WHAT DOES AN IT MANAGER DO?

Published: Oct 31, 2025 - The Information Technology (IT) Manager leads and manages the IT department to ensure seamless communication, operational efficiency, and alignment with company objectives. This role develops and oversees IT systems, budgets, and support services that drive productivity and support organizational growth. The manager also promotes continuous improvement by mentoring staff, monitoring performance, and ensuring compliance with quality and environmental standards.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for IT Manager

1. IT Manager Duties

  • Leadership Management: Establish priorities, plan and schedule weekly sprints, and track progress of existing initiatives to ensure corporate goals are achieved and projects are completed within the required timeframe.
  • Technical Support: Ensure incoming support tickets are triaged and resolved per published SLAs.
  • Team Guidance: Provide technical, tactical, and strategic guidance to the team, including assigning work, managing performance, and supporting them in their duties.
  • Resource Optimization: Leverage the IT Consultant's time wisely to provide advanced technical guidance and mentoring to the team to promote their growth and effectiveness.
  • Talent Development: Coach and develop direct reports and support them in the development of their skills.
  • Performance Review: Meet regularly with direct reports to review project, performance, and personnel issues.
  • Team Recruitment: Participate in recruitment and selection of new team members, and manage their onboarding.
  • Service Quality: Maintain quality and consistency of service delivery by ensuring all procedures and best practices are documented in the BizSys knowledge base, the team is trained on them, and those procedures and best practices are followed.
  • Process Improvement: Offer feedback, suggestions, and recommendations to the VP of Business Systems and Processes about the team members as well as the team’s strategies, procedures, and policies.
  • Work Evaluation: Review and validate team members' work to ensure it is of high quality and to identify if additional training is needed.
  • Operational Leadership: Provide leadership to shift resources in terms of technical guidance, issue resolution, delegation, supervision, and escalation.

2. IT Manager Details

  • Hardware Management: Manage corporate IT hardware including laptops, servers, and accessories.
  • Service Administration: Manage corporate IT services such as email, phones, and multiple SaaS tools used by Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations.
  • System Maintenance: Install, configure, test, and maintain various computer systems.
  • Network Management: Install, configure, test, and maintain office networks, both wired and wireless.
  • Security Management: Manage facilities security including door access and camera systems.
  • Asset Tracking: Establish and maintain an IT asset tracking system.
  • Process Development: Work with multiple departments to establish and improve corporate IT processes.
  • Technical Support: Provide end-user technical support to Sail employees.
  • System Procurement: Procure IT systems based on corporate and engineering requirements.
  • Vendor Coordination: Liaise with vendors or other IT personnel to resolve technical issues.
  • Engineering Support: Support and assist network and software engineering teams.

3. IT Manager Responsibilities

  • Equipment Maintenance: Maintain equipment and network topologies.
  • Quality Assurance: Perform quality control evaluations, write and establish specifications, assist in the validation of quality control tests, and write Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Technical Assistance: Assist management at all locations with technical issues and maintenance.
  • Strategic Planning: Establish scope and objectives to determine strategies for implementing systems and new technologies that achieve business goals.
  • Network Security: Develop and implement network security policies, protect from unauthorized access, monitor usage, and resolve access issues in compliance with PCI requirements.
  • Project Management: Create, manage, and execute project plans to support the ongoing needs of the IT department.
  • Resource Coordination: Coordinate resources, establish deadlines, and assign responsibilities.
  • Technology Innovation: Explore, research, and incorporate emerging technologies, systems, and procedures.
  • Issue Resolution: Troubleshoot hardware, software, and networks (WLAN, LAN).

4. IT Manager Job Summary

  • Infrastructure Audit: Audit the performance of IT infrastructure, systems, and policies versus established corporate standards for productivity, accuracy, stability, and security.
  • Business Communication: Interpret technical jargon into business terms to communicate effectively with senior management and the Executive Team.
  • Vendor Management: Procure and manage external vendors and IT support.
  • Email Network: Design, develop, and maintain an email network.
  • Account Management: Establish user accounts and security guidelines, track server performance, and provide first-level resolution for issues.
  • POS Installation: Install and configure POS Systems to ensure system integrity, compatibility, and standardization.
  • Network Performance: Resolve network performance issues and establish a disaster recovery plan.
  • System Configuration: Install, test, upgrade, and configure corporate and office computers.
  • Executive Collaboration: Work directly with Executives on projects.
  • Staff Training: Train management and hourly staff periodically on systems and processes related to IT.

5. IT Manager Accountabilities

  • Technical Partnership: Partner with IT and Business organizations to understand the technical needs and to aid in the development of solutions to meet those needs.
  • Product Deployment: Work with technical product owners to deploy the application portfolio strategy described above.
  • Performance Tracking: Ensure each product is tracking to the strategy via qualitative and quantitative measures.
  • Team Support: Supports building teams with direction and clarification.
  • Strategic Contribution: Contributes feedback and recommendations to the Workday Strategy.
  • Product Delivery: Partners with the engagement manager to ensure the delivery of product improvements and new functionality.
  • Agile Promotion: Promotes and improves Agile ways of working within the team and with partners.
  • Budget Alignment: Works with TS leaders to drive allocation of budget to meet product initiatives critical to business/mission success.
  • User Experience: Drives user experience to ensure delivered solutions are a pleasure to work with.

6. IT Manager Functions

  • Team Leadership: Manage and lead day-to-day IT team operations.
  • Performance Management: Ensure company goals and objectives are being met by each employee and provide constructive feedback.
  • Customer Service: Address customer concerns in reference to products, services rendered, or employee interactions.
  • Infrastructure Management: Work on all aspects of IT infrastructure – on-premise and Microsoft 365 cloud applications.
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot customer technical issues.
  • System Design: Design, test, and implement servers, networks, hardware, and software.
  • Ticket Management: Manage and maintain tickets assigned and hours billed to show initiative to address items based on priority or severity level.
  • Network Security: Plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures that protect data, software, and hardware.
  • Project Participation: Participate and follow the implementation of IT projects such as upgrades, training, and troubleshooting.
  • Process Improvement: Participate and engage in ideas, processes, and actions to improve service, workflow, environment, and culture.
  • Technical Mentorship: Assist, train, and mentor junior technicians.

7. IT Manager Job Description

  • Issue Resolution: Act as the first point of contact for resolving all internal IT issues.
  • Technical Support: Remediate issues involving workstations, SaaS applications, and other needs.
  • Compliance Management: Own internal compliance controls and tooling surrounding IT asset management, endpoint protection, identity management, role-based access controls, data loss prevention, and entitlement review, among others.
  • Audit Compliance: Build and follow SOC 2 playbooks related to IT operations and participate in regular compliance audits.
  • Security Partnership: Partner with the Information Security team to ensure continuous improvement of the security posture of the environment.
  • Employee Onboarding: Facilitate employee onboarding and off-boarding.
  • Equipment Setup: Order and set up new laptops, set up and disable accounts, and automate this process over time.
  • Documentation Maintenance: Develop and maintain IT-related documentation.
  • Budget Management: Manage annual IT budget and ensure cost effectiveness.
  • Technology Evaluation: Test, evaluate, and make decisions about new technology for the organization.
  • Project Coordination: Work with managers and engineers to identify IT pain points and project needs.
  • Client Communication: Respond to client requests for information regarding the IT environment.

8. IT Manager Overview

  • Solution Architecture: Research, architect, implement, and support legacy, current, and future ICT solutions.
  • Account Management: Manage Azure AD and Office 365 for accounts, Email, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Advanced Threat Protection, and other O365 services.
  • Infrastructure Administration: Administer and develop advancements within Microsoft Azure infrastructure.
  • Security Oversight: Oversee notification and implementation of IT security recommendations and best practices.
  • Helpdesk Support: Assist Institute staff by performing helpdesk duties on a variety of end-user requests.
  • Lifecycle Management: Implement, update, and refresh software and provision hardware by corresponding life cycles.
  • Vendor Coordination: Coordinate with outside IT vendors on routine troubleshooting and project work.
  • Inventory Management: Manage ICT inventory by means of resupply orders, software licensing, hardware procurement, and miscellaneous required acquisitions.
  • Device Support: Provide support for multi-function printer, scanner, and copier devices.
  • Remote Assistance: Provide prompt support during off-hours for the remote computing needs of staff.
  • Software Maintenance: Ensure all client software is updated to the most secure, efficient versions possible.
  • Event Setup: Set up and break down equipment for presentations, conference calls, and video teleconferences.
  • Event Support: Working with events staff, ensure successful live events by providing the required technical services needed for smooth event operations.
  • Media Assistance: Provide support for fellows connecting to various media and third parties for meetings and events.
  • Speaker Assistance: Assist event speakers with the operation of presentations.
  • Studio Support: Provide backup support for TV and radio media interviews held in two studios.

9. IT Manager Details and Accountabilities

  • Remote Support: Provide remote IT support to all Agency employees regarding tools, equipment, and IT-related ways of working.
  • Account Management: Create and support user accounts for all tech systems, including G-Suite, Mavenlink, Adobe, Dropbox, Slack, and Asana.
  • Onboarding Process: Establish onboarding and offboarding procedures to ensure all access activation and deactivation is properly executed and documented.
  • Security Audit: Audit, recommend, and roll out agency IT security mandates.
  • Risk Assessment: Perform an audit of potential risk and vulnerable areas for the agency’s ways of working (IT).
  • Security Recommendation: Provide upfront and ongoing recommendations for increased security measures.
  • Security Implementation: Help manage and lead the rollout of improved IT security measures for all employees and client streams.
  • Vendor Coordination: Work with various external vendors and clients to answer audits and questionnaires, and fix issues or make improvements for the agency.
  • Process Optimization: Target areas of opportunity to create IT efficiencies through policies and procedures.
  • Policy Enforcement: Enforce security processes and guidelines across the agency.
  • IT Updates: Provide continuous updates, flags, and guidelines to ever-evolving IT practices as they relate to security and efficiency.
  • Identity Management: Identify and establish an Identity Provider.
  • Vulnerability Management: Proactively identify and address security vulnerabilities.
  • Asset Tracking: Maintain accurate IT asset inventory records across offices via Rippling.
  • Software Management: Assess, monitor, and roll out critical software and license updates for all employees.
  • Hardware Management: Order, deploy, and maintain hardware and software, including computers and accessories.
  • Offboarding Management: Retrieve equipment and revoke access for exiting employees.

10. IT Manager Tasks

  • Change Management: Develop and implement a strategic roadmap for Change Management aligned to the goals and risk tolerance of the Technology organization.
  • Advisory Leadership: Chair the Change Advisory Board (CAB) to perform impact analysis to minimize risk and disruption to the changes made in the production environment.
  • Readiness Assessment: Assess change readiness with feedback from the impacted stakeholders.
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure that the quality of the change conforms to the IT change policy.
  • Meeting Coordination: Schedule the Change Advisory Board meetings.
  • Process Efficiency: Identify opportunities and deploy efficiencies within the Change and Release process.
  • Team Collaboration: Collaborate with the technology teams to develop specific plans to migrate or address concerns related to the change.
  • Documentation Management: Maintain IT change documentation including the Policy, Standard, Procedure, Training, and User Documentation.
  • Audit Management: Develop and maintain the auditing process and procedure for the changes and perform regular audits on the IT changes.
  • Technical Responsibility: Assume technical responsibility for the security and smooth operation of IT and telecommunications.
  • Service Governance: Maintain operational control and governance of external service providers in IT operations.
  • Process Optimization: Ensure and optimize the operational processes and service quality of managed services.
  • Budget Management: Create IT budgets and monitor their execution.
  • Risk Management: Support IT risk management including risk assessments.
  • Project Implementation: Initiate and implement IT projects and manage the IT project portfolio.
  • Service Improvement: Take responsibility for the continuous improvement process in service delivery, in cooperation with the service provider.
  • Security Governance: Define and initiate appropriate precautions regarding IT security, governance, risk management, and compliance.

11. IT Manager Roles

  • System Operation: Ensure the smooth operation of computers, networks, printers, and photocopiers.
  • Issue Resolution: Solve problems with the server, computer, phone, and internet systems as they arise.
  • User Support: Help staff with IT problems (troubleshooting software installation, etc.).
  • Staff Development: Help recruit, train, and develop any IT assistant(s).
  • Team Management: Manage IT assistant(s) on a day-to-day basis.
  • Performance Evaluation: Evaluate the yearly performance of IT assistant(s) and participate in the annual appraisal process.
  • Planning Collaboration: Work with the Head of ICT to create an IT development plan for the school.
  • System Training: Assist with the introduction, maintenance, and training of staff for VLE and IM systems.
  • Vendor Coordination: Work with purchasing, suppliers, and vendors to help source cost-effective IT solutions and value purchases of IT equipment.
  • Skill Improvement: Undertake training to improve the ability to manage the expansion of ICT facilities throughout the school.
  • Hardware Procurement: Source hardware and software directly.
  • Administrative Support: Assist the administration team with any reasonable requests as and when they arise.

12. IT Manager Additional Details

  • Service Design: Design, develop, and implement enterprise customer service standards.
  • Process Improvement: Make recommendations for improvements in service design and delivery.
  • Solution Architecture: Work with internal and external stakeholders to develop requirements, architect solutions, and statements of work.
  • Software Implementation: Acquire and implement state-of-the-art software solutions for improving overall IT service management and service delivery.
  • Project Governance: Coordinate and conduct governance and project management activities.
  • Standards Compliance: Ensure compliance within the Service Desk Group with all procedural and technical standards within OCFO.
  • Security Assurance: Ensure rigorous application of information security and information assurance policies, principles, and practices to all aspects of service desk operations.
  • Team Supervision: Provide daily supervision and direction to the IT Service Desk staff.
  • Technical Support: Provide phone and in-person support in the areas of email, directories, standard Windows desktop applications, and other network services.
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Perform diagnostics and troubleshooting of system issues.
  • Ticket Documentation: Update documentation of service desk tickets and resolutions.
  • Status Reporting: Provide weekly status reports to senior management on service desk operations.

13. IT Manager Essential Functions

  • Team Leadership: Provide leadership, development, and management to the Information Technology and Records Information Management Teams.
  • Collaborative Projects: Work collaboratively with Digital Glenelg to achieve the identified business improvement projects.
  • Infrastructure Management: Manage Council's software and hardware infrastructure and connectivity systems to ensure timely improvements, updates, and renewals.
  • Records Compliance: Ensure organizational compliance with the Records Management Policy and associated procedures.
  • Contract Management: Manage IT contract services including GIS and short-term IT support.
  • Technical Expertise: Serve as a technical expert across the teams and external vendors.
  • Project Leadership: Lead IT projects, including the design and deployment of new IT systems and services.
  • System Performance: Monitor the performance of IT systems and ensure they operate at a high level of efficiency and in a cost-effective way.
  • Procedure Development: Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to IT.
  • Security Maintenance: Ensure infrastructure security is maintained in line with SOPs developed.
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot hardware and software issues related to internal IT for UAE operations.
  • Hardware Procurement: Manage, maintain, and procure company-wide hardware and software infrastructure.
  • System Procurement: Manage, maintain, and procure all the systems and applications used by the company.

14. IT Manager Role Purpose

  • Business Analysis: Provide expertise on business requirements relevant to information technology.
  • Demand Identification: Identify new system demand by fully understanding business objectives, business requirements, standards, and regulations.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Take accountability to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
  • Process Improvement: Play a key role in identifying continuous improvement opportunities in the responsible function area.
  • System Compliance: Ensure managed system operation is aligned with the requirements of IT and information security standards.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Build close collaboration with key stakeholders.
  • Operational Management: Take direct responsibility for handling and overseeing daily IT operations.
  • Project Coordination: Coordinate the IT project with internal and external teams.
  • User Training: Assist in developing and delivering end-user training on the effective use of IT systems.
  • Security Management: Take care of daily, mid-term, and long-term IT security and management.
  • Technical Support: Understand various IT troubleshooting and provide technical support.
  • Data Control: Control and monitor data, network access, and backup systems.

15. IT Manager General Responsibilities

  • Team Coordination: Maintain frequent communication with off-site personnel and coordinate technical tasks with those individuals to complete time-sensitive projects without issue.
  • Task Documentation: Ensure proper documentation of all assigned technical tasks.
  • Issue Resolution: Resolve any issues that arise within the corporate facilities group.
  • Audit Management: Manage, ensure compliance, and handle remediation of audits (internal and external).
  • Network Management: Manage the SD-WAN and SIEM systems.
  • Server Administration: Manage Windows servers in VMware environments.
  • Database Administration: Administer Microsoft SQL Server.
  • Telephony Management: Manage the Mitel (ShoreTel) phone network.
  • Compliance Maintenance: Maintain the company’s ISO 27001 compliance.
  • Disaster Recovery: Oversee backups and effective disaster recovery plans.
  • Project Execution: Plan and execute strategic IT projects.

16. IT Manager Key Accountabilities

  • Security Oversight: Ensure all facets of Information Technology used are secure, including vulnerability and security checks on cloud-based sharing sites and office computers.
  • Software Maintenance: Maintain antivirus and malware software, email security verification, encryption, and monitoring vendor compliance.
  • System Maintenance: Perform regular maintenance (weekly, monthly, quarterly) and conduct maintenance outside of normal office hours.
  • Computer Support: Maintain computers, including repairs, new user setup, and general desktop support.
  • Printer Management: Maintain printers, including handling of repairs and supplies.
  • Phone System: Oversee setup and logistics of the office phone system.
  • Inventory Tracking: Maintain an accurate inventory of all hardware items.
  • Software Management: Manage, maintain, update, and use a variety of software programs, including Microsoft Office/Outlook email administration, Adobe, applicant tracking systems, and video conferencing.
  • Program Updates: Ensure all programs are updated promptly and that they are running properly.
  • Data Recovery: Oversee effective backup and disaster recovery plans for IT systems.
  • Vendor Management: Manage all IT vendors, negotiate contracts for cost savings, and review all IT contracts annually.
  • Project Management: Oversee all IT-related projects, ensuring the project is executed on time and within the budget.
  • Project Planning: Plan, coordinate, and implement major IT projects, overseeing IT milestones.
  • Email Communication: Send out a monthly all-jobs email blast, as well as email blasts for special events.
  • Website Management: Manage and maintain the website, including making and suggesting changes or additions, posting press releases, job announcements, and filled position announcements, and generating links from the website to use for LinkedIn or other purposes.
  • Training Development: Develop and implement training programs and IT company initiatives.

17. IT Manager Roles and Details

  • Team Leadership: Leads and schedules the activities of team members within the IT department.
  • Department Communication: Establishes and maintains effective communications with all departments.
  • Goal Management: Responsible and accountable for meeting the Company and departmental objectives.
  • Development Planning: Manages the department's development plans and sets objectives that support divisional operations.
  • Leadership Participation: Actively participates as a dynamic, progressive member of the leadership team.
  • Budget Management: Develops a budget for departmental expenses and IT-related expenses for all other departments, and monitors IT-related costs throughout Modatek.
  • System Management: Creates and maintains Information Technology systems to increase productivity.
  • Technical Support: Ensures timely IT support for all Modatek team members.
  • Information Communication: Communicates information to all IT Department team members as it impacts their job function to ensure the highest standard of technical support to the Modatek user community.
  • Group Support: Assists in establishing and supporting Cosma Group Office IT initiatives.
  • Interdepartmental Relations: Establishes and maintains effective communications with all Departments.
  • Recruitment Participation: Participates in recruiting for department requirements.
  • Performance Coaching: Provides formal and informal performance feedback, coaching, and mentoring to all direct reports.
  • Continuous Improvement: Promotes and initiates continuous improvements and cost reduction opportunities.
  • Process Knowledge: Knows and understands process documentation and customer-specific requirements as they relate to the job function.
  • Policy Compliance: Follows and complies with all Operational Procedures and policies as outlined in the Employee Handbook, Quality, and Environment programs (i.e., IATF, ISO 14001).

18. IT Manager Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Team Supervision: Direct report to the Senior Management and oversee a small team to support all technical issues for the group.
  • Operational Planning: Plan for the IT operation and infrastructure, evaluate hardware and software to ensure the efficiency of the IT service.
  • System Evaluation: Establish and review the performance of the existing systems, such as policies, securities, and network.
  • User Communication: Communicate closely with internal users to understand their needs and provide professional advice to tackle the problem.
  • Project Leadership: Take the lead on IT-relevant tasks for new business projects of the group.
  • Collaborative Partnership: Partner with employees on a wide variety of IT projects, issues, and strategies.
  • Technical Support: Provide hands-on support for employees on a wide variety of day-to-day needs.
  • Vendor Management: Oversee contract IT vendors and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Security Strategy: Drive IT security strategy, plan, and tactics.
  • Project Management: Lead IT projects, including the design and deployment of new IT systems and services.
  • Requirement Analysis: Analyze business requirements by partnering with stakeholders across the organization to develop solutions for IT needs.
  • Vendor Assessment: Assess vendors and develop test strategies for new hardware and software.
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot hardware and software issues related to internal IT.

19. IT Manager Duties and Roles

  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and drive the strategic vision for the area.
  • System Optimization: Deep dive into the systems the teams administer and advise on configuration and functionality changes.
  • Cross Collaboration: Collaborate cross-functionally to identify gaps and solutions.
  • Project Leadership: Lead and contribute to large-scale and complex projects.
  • Team Development: Create growth opportunities for the team through 1:1s, goal setting, and feedback.
  • Knowledge Management: Establish a baseline level of knowledge in all areas the team supports.
  • Data Utilization: Utilize data to implement and measure changes to the internal support strategy.
  • Mentorship Growth: Grow the team both through mentoring and acting as a subject matter expert to a team of individual contributors.
  • Service Management: Lead the site 1LS team to provide support service to sustain factory operation with a regular service quality report out.
  • Technical Supervision: Manage and supervise site IT professionals to provide quality technical services in supporting the day-to-day business application needs.
  • Customer Coordination: Act as an ITBP to coordinate, plan, and manage the customer demands and IT services to fulfill production expectations.
  • Project Coordination: Manage, facilitate, and coordinate cross-functional and departmental IT projects to support Nexperia's growth strategy.
  • Activity Monitoring: Track and monitor the team activities and ensure compliance with IT procedures and policies.
  • Policy Definition: Work, support, and assist with the site IT director for defining application support strategy, policies, processes, and site budgeting.
  • Project Ownership: Take ownership of IT projects and coordinate the respective team members to complete these projects (e.g., project steering and leadership).
  • Innovation Management: Explore early-stage opportunities and spin up new IT projects to constantly improve the status quo.
  • Stakeholder Liaison: Liaise with various business stakeholders and translate their needs into actionable work items and projects.
  • Operational Support: Support the IT operations team administratively with their day-to-day activities (e.g., removal of roadblocks, preparation of C-level reports).
  • Process Improvement: Design, improve, and optimize new and existing IT processes (e.g., IT procurement and purchasing processes).

20. IT Manager Roles and Responsibilities

  • Executive Communication: Effectively interact with both business and technical audiences at multiple levels, including top executive managers.
  • Message Delivery: Define and deliver messages clearly to achieve desired goals.
  • Active Engagement: Regularly initiate messaging and dialogue with clients, peers, and subordinates to stay informed, reinforce messaging, and deliver feedback.
  • Goal Setting: Define clear objectives and success criteria, and develop plans to achieve them.
  • Performance Monitoring: Monitor progress and make appropriate corrections.
  • Decision Making: Make timely, well-reasoned decisions based on available information.
  • Client Communication: Communicate effectively with internal clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions and strategies.
  • Client Relationship: Continually define ways to increase internal client satisfaction and deepen client relationships.
  • Issue Resolution: Provide senior-level resolution to internal client issues.
  • Client Collaboration: Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.
  • Team Management: Manage the team to consistently deliver high-quality services to the clients.