Start Date: Immediately

Full-Time Hybrid: 3 days in Markham Office

Compensation: at the bottom

TL;DR

Kevito is in Markham, ON, and looks after 100+ food & beverage franchise locations of Chatime, Bakecode. For $70-85k/year (see bottom for other benefits), we need a Full-Time Hybrid Hands On IT Manager. Not only do you know your IT (e.g. reimage laptops, change printer cartridge, network), but you are insanely organized, your communications can literally spell effectiveness, and automating and extending your tools (i.e., ClickUp, Google Workspace) through scripting and AI is just natural to you, like breathing.

Company Overview

At Kevito Group, we are dedicated to revolutionizing the Quick-Serve Restaurant industry by building premier Asian-inspired food and beverage brands that revolutionize the marketplace. Our portfolio of successful brands boasts a combined footprint of 85 locations across Canada, including Chatime, Bake Code, Atealier by Chatime, and Botrista.

Guided by our core values of Entrepreneurship, Passion, Innovation, and Craft, our mission is to create exceptional taste experiences and build lasting brands that bring joy to our customer's everyday moments and spread happiness through the power of internationally-inspired flavours.

WIthin our brand portfolio, Chatime is committed to creating happy moments for its guests one step at a time. The brand's mission is to spread the joy of bubble tea to all Canadians through our crafted handshaken beverages, with a focus on quality and consistently brewed tea.

We are seeking an IT Manager with strong technical acumen, exceptional organizational, prioritization, and communication skills, and a proven ability to coordinate and deploy vendor teams effectively across a fast-growing, multi-location environment.

This role requires someone who is both strategic and hands-on-capable of managing the day-to-day IT operations, leading large-scale hardware/software rollouts, and optimizing systems with scripting and workflow automation in ClickUp.

Position Overview

You will oversee all IT functions for both head office and franchise locations, including vendor management, 100+ hardware deployment, software license management, and technical project management. They will play a vital role in working with various departments, construction teams, and external vendors to set up new stores, manage IT budgets, and improve service levels. The ideal candidate is a proactive and skilled technical manager, capable of managing multiple responsibilities, taking ownership of tasks, and driving process efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Support and Automation

• Troubleshoot and support head office infrastructure and liaise with external vendors to resolve issues across 100+ franchise locations.
• Tackle a range of IT issues-from device imaging to POS troubleshooting and announcement automations.
• Use Python (or other language) to script repetitive processes, automate common tasks, and improve overall IT responsiveness.
• Support cloud platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

2. Network and System Management

• Configure, maintain, and optimize servers, networks, servers, and business applications to ensure stability, performance, and security.
• Proactively monitor systems to identify and resolve potential issues, minimizing downtime.
• Regularly patch and update systems to maintain security and performance across the organization.

3. Vendor and Construction Collaboration

• Coordinate with vendors and construction teams to setup of new stores, managing the deployment of hardware and software to ensure smooth launches.
• Manage vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, auditing invoices, initiating disputes as necessary, and tracking service levels to ensure vendor accountability.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including Operations, Finance, and Franchise Development, to identify and support IT needs.

4. IT Budget, P&L, and License Management

• Track and manage the IT budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with business objectives. Monitor the P&L for IT expenditures, identifying opportunities for efficiency.
• Audit invoices for accuracy, manage user licenses across multiple platforms, and recommend resource optimizations.
• Provide regular budget and performance reports, presenting insights and recommendations to the executive team.

5. Cybersecurity and Compliance

• Establish and enforce cybersecurity protocols, ensuring compliance with industry regulations for data protection and privacy.
• Conduct regular security assessments, implement risk mitigation strategies, and train employees on data protection best practices.
• Manage access control and cybersecurity for both head office and franchise systems.

6. IT Projects and Process Improvement

• Lead and execute IT projects, including multi-location deployments, system upgrades, and network enhancements. Oversee technical project management with vendors, ensuring timelines, resources, and objectives are met.
• Recommend process improvements and optimizations to enhance service levels, efficiency, and overall technology experience.
• Utilize Jira Service Desk and scripting to automate workflows, reducing repetitive tasks and improving support processes.

7. Documentation, Reporting, and Executive Communication

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for IT systems, processes, and configurations, supporting compliance and operational transparency.
• As a test if you've read this: DM me with the word "mango & bubble tea" and I will automatically grant the first 20 people with an initial 15-min video interview.
• Report regularly on IT metrics, budgets, project progress, and potential improvements to the executive team.
• Ensure ongoing communication with internal stakeholders-keeping operations, finance, and construction teams in sync on IT progress and dependencies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 5+ years in IT leadership or senior coordination roles, preferably in retail, hospitality, or multi-unit operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in vendor coordination and deployment management across multiple concurrent sites.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for automation and process optimization.
• Experience with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and multi-site POS infrastructure.
• Strong budgeting, invoice auditing, and license management capabilities.
• Outstanding organizational, prioritization, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience using ClickUp or similar platforms for task and project tracking.
• Proven track record working with multiple departments and managing IT projects with external vendors and construction teams.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to take ownership of responsibilities and drive improvements.
• Excellent vendor management abilities, including auditing invoices, initiating disputes, and optimizing vendor contracts.
• Cybersecurity experience or certifications are a plus.

Compensation:

• Hybrid work (3 days in Markham office)
• Base Salary: $70,000 to $85,000/annum
• Bonus: 10% depending on company & personal performance
• Paid Vacation: 3 weeks
• Work remote from anywhere: 4 weeks
• Extended Health and Dental benefits
• Start up culture