IT Manager

IT Manager

Location: Belleville, Ontario

Salary: $105,000–$115,000 annually

Industry: Manufacturing

The Opportunity

We are partnering with an established manufacturing organization seeking a hands-on IT Manager to lead its IT function and infrastructure.

This is not a purely strategic or administrative IT leadership position. The successful candidate will be comfortable leading a team while remaining technically involved, supporting networks, servers, infrastructure, systems and users across multiple locations.

You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure the organization's technology supports day-to-day manufacturing operations, business growth, new product launches and future capital projects.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Lead, develop and manage the IT team, including workload planning, performance management and employee development.
• Oversee and maintain the company's IT infrastructure across multiple locations.
• Provide hands-on technical support and troubleshooting for networks, servers, systems and connectivity.
• Manage server configuration, migration, implementation and ongoing performance.
• Support LAN/WAN environments, firewalls, VPNs and branch connectivity.
• Plan for future hardware, software, infrastructure and capacity requirements.
• Work with senior leadership to ensure data integrity, security, accessibility and protection.
• Lead or support company-wide technology implementations and system improvement projects.
• Evaluate existing processes and identify opportunities to improve operations through technology.
• Manage relationships with external IT vendors and consultants.
• Oversee the acquisition, implementation and support of technical hardware and telecommunications equipment.
• Develop and maintain IT policies, standards and procedures.
• Support technology requirements associated with plant expansions, capital projects and new product launches.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing networks, servers and IT infrastructure, ideally across multiple locations.
• Progressive IT experience within a networked environment supporting 50+ users.
• Previous experience leading or managing IT employees.
• Strong understanding of:
• Server architecture, migration and implementation
• Clustered server environments
• Network administration
• LAN/WAN environments
• Firewalls and VPN technologies
• Telecommunications and connectivity
• Hardware and application software
• Multi-user relational database environments
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with everyone from production employees to senior leadership.
• Comfortable working in both an office environment and on a manufacturing/production floor.

Education

A degree or diploma in one of the following areas is preferred:

• Computer Science
• Systems Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Information Technology
• Business/Technology

Equivalent education combined with strong relevant experience will also be considered.

The Person

We are looking for someone who is:

• Hands-on and technically strong
• Approachable and comfortable supporting users directly
• Organized and able to manage competing priorities
• A strong troubleshooter
• Self-motivated and able to take ownership
• Comfortable leading a team while still getting involved technically
• Able to translate technical issues into practical business solutions
• Comfortable in a manufacturing environment where IT directly impacts production

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity for an experienced IT professional who enjoys having ownership of an IT function while remaining close to the technology.

If you enjoy building, troubleshooting, improving systems and leading people, rather than simply managing from a distance, this position offers a strong combination of technical involvement and leadership responsibility.

I would also screen heavily for manufacturing experience even though the original document doesn't explicitly say it is mandatory. The position supports the production floor, expansions, capital projects and new-product launches, so someone coming from an automotive, industrial or other 24/7 manufacturing environment will likely understand the urgency much faster. The original description specifically notes supporting all sites, maintaining infrastructure and advising senior management on network and equipment requirements.

I would also avoid making the degree requirement too rigid when recruiting. The client's wording allows a university or college credential/equivalent, so a strong hands-on IT Manager with 10–15 years of relevant manufacturing IT experience should not be screened out simply because they don't have a Computer Science degree.