IT Manager
IT
Champaign, IL, USA
IT Manager
Develop people. Build structure. Drive modernization. Deliver impact.
Location: Champaign, IL
Job Type: Full-time
Classification: IT Manager/Administrative Coordinator
Reports to: Director of IT Operations & Services
The IT Manager role offers the opportunity to lead two critical operational teams and shape SURS’ evolving technology landscape. Ideal candidates are energized by guiding technical professionals, improving operational processes, and helping modernize core infrastructure. This position is well suited for someone who values purposeful leadership, enjoys translating technical considerations into actionable decisions, and wants to contribute to a mission‑driven organization building a stronger, more forward‑looking IT foundation.
What You’ll Do
The IT Manager oversees the daily operations of the IT Operations Team, which includes Infrastructure and Endpoints/User Services. This position provides leadership and supervision to technical and support staff, ensuring reliable service delivery, high-quality customer support, operational consistency, and adherence to IT policies, security requirements, and compliance standards. The IT Manager leads operational technical projects, coordinates cross-team and vendor activities, partners closely with Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) and Security teams, and ensures effective execution of IT Operational processes under the strategic direction of the Director of IT Operations & Services.
Main Duties
- Manage day-to-day operations of the IT team
- Provide daily leadership and supervision for Infrastructure and Endpoints/User Services team members.
- Monitor and ensure high-quality customer service, timely ticket resolution, and consistent adherence to service delivery standards.
- Oversee staff scheduling, task assignments, performance evaluations, coaching, and professional development.
- Ensure team operations align with established IT procedures, service expectations, security policies, and compliance requirements.
- Maintain operational readiness, coverage, and continuity across all supported systems and services.
- Conduct hiring, onboarding, coaching, training, performance evaluations, and corrective action as appropriate.
- Lead and execute operational and technical projects
- Plan, organize, and deliver operational and infrastructure projects within IT operations, including system upgrades, endpoint lifecycle initiatives, and service enhancement efforts.
- Track project timelines, risks, milestones, documentation, and status updates.
- Manage logistics and follow-through for disaster recovery testing and readiness under Director-led strategic planning.
- Ensure project activities are executed according to established standards, procedures, and technical requirements.
- Coordinate with other teams, departments, and external vendors
- Serve as the primary operational liaison across IT Operations, collaborating with Team Leads, Application Development, Security, and other internal stakeholders.
- Partner with GRC and Security to implement required controls, support compliance activities, remediate audit findings, and ensure operational procedures align with governance and security policies.
- Coordinate with vendors for scheduling, documentation, deliverables tracking, service quality review, and procurement-related tasks.
- Communicate operational impacts, dependencies, and updates to stakeholders across the organization.
- Provide stewardship of IT operational resources
- Oversee inventory, lifecycle, and compliance management for hardware, software, licenses, and support contracts.
- Ensure operational documentation, procedures, and inventories are accurate, current, and aligned with organizational and audit standards.
- Provide operational inputs for budgeting and resource forecasting.
- Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency, operational performance, and service reliability.
- Reviews and approvals of routine operational purchases for the IT Operations team.
- Perform additional duties as assigned
- Carry out other job-related responsibilities to support IT Operations and organizational objectives as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Any one or any combination totaling 5 years (60 months) from the following categories:
- College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT Systems, or a closely related discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
- 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
- Associate’s Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
- 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
- Bachelor’s Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)
- Work experience in IT-related functions such as hardware/software support, programming, network design, network engineering, IT systems integration, or closely related field, which includes supervisory or lead worker capacity.
- College coursework which includes Information Technology (IT), IT Management, Programming, IT Systems, or a closely related discipline, as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
- Minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in leading and managing an IT team or organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience as a Windows Systems Administrator, with strong infrastructure knowledge.
- Demonstrated experience leading infrastructure modernization or technical lifecycle projects.
- Strong project management skills (certification a plus).
- Experience collaborating with Security and GRC teams and applying security requirements operationally.
- Experience managing vendors, contracts, and technical deliverables.
- Familiarity with ITIL or other service management frameworks.
- Budget management experience.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Knowledge of the systems and operations used within the areas and departments of responsibility.
- Strong supervisory, project management, administrative, and budget management skills are required.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to oversee and coordinate activities of assigned staff.
- Ability to effectively communicate with other colleagues, supervisors, administrative staff, and other campus/agency units.
- Ability to identify and resolve technical and personnel problems.
- Ability to effectively communicate and professionally interact with all staff levels.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality with information processed, stored, transmitted, or accessed by the systems is required.
Work Environment & Compensation
- Full-time position based in Champaign, IL
- Fully in-office during initial training; potential hybrid schedule available afterward
- The starting salary range for this position is $107,423 - $119,359. This is a competitive salary, taking into consideration experience and internal equity.
- Standard 37.5-hour work week
Benefits That Matter
- State of Illinois insurance benefits including medical, dental, and vision
- Participation in the SURS retirement plan
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and 10 paid holidays
- 2 floating holidays after 6 months
- Paid parental leave after 6 months
- Flexible, professional work environment
- Free parking
- Find more details regarding the benefits SURS offers at: SURS Employee Benefits - SURS
About SURS
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) administers retirement, disability, survivor, and death benefits for over 255,000 members across Illinois public higher education institutions. Founded in 1941, SURS manages more than $30 billion in assets and is committed to delivering accurate, timely, and compassionate service to members throughout their careers and lives.