The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Manager of IT Operations to lead our IT operations team. The ideal candidate will ensure that our IT infrastructure is reliable, secure, efficient, and aligned with our business objectives.

The Senior Manager of IT Operations will oversee the day-to-day operations of our IT department, ensuring the availability, performance, and security of IT services and infrastructure. This individual will play a key role in strategic planning, team leadership/development, and the continuous improvement of our IT operations. This will be a hands-on role with a balance of technical and managerial components.

The individual in this role will be an essential part of a dynamic team to help achieve the department and organization’s strategic goals. The mission of the Stowers Institute is ‘Hope for Life’, and we strive to have an IT department of excellence to ensure that our scientists, staff, and trainees all have the support they need to be able to achieve their highest potential.

Candidates should have an exceptional ability to take appropriate initiative, assess organizational needs, and then plan and carry out tasks efficiently and effectively. The ideal candidate should have an appreciation of science and scientific research.

Responsibilities Include:

Leading and managing the IT operations team across a diverse environment that includes Windows, Linux, and Mac systems to ensure cohesive support and infrastructure management, with a strong emphasis on mentoring and developing team members to realize their full potential.
Fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement,
Maintaining an appropriate balance of overall team management and development and hands-on technical work.
Developing and implementing strategies for IT infrastructure management, including server, network, and data center operations.
Ensuring high availability and reliability of IT services, including proactive monitoring and maintenance.
Leading the development and execution of a comprehensive cloud strategy, aligning with the organization's IT infrastructure and security goals, to facilitate the transition to cloud-based services, manage cloud infrastructure, and ensuring the efficient integration of cloud technologies.
Coordinating with the Help Desk group to manage comprehensive support services, including escalated Tier 3 technical issues, across all operating systems and platforms.
Collaborating closely with the Director of Information Security to implement robust security measures and to align security protocols with IT operations, including educating and developing the team on security best practices.
Collaborating with other departments to align IT operations with business goals and support company-wide initiatives.
Managing vendor relationships and negotiate contracts to ensure cost-effective and high-quality IT services.
Leading IT disaster recovery planning and execution, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.
Driving the adoption of best practices in IT operations, including ITIL, Lean IT, and Agile methodologies, with a commitment to continuous learning and application of these practices within the team.
Developing and managing the IT operations budget, optimizing expenditures and ensuring ROI on IT investments.
Performing a variety of other IT operations duties associated with the activities of a busy Research Institute environment.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter willing to commit the required effort to accomplish objectives and identify opportunities. Candidates should demonstrate outstanding communication skills and the ability to multi-task in a team-oriented and multi-cultural environment. Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy in work product will be vital. A successful candidate will be a team player who demonstrates and fosters a partnering attitude, including flexibility, patience, and a service mentality.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
Minimum of 8 years of experience in IT operations, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
Strong technical knowledge of network and server infrastructure, cloud computing, and cybersecurity principles.
Proven experience in IT service management and the implementation of ITIL processes; ITIL certification preferred.
Experience with Agile methodologies and Lean IT principles; certifications in these areas are highly advantageous.
Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Ability to strategize and solve problems efficiently.
Ability to work primarily on-site with the option of 2 days remote work per week depending on department needs.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

ITIL Foundation or higher
Certified Agile Service Manager (CASM)
Lean IT Certification
Cloud Certification (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate)

To Apply

If this sounds like a team you would like to be a part of, please submit the requested documents to careers@stowers.org or Administration Department, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.

Requested Documents

Current Resume
Cover Letter

Stowers Institute for Medical Research

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Senior Manager of IT Operations