IT Director

Affinity Group•Charlotte, NC

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The IT Director leads Affinity Group’s day-to-day technology operations, keeping systems, networks, and business applications running reliably across a hybrid, multi-office workforce. This role oversees IT support, infrastructure, security, and vendor relationships, and partners with leadership across the Food Service and Retail divisions to plan and deliver technology that supports the business.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
Prior experience managing IT operations, systems administration, or a help desk/support function.
Hands-on ability across the following areas: Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID administration, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and licensing.
Microsoft Intune and Windows endpoint management.
Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Hyper-V, and Remote Desktop Services.
Backup and recovery, and infrastructure monitoring.
Business network administration across many small offices, including Cisco Meraki firewalls, Aruba Instant On switching and wireless, and domain name service.
Endpoint and email security, multi-factor authentication, and a password vault.
Microsoft Azure at a small-business scale, including scheduled automation and secret storage.
IT service management in a help desk platform, including assets, change, and a knowledge base.
PowerShell scripting, source control, and AI-assisted automation.
Vendor and license management for hardware, software, and telecommunications.
Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical staff.
Proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities across a distributed, multi-office organization.

Nice To Haves

Microsoft certifications relevant to this environment (e.g., Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert, Azure Administrator Associate, or Security Operations Analyst Associate).
ITIL Foundation, for IT service management practice.
PMP or a similar project management certification.
A security certification such as CompTIA Security+ or (ISC)² SSCP/CISSP.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day IT operations, including network, server, endpoint, and cloud infrastructure across all Affinity Group offices.
Lead and prioritize the IT help desk function, ensuring timely resolution of employee support requests and tracking recurring issues.
Administer core business systems and platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365, CRM, and other line-of-business applications), coordinating upgrades, integrations, and access management.
Implement and maintain data security, backup, and disaster recovery practices; monitor for vulnerabilities and coordinate remediation.
Manage relationships with IT vendors, the managed service provider, and telecom/internet carriers, including contract renewals, performance, and assessment of third-party security and business risk.
Plan and track the IT budget, evaluate new tools and equipment purchases, and recommend cost-effective solutions.
Lead technology rollouts (new hardware, software, or office setups) from planning through deployment and training.
Own governance of AI-assisted tools and automation used within IT, ensuring their use follows Affinity Group's AI and development policies and gets appropriate review.
Partner with senior leadership on the IT roadmap and budget as the business grows, including evaluating what stays in-house versus with outside partners.
Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Operations leaders across both divisions to understand technology needs and support regional teams.
Maintain documentation for systems, processes, and IT policies, and train employees on tools and security best practices.