It Operations Manager Jobs in Maple Grove, MN (NOW HIRING)

About Niron
Niron Magnetics is commercializing the first new magnetic material in decades powered by its breakthrough material formulation and advanced manufacturing process. The company's proprietary magnet technology based on Iron Nitride enables magnets that are inherently high magnetization, free of rare earths and other critical materials, and solve supply chain reliability challenges, will drive innovation in various industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, Niron Magnetics is comprised of a team of professionals with a desire to make a positive impact on the global community. We were named one of "America's Top GreenTech Companies" for 2024 and 2025 by TIME Magazine and the "Innovation of the Year" at the 2025 mHUB Fourth Revolution Awards.
Our team is made up of people who think big, dare to innovate, and strive to impact the planet through technological innovation for our customers. Ready to work alongside amazing people, solve complex problems, and leave a legacy? Join our team.
Niron Magnetics is seeking a Manager, IT Operations to lead our end-user support function and own the day-to-day administration of the systems and networks that keep the company running. This is a hands-on leadership role: you will manage and develop a small team of end-user support analysts, serve as the senior administrator for our core Microsoft and network platforms, and act as the primary relationship owner for the managed-service partners who support our operations. Reporting to the Head of IT/OT, you will be the person the business counts on for responsive support, reliable systems, and well-managed partners.
This role is a strong fit for an experienced technologist who enjoys staying close to the technology while building and leading a high-performing support team in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.
Lead the End-User Support Team and Daily Service

• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of end-user support analysts, setting clear priorities and standards for responsiveness and quality.

• Own the end-user support experience across the company, from onboarding and offboarding to daily troubleshooting, so issues are resolved quickly and professionally.

• Establish and maintain service levels, ticket workflows, and escalation paths using IT service management best practices.

• Serve as a senior escalation point and stay hands-on with complex or high-impact issues.

• Track support metrics and use them to drive continuous improvement in service quality and team performance.

• Champion a customer-first culture that treats every employee as a valued internal customer.

Administer Core Systems and Network Infrastructure

• Serve as the senior administrator for the Microsoft 365 and Azure environment, including identity, email, collaboration, endpoint, and cloud services.

• Administer the company's SD-WAN firewalls and network infrastructure to keep connectivity secure and reliable across all sites.

• Manage identity and access, device management, and endpoint configuration in line with company security policies.

• Maintain patching, backup, and recovery routines so systems stay current, protected, and recoverable.

• Monitor system and network health, respond to incidents, and coordinate resolution with internal and partner teams.

• Maintain accurate documentation of systems, configurations, and standard operating procedures.

Own Vendor and Managed-Service Partnerships

• Manage the relevant IT-related managed-service providers, acting as the primary point of contact and relationship owner.

• Hold partners accountable to service levels, response times, and quality standards, and lead regular service reviews.

• Coordinate escalations between internal teams and external partners to keep issues moving to resolution.

• Manage renewals, licensing, and service contracts, and support vendor selection and build versus buy decisions.

• Track partner performance and spend, and identify opportunities to improve value and service.

Strengthen Reliability, Security, and Continuous Improvement

• Partner with IT and security leadership to keep operations aligned with the company's security and compliance requirements.

• Contribute to business continuity, disaster recovery, and backup planning, and help test and improve them.

• Identify and lead improvements to tools, processes, and automation that increase reliability and reduce manual effort.

• Support technology projects and rollouts, coordinating across internal teams and partners.

• Help maintain a safe, well-documented, and audit-ready operating environment.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years in IT operations, infrastructure, or systems administration, including 2+ years leading or mentoring a team.

• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 and Azure administration (identity, email, collaboration, endpoint, and cloud services).

• Strong networking fundamentals with experience administering firewalls, SD-WAN, and network infrastructure.

• Demonstrated experience managing managed-service providers and holding vendors accountable to service levels.

• Proven ability to lead an end-user support function and deliver excellent internal customer service.

• Working knowledge of IT service management practices, including ticketing, incident, and change management.

• Solid grasp of security fundamentals, including identity and access, endpoint protection, patching, and backup and recovery.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate technical topics for non-technical stakeholders.

• A hands-on, player-coach mindset: comfortable both leading a team and doing the work.

• Strong problem-solving skills and comfort operating in a fast-paced, growing environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or other regulated, compliance-driven environment.

• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft (Azure or Microsoft 365 administration), ITIL, or CompTIA.

• Experience supporting multi-site operations.

• Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks relevant to manufacturing.

• Experience introducing automation or process improvements to a support organization.

Our pay and benefits

• Salary $100,000 to $135,000

• Equity position in Niron via stock option grant

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Mental healthcare

• 401k plan with company match

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Experience in a fun, high-performing, manufacturing environment

Recruiters and Employment Agencies: Please note that Niron Magnetics does not accept unsolicited resumes from external agencies. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our career site, hiring managers, or employees will be considered the property of Niron Magnetics. Consequently, we reserve the right to hire these candidates at our discretion without any financial obligation to the submitting agency.
The following notices apply only to positions involving access to export-controlled technology, technical data, or CUI as determined by the nature of the role and applicable program requirements
Export Control / ITAR Notice
This position may require access to information, technology, or technical data controlled under U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774), as well as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) as defined under 32 C.F.R. Part 2002. Where such access is required, the Company will evaluate all available license exceptions and exemptions before determining that a formal export authorization is necessary. If an export authorization is required, the Company will determine, based on legitimate business and regulatory considerations alone, whether to pursue one. The Company is not obligated to seek an export authorization in every circumstance, and any decision regarding authorization will never be based on a candidate's citizenship status, immigration status, or national origin. Each candidate's eligibility will be evaluated individually through a consistent, documented review process. The Company complies fully with all applicable federal anti-discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.), the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1324b), and Executive Order 11246 as implemented by 41 C.F.R. Part 60. The Company does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, citizenship status, or immigration status in any aspect of employment.
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
This role may involve access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Candidates selected for roles involving CUI will be required to comply with all applicable safeguarding and handling requirements, including those under NIST SP 800-171 and any governing contractual obligations.