampton by Hilton Downtown
02.2022 - 04.2022
IT Manager
Megha Group of Companies
04.2021 - 02.2022
Cluster IT Supervisor
Westin Mina Seyahi and Le Meridien Airport Cluster
01.2017 - 02.2021
IT Assistant
Westin Mina Seyahi Dubai Cluster
12.2014 - 12.2016
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
Makerere University
04.2001 -
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