IT Operations Manager

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building sustainable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns a portfolio of more than 25,000 apartments across 28 states that includes 17,000 units under management. Fairstead’s commitment to communities is realized through a comprehensive platform that leverages in-house expertise in acquisitions, development, design and construction, asset management, and property management.

Fairstead’s primary mission is to provide high quality housing to all regardless of income, and to make our stakeholders feel “Right at Home.” We accomplish this through an empathetic and innovative approach, and by utilizing our interdisciplinary platform as an investor, developer, owner, and operator.

Fairstead’s Core Values: Innovation, Determination, Integrity, Humility, Empathy and Partnerships

The IT Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring the seamless operation of IT infrastructure and services.  This is a strategic and hands-on role that involves managing a team and maintaining and monitoring every aspect of the IT ecosystem to provide a robust, resilient, and secure environment.   This position reports to the CTO and the right candidate will possess a combination of very strong technical competencies, strong business acumen, excellent communication skills, planning skills, and a proven track record leading reliable and productive teams. 

Responsibilities: 

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of the organization's IT infrastructure. 

• Ensure optimal performance, reliability, and security of all hardware, software, cloud services, and network systems. 

• Coordinate with vendors and service providers to ensure timely updates, patches, and support for IT systems. 

• Develop and implement comprehensive cybersecurity policies and procedures to protect the organization's data and systems from threats. 

• Manage and collaborate with security vendors to respond to incidents, ensuring timely resolution and mitigation of risks. 

• Conduct regular security assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration tests to identify and address potential weaknesses. 

• Stay abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and technologies to proactively safeguard the organization's IT assets. 

• Develop and maintain business continuity plans to ensure uninterrupted operations during IT disruptions. 

• Implement disaster recovery strategies, including data backup and recovery procedures, to minimize downtime and data loss. 

• Conduct regular drills and simulations to test the effectiveness of business continuity and disaster recovery plans. 

• Collaborate with executive leadership to align IT strategy with business goals and objectives. 

• Identify emerging technologies and trends that can enhance the organization's competitive advantage. 

• Develop long-term IT roadmaps and investment plans to support the organization's growth and innovation. 

• Lead and mentor a team of IT professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.    

• Ensure compliance with industry standards related to IT and data security. 

• Implement and enforce policies and procedures to maintain and protect sensitive information. 

• Conduct regular audits and assessments to verify adherence to compliance requirements. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent experience. 

• 7+ years’ experience in a combination of systems administration, networking, cloud services, and security for corporate and remote offices. 

• 3+ years’ experience as a manager of technology infrastructure and security demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility. 

• Extensive experience with Microsoft cloud solutions and infrastructure, including Microsoft 365 (M365), Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, and OneDrive.  

• Azure: Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Azure services, including virtual machines, storage solutions, networking, and databases. Ability to design, implement, and manage Azure infrastructure for scalability, reliability, and security. 

• Intune: Expertise in Microsoft Intune for device management, application deployment, and policy enforcement to ensure secure and compliant enterprise environments. 

• Strong understanding of industry standards related to IT and data security best practices and compliance. 

• Proven track record of implementing disaster recovery strategies and data protection policies. 

• Experience in the real estate industry is a plus. 

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks.