Manager, IT Operations

Fermented Food Holdings, Inc. • Chicago, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At Fermented Food Holdings (FFH), we’re passionate about harnessing the transformative power of food to enhance lives through high-quality, delicious, fermented products. By making the unique benefits of these foods accessible, we’re driving health and lifestyle improvements while transforming the future of food. We value talent, creativity, and authenticity, fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone’s contributions make us better. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a growing industry and help create a healthier, happier world—one bite at a time.

The IT Operations Manager is both a hands‑on operator and a strategic leader, responsible for ensuring the stability, security, and scalability of infrastructure across the entire organization. Based in Madison, WI, this role blends daily operational ownership with long‑term planning to position the company for continued expansion.

You will lead the execution of core infrastructure functions while shaping the roadmap that strengthens our multi‑site environment. This includes guiding infrastructure strategy, improving operational maturity, and partnering with leadership to build a resilient, future‑ready technology ecosystem.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience
• Strong background in vendor management
• Solid understanding of security fundamentals
• Hands‑on, execution‑oriented approach to operational IT
• Experience in manufacturing or multi‑site environments strongly preferred

Nice To Haves

• Experience with cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, or similar)
• Familiarity with OT/IT convergence in manufacturing environments
• Exposure to enterprise backup solutions
• Experience supporting M&A technology integrations
• Familiarity with industrial networking (PLC connectivity, SCADA environments, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily MSP/vendor governance including SLA compliance, ticket quality, and escalation handling
• Manage and optimize network and firewall performance across all sites
• Ensure stable and resilient plant connectivity to support production operations
• Validate and monitor backup and disaster recovery processes
• Track and coordinate security remediation activities
• Lead tactical infrastructure initiatives such as hardware refreshes, domain management, and integration support for new sites or systems
• Contribute to long‑term infrastructure planning, modernization, and scalability initiatives
• Partner with leadership to elevate infrastructure maturity and support organizational growth

Benefits

• 401-K with Company match
• Paid holidays, as well as paid time off
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health/dependent) and Health Savings Accounts
• Company sponsored short term and long-term disability, as well as life insurance
• Additional voluntary insurance plans are available to meet your lifestyle needs
• You’ll enjoy office perks such as espresso, snacks, desserts, and a friendly environment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager