About the IT Manager role
An IT Manager keeps a company's technology running: networks, devices, business applications, accounts, and support. They lead the IT team, set policies for security and access, manage vendors and budgets, and make sure employees have the tools to do their jobs without friction. When IT works, nobody notices, and that invisibility is the measure of a good IT Manager.
Scope varies enormously with company size. In a 100-person company, the IT Manager may be hands-on daily, resetting accounts and configuring firewalls alongside one or two technicians. In a larger organization, the role is mostly leadership: budgets, roadmaps, vendor contracts, compliance, and managing a tiered support team. Be explicit about which version you are hiring for.
In your posting, describe your environment concretely: cloud versus on-premise, the main platforms you run such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, headcount supported, and team size. Also state your security and compliance obligations, since frameworks like ISO 27001 or SOC 2 significantly shape the role's priorities.
IT Manager job description template
Job brief
We are looking for an IT Manager to own our technology operations end to end. You will lead the IT team, keep our infrastructure and business systems reliable and secure, manage vendors and licensing, and plan the budget and roadmap as we grow. To succeed in this role, you should combine solid technical judgment with the ability to lead people and communicate with non-technical leadership. Ultimately, you will give every employee dependable, secure technology so the rest of the business can move fast.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day IT operations, including networks, servers, endpoints, and business applications
- Lead, coach, and schedule the IT support team, and set service-level expectations
- Define and enforce security policies covering access control, patching, and data protection
- Manage identity and access across systems, including onboarding and offboarding workflows
- Own vendor relationships, contracts, and software licensing across the company
- Plan and track the IT budget, and build the case for new investments
- Maintain backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans, and test them regularly
- Oversee IT projects such as migrations, office moves, and new system rollouts
- Ensure compliance with relevant standards and support audits with documentation
- Report on IT performance, risks, and priorities to senior leadership
Requirements and skills
- Proven work experience as an IT Manager, IT Supervisor, or senior systems administrator
- Hands-on background in networking, system administration, and endpoint management
- Experience administering cloud productivity platforms such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Working knowledge of security practices, including identity management, patching, and backups
- Experience managing budgets, vendors, and software licensing
- Track record of leading or mentoring technical support staff
- Strong prioritization skills and calm judgment during incidents
- Ability to explain technical decisions and risks to non-technical executives
- BSc in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent practical experience
Nice to have
- Certifications such as ITIL, CompTIA Network+, or Microsoft administrator credentials
- Experience with compliance frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or GDPR programs
- Experience running office relocations or company-wide system migrations
- Familiarity with scripting for automation, such as PowerShell
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