JOB SUMMARY

George T. Sanders Company is a family-owned distributor of plumbing and HVAC supplies with branches across Colorado and Wyoming. We are seeking a results-oriented IT Manager to own and advance our IT infrastructure, end-user support, and project portfolio.

This is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced IT professional who can take a project's goal and general direction from the Director of IT & eCommerce and independently work out and execute the specific steps needed to deliver it, on time and within budget, across cybersecurity, infrastructure, cloud systems, and desktop support.

The ideal candidate is a strong project owner and clear communicator who thrives in a small team, sets realistic timelines, and consistently follows through on commitments without requiring close oversight. Work will primarily be done from the company headquarters in Wheat Ridge, CO.

This role offers a meaningful growth opportunity for the right candidate. GTS offers great work-life balance in a friendly small company environment. Reporting to the Director of IT & eCommerce, this position offers a hybrid schedule – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in office, and Monday and Friday work from home.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Support & Administration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for end-user support across ~175 employees at nearly 20 locations; personally resolve Tier 1–3 support tickets through our IT service desk platform.
• Manage, maintain, and troubleshoot systems including:
•  Microsoft 365, Azure AD (Hybrid), Group Policy
•  Windows Servers in Hyper-V environments
•  Networking: switches, VPN, and SD-WAN connectivity
•  SSO integrations and access provisioning
•  Email security, VoIP, and mobile device management (MDM) platforms
• Own device lifecycle and asset management (desktops, laptops, printers, cell phones).
• Manage the relationship with our Managed Services Provider (MSP) for advanced security, backup management, antivirus oversight, and complex troubleshooting, escalating only when genuinely necessary.

Project Leadership & Execution

• Projects are typically assigned by the Director of IT & eCommerce with a defined goal and general direction. The IT Manager owns turning that direction into a concrete plan and carrying out the work, including initiatives such as:
•  Cybersecurity training rollout and disaster recovery planning
•  Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform improvements
•  Active Directory data cleanup and standardization
•  Email signature management platform deployment
•  Payment terminal hardware refresh and vendor coordination
• Break each project down into the specific steps, timeline, and milestones needed to deliver it within the agreed scope and budget.
• Personally carry out the hands-on work required to complete each project, coordinating with vendors and the MSP as needed.
• Provide the Director of IT & eCommerce with proactive, concise status updates rather than requiring frequent check-ins to track progress.
• Identify risks and blockers early and bring proposed solutions, not just problems, to leadership.
• See initiatives through to a finished, working state rather than handing off partially completed work.

Communication & Cross-Department Collaboration

• Serve as a technical liaison to non-technical departments across the business, translating technical topics into plain language.
• Provide in-person or remote training to employees on new systems or processes.
• Build trust with business stakeholders as a dependable owner of IT commitments.
• Proactively escalate risks, blockers, or needed decisions without requiring constant follow-up.

Documentation & Governance

• Maintain IT documentation, SOPs, knowledge base articles, and asset tracking.
• Follow and reinforce IT security and compliance protocols.
• Keep project status and outcomes visible to leadership on an ongoing basis, without needing to be asked.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years in a Systems Administrator, IT Manager, or similar IT infrastructure role, including demonstrated ownership of projects from planning through completion.
• Proven track record of independently completing multi-month IT projects on time and with minimal oversight.
• Comfortable taking a project's goal and general direction and independently working out the detailed steps, timeline, and budget needed to deliver it.
• Proficient with M365, Azure AD (Hybrid), Windows Server, Hyper-V, and standard networking protocols.
• Experience managing cybersecurity tools (e.g., endpoint protection, MFA, email security).
• Experience with Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across hardware, software, and cloud platforms.
• Basic scripting or automation knowledge (e.g., PowerShell).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including comfort presenting plans and status updates to non-technical leadership.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to own multiple concurrent projects without close supervision.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in an SMB/distribution or multi-location environment.
• Experience working with or alongside a Managed Services Provider in a hybrid internal/external IT support model.
• Familiarity with:
•  IBM MaaS360, CodeTwo, Keeper, Mimecast, Freshdesk
•  ERP systems (Infor CSD is a plus)
•  SD-WAN and Palo Alto VPN
• Formal project management training or certification (PMP, CAPM, or similar) is a plus, though demonstrated results carry more weight than credentials.

WORK CONDITIONS & EXPECTATIONS

• Hybrid work allowed; however, home workspace must comply with company policy.
• Must be responsive and present during core business hours.
• Occasional travel to branch locations (~20%) required.
• Must be able to lift/move IT hardware (~70 lbs).