IT Operations Manager

Speak • San Francisco, CA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our team is growing and we’re looking for a founding IT Operations Manager to join Speak. Our HQ is in SF, but we’re globally distributed with offices in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. As the first hire in this function, you’ll take on a pivotal role in building and improving our company’s IT infrastructure and day-to-day operations, with a focus on security, efficiency, and scalability. You’ll be the first point of contact for technical support. You’ll architect solutions that ensure everything runs smoothly. You’ll also have the opportunity to drive our IT strategy and roadmap, including tool selection, implementation, and best practices. You’ll collaborate with teams, including People Operations, Engineering, and Finance, to create a seamless tech ecosystem and deliver exceptional operational support.
Speak has a strong in-office culture and our hub-based employees work from the office three days a week. You must be based in San Francisco.

Requirements

• You have at least 5 years of hands-on experience in IT Operations, including systems administration and security operations;
• You have a deep understanding of SSO, SAML, SCIM and third-party application integration;
• You’re experienced with macOS management;
• You understand MDM practices, solutions, and security protocols;
• You have knowledge of security frameworks (SOC 2) and compliance processes;
• You’re proficient in troubleshooting technical issues and providing remote support;
• You’re a clear communicator, both verbal and written;
• You’re able and willing to work from the SF HQ three days a week (and up to five when needed).
• You are an expert AI user (ChatGPT, Claude, etc).

Nice To Haves

• You’ve worked in a start-up environment
• You have experience working in a globally distributed workforce

Responsibilities

• Support all of Speak’s internal IT needs from troubleshooting user issues to optimizing device management.
• Manage our core IT infrastructure (e.g., SSO, Google Workspace, Kandji), ensuring our teams have the tools and environments they need.
• Manage all global on/offboarding processes related to applications and tools.
• Set up and maintain A/V for conference rooms and collaboration spaces in SF HQ, and provide remote support for non-US offices.
• Manage and maintain asset inventory of hardware and software, including procurement.
• Implement and monitor security controls, identify potential threats, and respond to incidents.
• Manage vendor security assessments and third-party risk management.
• Design and deliver security awareness training, including phishing simulations.
• Manage the implementation of data privacy policies and compliance frameworks (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR).
• Support incident response planning, disaster recovery, and business continuity initiatives.
• Optimize workflow processes across the organization, driving efficiency so our teams can move faster.
• Develop and implement custom software solutions, scripts, and integrations to automate repetitive tasks and create leverage for the organization.
• Partner with teams across the business to align IT priorities with broader business objectives.
• Translate technical complexities into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

• Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're growing very quickly, we've most recently raised our Series C from some of the top investors in the valley, and we've achieved product-market fit in our initial markets. You'd join at a magical time when a single person could significantly change the course of the company.
• Do your life's work with people you’ll love working with: we care strongly about our craft and want every person at Speak to feel like they're growing every day. We believe in the idea that working with people you both enjoy and have respect for makes everything better. We hire thoughtfully and only work with people we admire deeply.
• Global in nature: We're live in over 40 countries and launching in a number of new markets soon. We have dedicated offices in San Francisco, Ljubljana, Seoul, and Tokyo, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk to users in each of these regions on a regular basis as well as travel.
• Impact people's lives in a major way: Learning a language is one of the single most life-changing skills one can learn, and right now 99% of people never achieve their goal because the process is broken. We’re helping millions of people achieve their goals and improve their lives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed