Manager, IT Infrastructure

About the position

The IT Infrastructure Manager directly manages and supports the team responsible for EQR’s data center compute, storage, network, end-user compute and identity functions and is responsible for the delivery, performance and support of our on-premise and public cloud infrastructures. The candidate delivers strategic planning, tactical action, and operational decision-recommendations to ensure IT services meet service level objectives in compliance with established standards and security requirements, providing optimal productivity and properly scaled systems. The IT Infrastructure Manager is also responsible for helping architect EQR’s information systems and works in close collaboration and in alignment across IT functions including Security Operations, Application Delivery and Operations. This position is also responsible for helping support and strategize EQR’s IT Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) and its integration with the Business Continuity processes.

Responsibilities

• Manages and oversees a staff of five.
• Has responsibility for, or high-level input into, all employment decisions for staff, including training, work assignment, performance evaluation, discipline and termination.
• Promotes an environment of continuous improvement with a focus on uptime, strategic vision and leadership.
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge across the full infrastructure stack, including networking, virtualization, identity, storage/compute, Windows systems, and Microsoft cloud technologies such as Azure and Intune.
• Acts as an escalation point for the infrastructure team, providing technical guidance and solutions to complete projects or aid problem solving.
• Manages the ticketing system queue, assigning and keeping track of infrastructure requests or intra-IT escalations according to the defined SLA.
• Provides leadership in setting priorities and addressing workload or department issues.
• Maintains an infrastructure operational framework that focuses on consistent and accurate service delivery.
• Develops and tracks metrics and SLAs to establish baseline performance and improvement goals across key functions such as availability/reliability, scalability, efficiency and security.
• Participates in the change control process, approving team changes and facilitating discussion or supporting said changes during the weekly review meetings.
• Participates in the Cloud Advisory Board process, advising and acting as an Infrastructure liaison for public cloud architectural or design decisions.
• Participates in various IT projects intended to continually improve/upgrade the infrastructure.
• Assists with creating, testing and executing the organizational DR plan.
• Makes recommendations for the DR plan as business and infrastructure requirements change.
• Is accountable for the successful delivery of assigned projects and tasks; provides accurate and consistent status reports.
• Interfaces with project team and Infrastructure group members to ensure assigned project charters are consistent with group objectives and goals.
• Participates in budget planning and budget recommendations.
• Is responsible for managing the implementation of infrastructure changes based on company requirements.
• Assists in proactively researching the necessary tools and processes to identify troublesome trends as they develop.
• Manages the maintenance of infrastructure; ensures compatibility and compliance with regulations, contracts and licensing agreements.
• Develops and maintains procedures, and ensures documentation exists for all aspects of operation.
• Provides input to the establishment of technical standards and procedures.
• Acts as liaison between EQR and vendors as needed.
• Helps to support and implement EQR’s information security policies and architecture.
• Assists in infrastructure planning and forecasting.
• Performs situation analysis and recommendation for problem solving.
• Ensures a stable performance environment enterprise-wide by monitoring and analyzing problems that occur.
• Represents the Company in a professional manner at all times.
• Performs other duties as necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Recommended 7 years related experience in enterprise level IT environments performing infrastructure engineering, implementation and management using the latest technology.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a manager of Infrastructure Operations and/or related discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project management.
• Recommended 5 years of experience working with information security principals and network security fundamentals.
• Minimum of three years in a management position.

Nice-to-haves

• Significant experience and knowledge in new computing infrastructures.
• Expert architecture knowledge of information systems, and networks.
• Must have a deep understanding of how servers, operating systems and networks function, perform and scale.
• Solid understanding of networking, network architecture, routing protocols and general network mechanisms.
• Familiar with public cloud constructs and experience managing workloads in public cloud infrastructure.
• Fundamental knowledge of user and system identity frameworks, including SSO and PKI technologies.
• Significant understanding of Information Security Controls.
• Highly analytical and effectively able to troubleshoot and prioritize needs and requirements.
• Experience in explaining complex technical problems or situations.
• Comfort with making project decisions, monitoring progress, and reporting results.
• Ability to assist in the planning of infrastructure requirements two to four years in advance.
• Excellent technical knowledge and aptitude in the areas of networks, network topologies, computing, Vmware, information security systems, cloud technologies and troubleshooting techniques.
• Ability to solve infrastructure issues and to manage the associated performance and capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively managing projects in a cross-functional environment.
• Experience in effectively communicating with a broad base of end users and multiple management layers.
• Ability to effectively adapt to rapidly changing technology and apply it to business needs.
• Ability to anticipate user requirements and identify and resolve complex problems; strong customer service skills.
• Good judgment skills; strong follow-up and organizational skills.
• Ability to conduct and prepare feasibility studies; develop client proposals, including estimates for costs, time, and resources; prepare statistical reports; complete cost/benefit analysis; and conduct business.

Benefits

• Salary: $133,868 - $184,069 / year; in addition to base salary, a discretionary annual bonus is provided.
• The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, and qualifications.