Information Technology Lead Specialist

Growing Home Inc.•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The IT Lead Specialist is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the IT department, managing infrastructure, ensuring system security, and leading technical staff. This role also oversees and supports employee training and certification in CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ to maintain a highly skilled and compliant IT workforce. Top candidates will be energetic, committed to individual and social change, and willing to assist in all aspects of executing our classroom job readiness program and participant placement and retention goals. The ideal candidate will have experience in group facilitation, working 1- on-1 or in small groups with marginalized populations, and cultural sensitivity in working with diverse populations. Finally, the IT Lead will be passionate about engaging adult learners through interactive and well-structured lessons and developing curriculum. Growing Home is a USDA-Certified Organic urban farm in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago that uses urban farming as a vehicle for paid job training for individuals with barriers to employment. Individual barriers for program Production Assistants (“PAs”) may include prior contact with the criminal justice system, barriers related to living near or below the poverty line, or lack of traditional market economy work experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum 4 years of IT management or supervisory experience.
Strong knowledge of networking, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure.
Experience supporting user environments across hardware, software, and network systems.
Demonstrated leadership, communication, and project management skills.
Experience with classroom or with group facilitation required
Demonstrated ability to teach adults
Comfortable working directly with marginalized populations; ability to engage with individuals in an authentic and nonjudgmental manner
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills required; ability to engage
Great organizational and time management skills; ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in decision-making
Professional computer skills required, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite required, proficiency in Salesforce or related CRM a plus
Ability to work some evenings and weekends
Some travel for meetings and retention duties will be required. Must have an aptitude and willingness to navigate public transportation throughout the greater Chicago area, or a valid driver’s license with reliable personal transportation.

Nice To Haves

CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ (required or preferred)
ITIL, CISSP, or similar (a plus)
Team leadership and staff development
Cybersecurity and risk management
Vendor and budget management
Policy development and compliance
Training program coordination

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, and manage all IT operations, systems, and infrastructure.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate IT staff and contractors.
Oversee and support staff training and certification for CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+.
Develop training plans and track certification progress for technical staff and trainees.
Coordinate and perform website updates and content maintenance
Ensure network, server, and cybersecurity systems are secure, updated, and optimized.
Manage IT projects, upgrades, and system implementations.
Develop and enforce IT policies, procedures, and security standards.
Monitor system performance, troubleshooting, and issue resolution.
Manage IT budget, vendors, licensing, and asset inventory.
Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, data protection, and regulatory requirements.
Provide leadership in incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
Initiate survey and certificate for all training sessions after course completion in coordination with clients.
Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of all training programs and maintain records of all resource allocation and provide support to all internal and external customers.
Troubleshoot all technical issues (i.e. internet issues, desktop/laptop issues, printer issues etc.)
Perform data entry and Generate reports in Growing Home’s CRM (Salesforce)
Conduct staff training and educate them on Growing Home’s CRM and use multiple desktop applications and software such as Microsoft Office and other desktop programs.
Set up new employees with technologies needed for their role (email, database, google workspace access).
Respond to requests for technical assistance in person, via phone, chat or email
Diagnose and resolve technical hardware and software issues, advise user on appropriate action and follow standard help desk procedures
Inform management of recurring problems
Stay current with system information, changes and updates
Help update training manuals for new and revised software and hardware
Assist in office support tasks and operations as needed
Assists in the coordination of events
Assists with Board liaising as needed
Assists with employer cultivation as needed
Performs other duties as assigned
As needed, assist with Growing Home open houses and events, which may include night or weekend hours
Assist in the collection of appropriate pictures, videos, and stories for social media