Brisbane, CA · Biotech/Pharmaceutical · $190,000 - $250,000
Manager, IT Operations
Department: Information Technology Reports to: Head of IT Type: Full-Time
Position Summary:
Our client is a mission-driven genomic medicine organization operating at the intersection of biotechnology and advanced information systems. With research and development efforts spanning gene therapy, genome editing, and cell-based technologies, they depend on robust and secure IT systems to drive scientific discovery and operational excellence. This role offers the opportunity to shape and lead critical infrastructure that supports cutting-edge science in a highly regulated environment. Ideal for IT professionals passionate about contributing to life sciences innovation through secure, scalable, and compliant technology solutions. We are seeking a hands-on and strategic IT Manager to lead our infrastructure, network, and security operations. This role will be responsible for the stability, security, and performance of both on-premises and cloud-based systems. The ideal candidate will be experienced in system and network architecture, cybersecurity practices, and automation, with a strong understanding of compliance and governance frameworks such as SOX and NIST.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead daily IT operations including server, network, cloud (Azure & AWS), and endpoint environments
Manage infrastructure security, including incident response, patch management, vulnerability remediation, and endpoint protection
Monitor system performance and ensure high availability, scalability, and disaster recovery capabilities
Oversee firewall, VPN, and network segmentation architecture and operations
Maintain and optimize AWS cloud resources for cost efficiency and security
Administer Okta SSO platform for identity and access management
Manage and oversee external Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to ensure service quality and accountability
Collaborate with internal teams and vendors to deliver secure, scalable, and stable IT operations
Refine and maintain IT operational processes, SOPs, runbooks, and documentation to ensure clarity, consistency, and audit-readiness
Ensure compliance with SOX, GxP, GMP, and implement controls aligned with the NIST cybersecurity framework
Manage Microsoft 365 environment including Exchange Online, Azure AD, and Microsoft Defender
Support IT audits, risk assessments, and quarterly security reporting
Drive automation efforts using scripting tools (e.g., PowerShell, Python)
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent work experience
7+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, networking, and/or security operations
2+ years in a management or team lead capacity
Experience managing external MSPs and third-party service providers
Proficient in:
Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP
Endpoint management tools (Endpoint Central, Action1, Intune)
Cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS), including cost and performance optimization
Firewall and VPN technologies (e.g., Palo Alto, Cisco)
Identity and access management tools, especially Okta SSO
Strong experience developing and refining IT processes and standard operating
procedures (SOPs)
Deep understanding of patch management, threat remediation, and log analysis
Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks, including NIST CSF, ISO 27001,
and SOX
Experience implementing or maintaining controls aligned to the NIST framework