IT Manager

Overview Of School

Park Day School, an independent school founded in 1976, offers an outstanding progressive K-8 program with 300 students. The school community embraces and serves the ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity of Oakland. The program is rooted in the tenets of progressive education and reinforces 21st century pedagogy. Our student-centered approach cultivates deep thinkers and compassionate and courageous people who work to shape a more equitable and sustainable world. Park Day is a leader in public purpose initiatives and social justice efforts, and our historical four-acre campus is located in the vibrant Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, CA.

Position Summary

The IT Manager is responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and security of the school's entire technology stack, ensuring reliable network , data, and voice services for all students, staff, and administrative functions, acting as a general IT support resource.

Essential Responsibilities And Duties

• Strategic management of Park Day School’s IT Infrastructure: Oversight and ownership of Park Day School’s entire IT stack. The IT manager is responsible for the overall health of the infrastructure, ensuring that the school takes a proactive approach to managing its IT infrastructure while responding to issues that arise.
• Planning : Research new technologies, recommend hardware/operational software purchases, and plan for network growth.
• Maintenance & Monitoring : Monitor network vulnerability/suspicious activity and performance, security posture, disaster recovery plans, and maintain IT inventory.
• Implement and manage security tools: Antivirus/EDR, intrusion detection/prevention, DNS Filtering VPNs, etc.
• Device Management : Ensure devices are up-to-date, accounted for, configured properly, and are being tracked and replaced as needed
• Security Posture : Develop and enforce security policies and best practices for equipment, systems, and users. Maintaining and improving Identity and Access Management systems.
• Internal Processes, Procedures and Documentation: Developing and maintaining internal processes and procedures to ensure the smooth operation of IT infrastructure support at the school. Ensuring the environment is sustainable through extensive documentation
• User-focused technical support: Provide technical assistance to staff, troubleshooting hardware, operating software, and network issues; train staff on new systems. Work collaboratively with Ed. Tech Coordinator regarding Educational Technology Software, Student Information Systems and student device management. Work collaboratively with the Director of Facilities to support hardware in the classroom.
• Network Management: Through a combination of proactive management and as-needed troubleshooting, ensuring Park Day School’s network infrastructure has reliable Wi-Fi, secure and operational network equipment, and an adequate cabling infrastructure to support smooth network operation and facilitating digital learning,
• IT Physical Infrastructure Management: Ensuring the physical infrastructure is in a state of readiness to support Park Day School’s IT infrastructure. This includes evaluating structured cabling environments, as well as coordinating efforts with the internal facilities team and external vendors to shore up areas when needed.
  

Qualifications And Experience

• Overall IT Experience: 5 years of progressive experience in IT roles, preferably within an educational environment.
• Managerial Experience: 2-3 years in a leadership or supervisory IT role preferred.
• Project management and communication: Experience managing small to medium-sized IT infrastructure within a school environment.
• Hands-on technical aptitude:
• Mac and Windows Workstation: Solid knowledge of the Mac and Windows OS, common workstation issues, and configuration best practices. Ideally experience working with an MDM such as JAMF, Mosyle, Meraki SM, etc.

• Networking: Proven experience with LAN/WAN configurations, network hardware (routers, switches, firewalls), and troubleshooting. Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, switches, and wifi networks.
• Hardware Management: Proven ability to manage and maintain diverse technological equipment, including phones, computers (Macs and PCs), tablets (iPads), smartphones, AV equipment (projectors, TVs, casting devices), security camera/access system (Unifi / Verkada), Printers and leased MFCs and Algo Intercom systems.
• Google Workspace: Experience managing Google Admin / Google Workspace in a school environment.
• Cloud-Based Platforms: Experience managing a wide variety of cloud platforms, including GoTo VoIP, Unifi, Zoom, FellowAI, ChatGPT and various instructional and educational software platforms
• General Software Proficiency: Strong proficiency with common productivity software tools such as Microsoft Office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Education Technology: Experience with various educational technology platforms including GoGuardian, Blackbaud and supporting educational software.
• Cyber Security: Strong understanding of the current cyber security landscape, including common threats and vulnerabilities, standard tools to combat them, and a strategic mindset to managing security (including SAT, EDR/MDR, etc.)
• Soft Skills: Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, time management, and multitasking abilities. Understanding of PDS’ educational mission.