Interim IT Manager

About the Role

Multi-Family Residential background is highly preferred.

Person can work remote from home, but will need to be in the office in Houston twice a month. Only Houston area candidates will be considered. This will most likely be a 90 day assignment.

We are seeking a strategic, hands-on IT Director to lead all aspects of technology. This is a unique opportunity for a high-impact leader who thrives in both executive strategy and operational execution.

You will serve as the organization’s senior technology leader while also remaining close to the technology, partnering with our co-managed MSP and telecom providers, providing escalation support, driving cybersecurity initiatives, and ensuring our systems run smoothly every day.

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the primary technology advisor to executive leadership.
• Develop and execute annual IT roadmap aligned with company growth objectives.
• Present updates on cybersecurity, infrastructure health, risk management, and ROI.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including AI and automation, to improve operational performance.

IT Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee Microsoft 365 (Accounts, Licensing, Entra ID, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Intune, MFA, Device Mgmt.).
• Manage and maintain our Azure environment, including administration of virtual servers (VMs), resource groups, storage, networking, backups, security controls, performance monitoring, and cost optimization.
• Provide Tier 2/3 escalation support for helpdesk in partnership with our co-managed MSP.
• Maintain and manage IT inventory, tracking asset lifecycles, ensuring licensing compliance, optimizing usage, and coordinating procurement and disposal to control costs and reduce waste.
• Maintain oversight and provide support for network infrastructure, firewalls, VoIP, and connectivity.
• Support and oversee all aspects of IT Project Management.
• Oversee JAMF and manage our fleet of Apple devices.
• Own and continuously optimize our existing AI ecosystem, including Claude and MS Copilot; champion a culture of security awareness and responsible AI adoption while ensuring effective cost governance and budget accountability.
• Ensure strong endpoint management, patching compliance, and lifecycle planning.
• Support and optimize Power BI, Power Automate and other business-critical SaaS platforms.
• Lead technology due diligence for acquisitions and dispositions.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Lead enterprise cybersecurity strategy and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage risk assessments, phishing simulations, incident response planning, and security audits.
• Align policies with recognized security frameworks, data privacy standards and compliance standards such as NIST.

Vendor & Financial Management

• Lead and hold accountable our co-managed MSP and telecom partners through clear KPIs and SLAs.
• Equipment Purchases, negotiate contracts, optimize licensing, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage annual IT operating and capital budgets.
• Conduct ROI and cost-benefit analysis on technology investments.
• Maintain enterprise-wide asset inventory and licensing compliance.

Business Partnership

• Act as the bridge between business stakeholders and technical providers.
• Translate technical concepts into clear business recommendations.
• Promote a customer-service-oriented IT experience across all locations.

What Makes This Role Unique

• You will operate as a department of one internally, supported by strong external partners.
• You will influence executive strategy while remaining technically engaged.
• Your decisions will have direct financial, operational, and security impact.
• This role offers autonomy, visibility, and meaningful ownership.

This position is ideal for a leader who takes pride in accountability, enjoys solving complex problems, and prefers being deeply connected to both people and technology.

What You Bring

• 7–10+ years of progressive IT experience across helpdesk, infrastructure, systems, and cybersecurity.
• Deep working knowledge of Microsoft 365 administration and cloud-based SaaS platforms.
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals and cybersecurity best practices.
• Experience leading IT strategy in a multi-site environment.
• Strong Project management experience.
• Strong vendor and MSP management experience.
• Experience managing IT budgets and driving cost optimization.
• Ability to communicate confidently with executives.
• A proactive, ownership-driven mindset with strong troubleshooting instincts.

Preferred:

• Experience in co-managed IT environments.
• Exposure to AI governance or enterprise automation initiatives.
• Knowledge of RealPage and Property Management Processes.
• Industry certifications (CISM, CISSP, ITIL, or similar).
• PMP or similar preferred.
• Apple product experience preferred.