Infrastructure Operations Manager Jobs in Illinois

Role Summary

An IT Infrastructure Manager at MacLean-Fogg is responsible for leading a team of IT professionals dedicated to supporting, optimizing, and transforming the organization’s IT infrastructure. This role involves crafting and executing strategic IT initiatives that align with business objectives, with a strong focus on systems architecture, digital transformation, operational excellence, and security. The IT Infrastructure Manager will utilize their deep expertise in IT infrastructure, particularly in a manufacturing environment, to drive projects that enhance system stability, scalability, and security.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute IT infrastructure strategies that align with organizational objectives, focusing on digital transformation and operational efficiency

• Drive innovation and modernization initiatives, identifying and implementing emerging technologies to enhance business capabilities and competitive advantage

• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure IT strategies are effectively integrated into the organization’s overall business plan, fostering a culture of continuous improvement

• Design and implement robust, scalable IT systems architecture to support manufacturing operations and business processes, ensuring high performance and adaptability

• Lead efforts to optimize infrastructure resources, increasing system efficiency, reliability, and security to support growing organizational needs

• Oversee and enforce infrastructure security protocols, managing and mitigating risk while ensuring compliance with industry standards

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of IT professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture that encourages professional growth

• Provide guidance and support to team members, promoting continuous skill development, technical excellence, and leadership capabilities

• Conduct regular performance reviews, setting clear expectations and goals for team members, and identifying opportunities for individual and team improvement

• Oversee daily IT infrastructure operations, ensuring stable, secure, and scalable systems across the organization

• Implement and monitor infrastructure performance metrics, proactively addressing issues to maintain high levels of system availability and reliability

• Develop and uphold best practices for system maintenance, network management, and security, ensuring optimal system health and functionality

• Lead IT infrastructure projects from initiation through completion, establishing clear project objectives, timelines, and milestones

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, finance, and other business units, to deliver projects that meet or exceed expectations on time and within budget

• Apply advanced project management principles to prioritize initiatives, allocate resources, and mitigate risks, ensuring successful project execution and alignment with business goals

• Evaluate and manage relationships with technology vendors, negotiating contracts to ensure cost-effective, high-quality service delivery

• Assess vendor performance regularly, ensuring service levels meet organizational standards and identifying opportunities for improved vendor collaboration and value

• Foster strategic partnerships with key technology providers to stay informed on advancements and align solutions with the organization’s infrastructure needs

• Lead IT infrastructure integration efforts during mergers, acquisitions, or other transitions, ensuring smooth transitions and system compatibility

• Develop and implement plans for system consolidation, data migration, and process integration, reducing disruption and maximizing operational efficiency

• Coordinate closely with stakeholders to manage integration challenges and ensure seamless alignment with existing infrastructure

• Ensure full compliance with company policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements, maintaining a proactive approach to security, environmental, and quality protocols

• Complete and maintain accurate documentation for all infrastructure changes, upgrades, and configurations to support knowledge transfer, compliance, and audit readiness

• Promote 5S standards within the IT department, fostering an organized, safe, and efficient work environment

• Perform other duties as required, actively supporting the IT department and contributing to the organization’s overall success.

Qualifications Required

• Education: Bachelor's

• Experience: Minimum of 6 years of proven experience in IT management, with an emphasis on infrastructure, systems architecture, and digital transformation. Advanced knowledge of server technologies, Cisco networking, Microsoft 365, Active Directory, and Microsoft Entra/Azure.

Competencies/Skills

• Strategic thinker with an analytical approach to infrastructure planning, able to align IT initiatives with organizational goals and drive results

• Ability to assess complex problems and identify optimal solutions that support infrastructure performance, security, and scalability

• Ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a high-performing IT team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional development

• Strong teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and lead cross-functional projects

• Deep technical expertise in IT infrastructure, with proven ability to diagnose and resolve complex issues across various systems and platforms

• Resourceful problem-solver, capable of managing multiple priorities, troubleshooting critical infrastructure issues, and implementing effective solutions

• Strong vendor management skills, with the ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships, negotiate contracts, and optimize vendor performance

• Experience in evaluating vendors, managing service levels, and ensuring vendors meet organizational standards and requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of conveying complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong prioritization skills to manage deadlines, deliverables, and project outcomes effectively.

At MacLean-Fogg, you’ll be part of a global manufacturing leader with a 100-year legacy of innovation and excellence. We partner with some of the world’s most iconic brands to create high-quality fasteners, components, and engineered solutions for industries that shape the future. With the recent addition of Mallard Manufacturing, we’ve expanded into industry-leading gravity flow solutions for material handling. Here, your ideas and skills will make an impact—driving cutting-edge solutions, advancing sustainability, and helping build a better tomorrow. Join a collaborative team where your contributions matter and your career can thrive.