IT Manager

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

ESA is seeking an IT Manager to join our thriving and dynamic team. The ideal candidate shall oversee and direct ESA’s IT team, providing technology and project leadership to the entire organization to ensure that the organization makes effective and efficient use of all information systems, implements workflows that maximize productivity, secures our data and information systems, and provides the highest possible value to our internal and external clients. 

This is a position where most work may be done remotely, with occasional visits to ESA offices for meetings or to perform IT infrastructure installation and maintenance activities. While all qualified candidates are welcome to apply, candidates residing within a normal commuting distance to a preferred ESA office will receive priority consideration (see below).

All ESA employee-owners are expected to be self-aware, self-motivated, and respectful and empathetic toward others. Employee-owners must accept responsibility for their actions, constructively give and receive feedback, and work collaboratively with a team mentality. The successful candidate will also be outgoing and positive, passionate about technology, and exhibit curiosity and a willingness to learn.

The position typically only requires indoor work with potentially occasional outdoor work. Indoor work includes, but is not limited to, regularly sitting or standing at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time and using computers and other office equipment. Outdoor physical work includes but is not limited to running occasional basic errands or travel to office locations and data centers. ESA's offices are San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, Irvine, Pasadena, San Diego, Seatle, WA, Portland and Bend, OR. 

Because of the sensitive nature of this position, a criminal background check will be required prior to offer acceptance.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Alignment

In this role, you’ll be responsible for understanding the unique technology needs of the organization by collaborating closely with business group directors, regional directors, and firmwide services leads. Additionally, you’ll develop and execute an annual IT services plan, ensuring its efficient implementation while maintaining strong leadership, visibility, and client satisfaction across all levels of the firm.

Project Management

You’ll be responsible for effectively planning and managing concurrent IT projects and maintenance tasks, ensuring they align with business objectives and are executed professionally and on schedule. Additionally, you’ll oversee the implementation of new information systems and technologies, while maintaining regular communication with relevant stakeholders to provide updates on project progress and IT services. 

Fiscal and Resource Management

As part of this role, you’ll be responsible for developing the annual IT budget, considering IT department needs, business goals, legal requirements, and technology trends. You’ll also manage allocated IT resources to optimize performance, ensure client satisfaction, and meet ESA’s business goals. Demonstrating integrity and efficient resource stewardship consistent with ESA policies, you’ll collaborate with the Finance team for vendor payments and approvals. Additionally, you’ll conduct cost-benefit analyses and monitor vendor performance.

Team Leadership, Supervision, and Development

As ESA’s IT Manager, you’ll lead and guide your team, ensuring smooth daily operations. You’ll also focus on training, performance reviews, and fostering career development for team members. Your coaching and ongoing mentorship will play a crucial role in supporting their growth and success. You’re expected to possess deep technical expertise across one or more IT subject matter domains and to be able to effectively lead solution engineering efforts.

Security and Risk Management

As a technology leader within ESA, you’ll collaborate with security experts to develop NIST-compliant policies and procedures, ensure adherence to established security controls, and assist with external cybersecurity assessments. Additionally, you’ll manage incident escalation procedures, serve as the primary point of contact during IT service disruptions, and support the team in maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent technical training from accredited institutions in computer science, information technology, or a closely related field of study.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in Information Technology, including at least 5 years provisioning and administering Windows and Linux servers and maintaining local/wide area networks.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience deploying and administering IaaS and PaaS cloud infrastructures in Microsoft Azure and/or AWS.
• Certification(s) in subject areas including Azure Administration, Azure Security, Network Engineering, or Microsoft 365.
• Applied knowledge of cybersecurity control frameworks like ISO and NIST.
• At least 4 years managing a team of technical staff.
• Excellent technical, analytical, problem solving, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and a high emphasis on customer satisfaction.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to successfully pass a background check.

Helpful but not Essential

• Familiarity with administration tasks associated with Microsoft SQL Server.

What’s Special About ESA 

Joining ESA means becoming part of an industry leading team of employee owners who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places. 

ESA provides medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you and your family), annual allocations of company shares through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. 

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

• Full name
• The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
• Title of Job Position Applied
• Description of your accommodation request

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D)