IT Systems Manager

IT Systems Manager

Raincoast Books was founded in Vancouver in 1979 and is Canada's largest book distributor. Head office located in Richmond, the Raincoast Distribution Group (RDG) is made up of Raincoast Books in Richmond and Publishers Group Canada (PGC) in Toronto. Richmond's head office has 110 employees (90 warehouse staff and 20 in operations) contributing to a proud history of success.

Due to pending retirement, we proudly present this rare, unique opportunity for the successor of Raincoast Books' new IT Systems Manager.

Reporting to the CEO, the successful candidate will work with the current IT systems manager to ensure a seamless transition.

This is a hybrid role with initial on site expectations to be "days" a week which will migrate to fewer days on site as your expertise of managing your responsibilities grows.

Initial total compensation is estimated to be ~ 120K to 150K

You get to

• Oversee all infrastructure and business applications well continuously improving IT systems for employees, vendors and customers.

• Manage network operations, support, systems development and programming.

• Balance user requirements, customer experience, and system constraints with project schedules and capital targets to define effective solutions.

• Maintain system availability through upgrades, backups and redundancy.

• Engage freelance specialists and third-party partners as appropriate.

• Manage IT budgets, purchasing and software licensing.

What you need to succeed

• Strong System Administration and Information Technology skills to manage servers, operating systems, and enterprise applications. Not the job, but you have done it and will manage those who will.

• Though not a coding role, you understand what is required within a complex IT infrastructure that provides the informational attributes and capacities that the countries largest "bookseller" (they sell way more than just books) relies upon to manage and move products efficiently and effectively: one primary measurement for success in this role.

• Your ability to lead and communicate clearly with technical staff and colleagues is at least as important as providing (enhancing) a positive, enjoyable climate across departments. Make sense?

The CEO and the current/retiring Manager are both very smart, classy, and extraordinarily nice, and seek same for this important "talent acquisition".

Forget the tech inputs (partially) as this role is about the kind of leader you are: the "I don't know it - but will learn it" combined with, "hmm... let's think about this and together, figure out a solution" is what I was engaged to identify and present. And so shall I do.

No one will have all the specific tech inputs to fully understand their current operational solutions that evolved from years of practical and positive improvements. This goes for all large, unique and longevid operations, and you know this already, and it is why you are still reading.

Technologies and systems include (and "yes" many you may have never used)

• Linux (Bash scripting? At all?)
• Varnet/MXP
• SQL and SQL Server - (you need/must understand to a degree and it depends on what else you bring)
• ONIX (not a huge deal)
• Progress OpenEdge (if you you know Java or another OO - easy to pick up - not a hard requirement)

Your 3 FT "techies" (reports) and casual specialty/specialist(s) can be counted on and will carry the load for programming, networking and the servers. Having a background in hard core IT / dev could not hurt, but it is really about your abilities to juggle multiple balls knowing that dropping one requires the appropriate resolution planned for, and in place.

The nice folks at Raincoast have tended to stay employed there for a long duration and so I am seeking a "new" entity where stability and the real potential for expanded growth may avail itself presents as enticing. It that what you want?

Please send your resume directly to Mark Strong - mark@vanjoba.ca and label: "IT Systems Manager".

Please remember that if you are seeking a job that is NOT this one, you are way better off to submit a resume at Vanjobs.ca and explain your circumstance. If you submit a general resume here it will go into that bottomless bucket. Truly - just trying to help you.