Manager of IT Infrastructure

ABOUT POET

At POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty-five years, our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.

CULTURE IS KING AT POET

We're all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren't just slogans on our walls. It's the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!

JOB SUMMARY

In POET Information Technology (IT), we proactively deliver a high level of service to empower our business units to create more value for POET. We work closely as a team, in a fun, fast-paced, changing environment to plan, execute and support IT initiatives. We recognize our end users as partners and work together to provide innovative and current solutions.

The Manager of IT Infrastructure partners with business and technology teams to ensure reliable, efficient, and scalable IT operations. This role oversees infrastructure planning, project execution, vendor management, and team leadership while maintaining high service levels and security standards.

DURING A TYPICAL DAY

• Collaborate with business teams and IT leadership to align infrastructure with company goals.
• Develop and communicate strategic IT infrastructure roadmaps.
• Lead infrastructure team operations, ensuring project delivery, system performance, and compliance.
• Manage vendor relationships and negotiate contracts.
• Oversee daily operations of IT hardware, software, and networking.
• Ensure system availability, performance monitoring, and capacity planning.
• Direct IT infrastructure projects from design to implementation.
• Establish and enforce security, compliance, and disaster recovery protocols.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimize infrastructure.
• Drive successful project execution, resolving roadblocks and managing risks.
• Oversee budget planning and management for IT infrastructure (CapEx & OpEx).
• Evaluate and implement new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Lead design, implementation, and maintenance of network, cloud, and server infrastructure.
• Ensure systems meet service-level agreements (SLAs) and compliance requirements.
• Provide subject matter expertise on IT infrastructure systems and emerging technologies.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop IT staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Provide coaching, delegation, and performance management.
• Promote teamwork and ensure alignment with company objectives.
• Effectively manage the team by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training team members. Leadership responsibilities also include delegating, coaching, managing performance and career development to effectively execute departmental strategies and support company objectives.
• Since we're all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skill may be put to a lot of other uses!

STRENGTHS OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of IT experience and 5+ yrs of management experience, required.
• Expertise in project management, budgeting, scheduling, and IT operations.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience with data center operations, virtualization, and cloud technologies.
• Knowledge of Windows OS, server infrastructure, networking, storage, and databases.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Culture is king at POET. We're all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren't just slogans on our walls. It's the way we do things at POET.
• This position operates in an office environment working at a personal computer where you may sit or stand.

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

At POET, we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member's position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset.

BENEFITS
For eligible team members

• Comprehensive benefits package: Individual and family plans for health, dental, & vision insurance, including a generous employer Health Savings Account contribution
• Quarterly Profit-Sharing Bonuses and Bi-Annual Incentive Bonuses
• Competitive pay, including shift premium pay for qualifying positions
• 401K with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays - 40 hours available on day ONE!
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Attractive Relocation Assistance and Bonus Programs for qualifying positions and/or locations

OTHER PERKS
For eligible team members

• A multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person - mentally, physically, and spiritually
• Onsite fitness centers or fitness reimbursements
• Safety and cold weather gear reimbursements
• Discounted home and auto insurance

POET is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). POET complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws regarding hiring and employment. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.