Sr. Manager, IT Operations

kreate

Sarasota, FL • On-site

Full-time

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Job description

Job Summary:
Kreate is a family-owned plastic injection molding company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. They are seeking a hands-on, strategic Sr. Manager, IT Operations to lead and optimize their enterprise IT environment during a period of rapid growth and transformation.
Responsibilities:
• Lead day-to-day oversight of enterprise IT infrastructure and operational services
• Drive operational standards, governance, documentation, and process improvement initiatives
• Support cloud and hybrid infrastructure environments across Azure and on-prem systems
• Oversee networking environments including switching, routing, wireless, VPNs, firewalls, and WAN connectivity
• Participate in disaster recovery, backup validation, business continuity, and scalability planning
• Serve as the primary internal owner for MSP performance and execution
• Manage relationships with external IT vendors, telecom providers, and technology partners
• Hold vendors accountable to SLAs, escalation management, documentation quality, and operational performance
• Lead quarterly business reviews and evaluate new technologies and service providers
• Oversee administration and optimization of Microsoft 365 and Azure environments
• Manage Microsoft licensing strategy, allocation, and cost optimization
• Support and enhance:
• Entra ID (Azure AD)
• Exchange Online
• Teams
• SharePoint Online
• Intune
• Defender
• Azure infrastructure services
• Assist with governance and rollout planning for Microsoft Copilot and AI-enabled collaboration technologies
• Lead enterprise MFA and SSO strategy across business applications
• Manage onboarding, offboarding, provisioning, and role-based access controls
• Develop Conditional Access policies and security baselines
• Coordinate access reviews, privilege management, compliance initiatives, and incident response readiness
• Partner with leadership and vendors on cybersecurity strategy and risk reduction efforts
• Improve IT ticketing systems, workflows, and service delivery operations
• Develop KPIs, operational reporting, and service metrics
• Implement IT operational best practices aligned with ITIL principles
• Drive automation initiatives to improve efficiency and user experience
• Enhance endpoint lifecycle management, asset tracking, and operational visibility
Qualifications:
Required:
• 7+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, cloud administration, or IT operations
• 3+ years managing MSPs, vendors, or enterprise IT environments
• Strong experience with Microsoft 365 and Azure administration
• Experience implementing MFA, SSO, Conditional Access, and identity governance
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking and infrastructure operations
• Experience improving ITSM platforms, ticketing systems, and operational workflows
• Experience supporting multi-site or rapidly growing organizations
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Microsoft 365 ecosystem
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Azure infrastructure and administration
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Entra ID / Azure AD
• Strong Working Knowledge Of MFA and SSO platforms
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Intune and endpoint management
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Microsoft licensing models
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Networking fundamentals (switching, routing, VPNs, firewalls)
• Strong Working Knowledge Of IT security best practices
• Strong Working Knowledge Of ITSM platforms and ticketing systems
• Strong Working Knowledge Of Backup and disaster recovery concepts
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution
• Excellent communication and vendor management skills
• Strong problem-solving and operational decision-making abilities
• Ability to drive accountability and continuous improvement in fast-paced environments
Preferred:
• Microsoft Defender ecosystem
• Sentinel
• PowerShell scripting and automation
• Hybrid AD environments
• Manufacturing, distribution, or ERP-integrated environments
Company:
We’re on a mission to reimagine classes of products that better support the people who use them. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in Findlay, OH, US, , with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.


Frequently asked questions

Q: What skills or qualities help someone succeed as a IT Operations Manager?

A: To succeed as an IT Operations Manager, key technical skills include proficiency in IT service management frameworks (e.g., ITIL), knowledge of cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and expertise in monitoring and automation tools (e.g., Nagios, Ansible). Soft skills such as strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities are also crucial, as they enable effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders. By combining these technical and soft skills, IT Operations Managers can drive efficiency, reliability, and innovation in IT service delivery, ultimately supporting career growth and effectiveness in the role.

Q: What is the career path for a IT Operations Manager?

A: A typical career progression for an IT Operations Manager involves starting as an IT Support Specialist or Help Desk Technician, progressing to a Senior IT Support or Team Lead role, and then moving into IT Operations Manager positions, where they oversee the day-to-day management of IT systems and infrastructure. Key opportunities for skill development and professional growth in this role include learning about IT service management frameworks, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, as well as developing leadership and project management skills. Long-term career prospects for IT Operations Managers may include transitioning into executive roles such as CIO or CTO, or pursuing specialized roles like IT Service Management Consultant or Cloud Architect.