Infrastructure & IT Operations Lead

Kreate is a family‑owned plastic injection molding company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, with operations across five states. We design and manufacture consumer products sold through major retailers—everyday items that improve how people live, work, and experience the world around them. What makes Kreate different is our mindset. We are focused on reimagining familiar product categories and turning “same old” into “better.” That approach influences everything we do—from product development and manufacturing to how we invest in people and technology. Innovation at Kreate extends beyond engineering or product design. It shows up on the plant floor, in continuous improvement efforts, in how we adopt new systems and tools, and in how we support our teams. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere, and we build an environment where improvement is constant and expected. As a family‑owned business, we take a long‑term approach to growth. We value accountability, teamwork, and pride in workmanship. Employees here have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, learn new skills, and help shape how we operate and grow. If you’re looking for a place where technology supports real‑world manufacturing, where your work directly helps employees stay productive, and where continuous improvement is part of the culture, Kreate offers a strong place to build your career. Position Summary We are seeking a hands‑on Infrastructure & IT Operations Lead to manage and support our core IT infrastructure, cloud platforms, network environment, and operational IT processes. This role combines Azure systems administration, Meraki network management, endpoint/infrastructure operations, and day‑to‑day IT leadership responsibilities. The ideal candidate is technically strong, operationally disciplined, and comfortable supervising support personnel and external vendors/MSPs in a fast‑paced growth environment. This is not a purely strategic management role — the candidate must be willing and able to operate hands‑on across cloud infrastructure, networking, troubleshooting, and operational support. Core Responsibilities Administer and support Microsoft Azure infrastructure and services Manage: Virtual machines (Hyper‑V) Storage Networking Conditional access MFA Identity governance Backup and recovery Support Microsoft 365 ecosystem: Exchange Online Teams SharePoint OneDrive Monitor cloud infrastructure performance, security, and cost optimization Assist with disaster recovery and business continuity planning Support onboarding/integration of acquired companies and new locations Network & Infrastructure Operations Firewalls Switching Wireless VPN connectivity SD‑WAN Troubleshoot network latency, outages, and connectivity issues Manage VLANs, DHCP, DNS, routing, and site‑to‑site connectivity Coordinate with ISPs and third‑party vendors Maintain infrastructure documentation, diagrams, and standards IT Operations & Support Leadership Supervise day‑to‑day IT operational activities and ticket prioritization Coordinate and oversee MSP/vendor performance and escalations Assist in developing IT operational processes, standards, and governance Support endpoint management and lifecycle processes Participate in after‑hours support and incident response as needed Drive operational stability, uptime, and continuous improvement initiatives Security & Compliance Assist with cybersecurity operations and security hardening initiatives Support: Endpoint protection Vulnerability remediation Patch management Access reviews Security audits Enforce IT policies and operational controls Participate in incident response and root‑cause analysis Required Qualifications 5 + years of hands‑on systems administration experience 3 + years supporting Azure infrastructure 3 + years administering Cisco Meraki environments Experience supporting Microsoft 365 environments Strong understanding of: TCP/IP networking VPNs VLANs DNS/DHCP Firewall concepts Experience supervising technical staff, vendors, or MSP relationships Strong troubleshooting and operational decision‑making skills Ability to prioritize and execute in fast‑moving operational environments Preferred Qualifications Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or multi‑site operations Experience with Intune and endpoint management Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks and operational controls Experience with acquisitions/infrastructure integrations Exposure to: PowerShell Automation Monitoring platforms Backup systems Hyper‑V or VMware Microsoft and/or Cisco certifications preferred Company Details Location: Kreate – 2033 Main Street, Sarasota FL, 32437 This position will report to the VP of Technology Kreate is an equal opportunity employer. The Statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company. The pay range for this role is: 105,000 – 120,000 USD per year (Sarasota – Corporate) #J-18808-Ljbffr