Information Systems and Technology (IT) Manager

Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) seeks a hands-on Information Systems and Technology (IT) Manager to plan, manage, and direct the day-to-day IT functions for ACLT. This position is part of the leadership team and is responsible for all information systems and technology functions of the organization; currently, three locations and about 45 FTEs. This position provides system implementation, monitoring, and upgrade support. The IST Manager provides IT Help desk support for end-user services and support to other software and hardware systems, including security cameras. The position works occasional nights and weekends to support community events.

About Us

Africatown Community Land Trust is working for community land ownership in the Central District. This can support the cultural and economic thriving of people who are part of the African diaspora in the Greater Seattle area. The Africatown Community Land Trust board comprises real estate professionals, business executives, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and long-time community members from the Central District.

MISSION

To acquire, develop, and steward land in Greater Seattle to empower & preserve the Black Diaspora community.

VISION

Vibrant and thriving Black communities through land ownership.

About The Position

The Information Systems and Technology Manager provides strategic and tactical support to ensure a customer service-focused and seamless operational excellence approach to providing information technology services. This position manages, plans, coordinates, directs, and designs information technology-related activities for ACLT as well as provides administrative direction and support for daily operational activities; it works closely with decision-makers in other departments to identify, recommend, develop, implement, project, and support cost-effective technology solutions for all aspects of ACLT's operations.

Typical Duties Include

LEADERSHIP

• Establishing organizational-wide IT directives and guiding IT Systems implementation through programs and practices that reflect the organization's mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Actively participate in the development and oversight of long-range, strategic, and budget planning processes.
• Model the ACLT's standard of excellence with the community, partners, employees, and funders.
• Model and coach others to conduct business through cross-department participation/teams and review, to utilize two-way communication, and to foster accountability.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor the department budget within approved appropriation levels and make sound decisions on resource allocations.
• Report to the Admin and Operations Director and, on occasion, to the Board and CEO on the status of current projects. Identify issues, assess their impact, and proactively implement and/or recommend solutions.
• Provide continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.
• Develop and implement all IT policies and procedures for architecture, security, disaster recovery, business continuity, standards, purchasing, and service provision.
• Develop and oversee the Information Technology annual teamwork plan and staffing strategies.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends, innovations, and technologies in the functional areas of assignment; research emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to agency needs.
• Implement organization-wide goals and cross-department projects and
• Maintain a department and an organization-wide perspective when considering information, issues, and challenges.
• Model the Agency's service orientation with all public, elected or funding agency
• Conduct business through cross-department participation and review, two-way communication, and accountability.
  

Oversee And Coordinate IST FUNCTIONS

• Lead and coordinate management responsibilities for assigned responsibilities and activities of the Team overseeing operations, staffing, and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Coordinate the delivery of services with other departments, divisions, and outside agencies and organizations. Ensure that services are relevant to ACLTs overall operations and meaningfully contribute to cost management within the agency.
• Evaluate, analyze, and report on performance; recommend and implement organizational changes and/or improvements to the service delivery
• Participate in developing and implementing department/division goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs.
• Develop and implement internal mechanisms for the continuing quality assurance review of operations administered by the division. Review the resultant data and make recommendations based on that data.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field.
• Participate in preparing and administrating program budgets; submit budget recommendations; monitor and track budget expenditures.
  
  

Department management

• Provide leadership within the IST Team and the agency on aligning technology with ACLT and individual division initiatives, policy, and strategic objectives. Provide direction for identifying IT outcomes and implementing or acquiring new systems or services based on ACLT's needs.
• Investigate, evaluate, and recommend potential new software applications for the organization to overcome short-term problems and support long-term technology planning.
• Work with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations.
• Coordinate with the responsible party to create, develop, and manage content for the organization's website and assist with the design and development of all intranet
• Work closely with ACLT's various departments to define organization needs and integrate custom applications and databases into ACLT's technology environment; evaluate requests for new technology.
• Negotiate and administer vendor and consultant contracts and service agreements.
  
  

System administration and business process

• Administer and support ACLTs software applications, including managing multiple user setups, profiles, and roles, customization of objects, fields, record types, page layouts, and validations.
• Manage implementation and support of internet access by working with providers and hardware systems (firewall, router, etc.).
• Manage implementation and support of on-site wired and wireless networks.
• Manage Microsoft 365 platform for user management, collaboration, productivity, and security.
• Manage implementation and support of security camera and access management system
• Manage implementation and support of desk and mobile phone systems.
• Manage implementation and support of email security, reliability, and usability.
• Manage implementation and support of helpdesk and project management systems.
• Manage implementation and support of inventory management system for IT assets as well as ACLT assets
• Manage implementation and support of a computer lab for residents.
• Work with Directors and others in the department to develop and implement a comprehensive disaster recovery plan.
• Assist with disaster recovery, backups, security, and performance and optimization of network and software applications.
• Manage implementation and support of web and social media in conjunction with Marketing department.
• Manage implementation and support of finance and fundraising systems in conjunction with finance and other department.
• Work with Human Resources to efficiently manage on-boarding and off-boarding of employees and contractors.
• Create and document application requirements by working with those involved in developing program enhancements and changes, including program staff, programmers, policy staff, finance staff, operations staff, and/or outside consultants as needed.
• Actively participate in ACLT's governance process, which manages changes to process, workflow, forms, and function.
• Oversee the development and creation of customized reports and
• Work with the stakeholders to understand and help optimize business processes, recommending solutions that fit those processes.
• Manage the software testing process, including creating test plans, creating test cases, establishing protocols and appropriate testing environments, and coordinating actual software testing.
• Oversee training of new and existing users on ACLT's for productivity software.
• Keep application users informed about system functionality and
• Provide application users with technical
• Create and maintain documentation on processes, policies, application configuration, and help-related materials for users as applications are developed.
• Assist programmer with the development of technical documentation of existing and future applications.
• Resolve customer questions related to outstanding help desk requests or other tracking methods.
  
  

PLANNING

• Work with key business partners to prepare an overall IT plan as it relates to supporting the ACLT mission; with the Operations team, define short and long-term goals and objectives, developing and administrating appropriate timelines to accomplish goals and objectives on time and within budget. Within the plan, embed and improve the current IT practices within the strategic plan;
• Analyze trends and activity in the development of budgetary recommendations that cover future needs and necessary resources to accomplish ACLT goals; control and monitor expenses within budget; ensure fiscal responsibility and cost consciousness;
• Benchmark, analyze, report on, and make recommendations for improvement and growth of the IT infrastructure and IT systems;
• Direct research on potential technology solutions in support of procurement Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives;
  

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP

• Supervise and guide direct-report(s) and contractors using management practices that develop and retain highly competent and highly performing employees;
• Comply with ACLT's performance evaluation policy and conduct evaluations regularly and on time;
• Build and maintain effective relations with a workforce;
• Fulfill all duties and responsibilities with a high level of integrity, honesty, and adherence to ACLT's policies and rules.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Technical experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree computer science, information technology
• 3-5 years of increasingly responsible experience in the management of organization-wide information systems and operating systems.
• Experience operationalizing principles, methods, and practices of information technology, including all applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Superior ability to articulate information and ideas to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills
• Ability to write clearly in a range of subject matter, both technical and general, for a range of audiences; superior ability to edit work for spelling and grammar; present numerical data effectively; able to read, write, and interpret documents of a technical nature
• High-level ability to plan projects effectively and independently, to meet schedules and timelines, and manage their timely implementation
• Possess a high degree of proficiency in agency software and otherwise to be effective without close clerical support.
• Possess and maintain a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter, procedures, or practices.
• One year of supervisory experience
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Advance degree or certification, computer science, information technology, information systems
• Extensive experience in the successful development and implementation of strategic technology plans.
• 8 or more years of increasingly responsible experience in managing enterprise-wide information systems and operating systems.
• Knowledge of cyber security best practices for threat assessment and implementation
• Three or more years of supervisory experience
  
  

Benefits Package

• Full medical, dental, and vision
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• 10 Paid holidays and 2 personal holidays
• Opportunity to positively contribute to the community
  
  

TO BE CONSIDERED

• Attach a resume detailing related experience.
• Attach a cover letter stating how you qualify for the position and your interest in ACLT.
  
  

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