IT Manager (MSP Liaison)

Department: Information Technology Reports to: Sr Manager of Projects and Systems Job Summary The IT Manager will act as the central point of contact between NWEP and our MSP (Olmec), ensuring efficient, timely, and cost-effective IT support. This role combines vendor management, cybersecurity leadership, asset and license administration, and policy development. Key Responsibilities MSP Management Serve as the primary liaison with our MSP (Olmec) to manage resources and deliver timely IT support for our growing team. Optimize and maximize the effective use of MSP resources. Monitor MSP performance metrics, and ticket trends to identify recurring issues or SLA breeches Collaborate with the MSP to incorporate industry best practices. Partner with the MSP to troubleshoot and resolve escalated Level 3 issues. Develop, maintain, and enforce cybersecurity policies to safeguard NWEP infrastructure. IT Management & Operational Alignment Oversee software license management throughout employee onboarding and offboarding processes. Collaborate with Engineering and Operations to deconflict IT maintenance with critical project timelines. Serve as the primary advocate for Engineering/Ops needs, ensuring the MSP understands the specific technical requirements of plant and design systems. Coordinate and deliver IT security training for NWEP staff and relevant MSP personnel. Develop and maintain the file server group permissions matrix. Manage hardware procurement, including orders and establishment/maintenance of hardware specification standards. Oversee contracts, licensing, and deployment of multiple software packages critical to plant operations. Develop and maintain the annual IT budget IT Optimization Develop and maintain a comprehensive asset management inventory system. Forecast inventory stock levels and plan asset retirement to support current users and new hires. Create and maintain a software-per-user matrix. Review the current software allocation and pricing strategy for potential savings and efficiencies. Enable operational efficiency by centralizing IT management and reducing the need for operations staff to handle their own systems. Explore AI productivity options for company use. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 5+ years of progressive IT experience, including at least 2 years in IT management or vendor/MSP oversight. Demonstrated success managing relationships with managed service providers. Experience in cybersecurity policy development, asset management, and software license compliance. Required Skills Strong vendor management and contract oversight capabilities. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously. Clear and effective communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences. Proficiency with ticketing systems, asset management tools, Microsoft 365 administration, and common enterprise software. Solid understanding of cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, CIS Controls) and best practices. Analytical mindset with keen attention to detail, especially in permissions, licensing, and inventory tracking. Preferred Qualifications Experience in engineering or plant operations environments. Relevant certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, ITIL Foundation, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, or similar. Familiarity with hardware procurement cycles and software contract negotiation. Level 3 technical support experience What We Offer Competitive salary based on experience. Comprehensive benefits package including annual bonus, health, dental, vision, retirement plan with match, and generous PTO. A supportive team environment in a growing company where your impact will be highly visible. #J-18808-Ljbffr