IT Operations Manager

**FOR ENROLLED COWLITZ TRIBAL MEMBERS AND CURRENT CIT EMPLOYEES**

POSITION TITLE: IT Operations Manager
DEPARTMENT: IT
LOCATION: Longview, WA/Hybrid available
REPORTS TO: IT Director
FLSA STATUS: Exempt, fulltime
SALARY RANGE: $145,808.00 - $182,208.00

Closing Date: April 15, 2025

***If you are an American Indian/Alaska Native and/or a Veteran and would like this to be considered preference in hiring, please upload documentation with your resume and cover letter. Acceptable documentation includes Tribal Enrollment card, a letter from your Tribe stating your enrollment, or BIA 4432 and/or DD214.***

Position Summary:

Achieves the IT Department goals and objectives by ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the IT infrastructure, applications, and systems across the organization. Manages IT operations, including the coordination of internal IT staff, contracted staff, and vendors. Secures the optimal delivery of IT services and systems. Assures the efficient and effective provision of IT services in accordance with established laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Honors and represents the mission, vision, and values of CIT and the IT department.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversees IT Operations including coordinating and managing the day-to-day operations of IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, hardware, and software, and ensuring systems are reliable and operational.
• Manages and directs the work of contracted IT staff, external vendors, and project teams, ensuring timely and high-quality service delivery.
• Collaborates with contractors to address IT-related issues and optimize system performance.
• Assists in planning, executing, and monitoring IT projects.
• Ensures that projects meet objectives, deadlines, and budget requirements while maintaining effective communication across internal teams and external contractors.
• Monitors system performance, including network traffic, server health, and application performance.
• Troubleshoots and resolves technical issues, escalating when necessary to appropriate team members or vendors.
• Ensures all IT systems and operations adhere to organizational security protocols and compliance standards.
• Assists with security audits and coordinates with the Director and Deputy Director to identify and mitigate risks.
• Maintains up-to-date documentation of IT processes, systems configurations, vendor contracts, and system performance.
• Prepares operational and project reports for internal colleagues, including leadership teams.
• Oversees IT asset management, including hardware and software inventory, ensuring proper tracking, licensing, and compliance with organizational policies.
• Hosts regular staff meetings to ensure communication among personnel regarding program-related activities.
• Fosters effective communication between internal IT teams, contractors, vendors, and colleagues.
• Ensures collaboration across teams to meet organizational IT objectives.
• Participates actively in IT infrastructure projects and process improvements.
• Coordinates with cross-functional teams to ensure all technology solutions meet business needs.
• Trains and guides internal staff on IT systems and best practices.
• Offers ongoing support to ensure employees effectively use IT resources and tools.
• Investigates and resolves incidents or issues affecting IT systems; provides root cause analysis and ensures corrective actions are implemented to prevent future occurrences.
• Utilizes project management best practices to prioritize IT tasks and ensure resources are allocated effectively to meet operational and project needs.
• Manages and monitors IT system performance using appropriate tools; ensures system alerts and incidents are tracked and resolved in a timely manner.
• Participates in disaster recovery planning and testing, ensuring that IT operations align with business continuity requirements.
• Increases staff’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining supervisors; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; integrating functional objectives; providing and participating in educational opportunities.
• Oversees, leads, and directs the work of IT contractors assigned to specific projects; ensures work is completed on schedule and the work goals are completed.
• Prepares clear, concise reports for management, detailing project progress, system performance, and any issues or concerns that may require attention.
• Evaluates emerging technologies and IT solutions to recommend improvements that align with business goals and optimize operational efficiency.
• Ensure Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) are met by working with contractors and vendors to assure adherence with all IT service agreements and SLAs providing timely responses and issue resolution, continuously improving information security by staying updated on the latest threats, trends, and technology.
• Reads, analyzes, and interprets technical and general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and regulations.
• Keeps abreast of new technologies and principles attending seminars, educational workshops, classes, and conferences to maintain certifications.
• Contributes to a team effort and accomplishes related results as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of traditional form of government and tribal customs and traditions.
• Knowledge of MIS and IT concepts, principles, and practices; computer operations and user environments; and enterprise applications.
• Knowledge of Local Area Network (LAN) and/or Wide Area (WAN) hardware and software.
• Knowledge of federal copyright laws as they pertain to the use of computer software.
• Knowledge of and experience with Windows operating systems, enterprise systems, Microsoft Domain networking, or Windows scripting.
• Knowledge of current technological developments/trends in area of expertise.
• Knowledge of IT Security and IT Risk Management systems
• Knowledge of budget preparation and grant applications.
• Skill in analyzing problems, projecting consequences, identifying solutions, and implementing recommendations.
• Skill in preparing, reviewing, and analyzing operational and financial reports.
• Skill in supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership at all times.
• Ability to interpret applicable federal, state, county, and local laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Ability to design, develop, and implement integrated software systems solutions to organizational requirements.
• Ability to analyze operational requirements and assess technology and capacity requirements.
• Ability to develop and write systems and applications documentation and guides for users.
• Ability to provide a range of systems training and support activities for users.
• Ability to perform preventive maintenance on systems and devices.
• Ability to demonstrate strong critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to interact and maintain good working relationships with individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds, employees and officials.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict timelines.
• Ability to maintain privileged confidential information.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in IT, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5 years of experience in IT operations, systems administration, or technical support, with at least one year of experience in managing technical staff in technical positions.
• A combination of relevant education and related work experience may be considered.
• Valid driver’s license is required when driving vehicles for work-related purposes.
• Fluency in the Cowlitz language preferred.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background screening / investigation according to the established requirements below.

Tribal preference in accordance with Cowlitz Indian Tribe Code and CIT Employee Policies and Procedures Handbook shall apply to all positions.

Background Investigation Requirements:

• Pre-employment drug screen.
• Personal reference check and employment verification.
• Federal, state, and/or tribal criminal history and sanction checks including fingerprint verification

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit, talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee occasionally is required to stand, walk, climb, stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in an indoor office setting and occasionally in an outdoor environment, with a moderate to excessive noise level. Exposure to hazardous materials, potentially dangerous situations, dust, allergens, and infectious disease may occur. Situations may occur that require work near hazardous or moving equipment and where PPE (personal protective equipment) is needed. Occasional evening and/or weekend work is required. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common. Travel is required for training, meetings, conferences, presentations, and other events.

Salary : $145,808 - $182,208