IT Operations Lead

Altana is the network for trusted trade. Our AI-powered product network empowers governments and businesses to build a more resilient and secure global economy while keeping trade flowing.

IT Operations Lead

Altana has built the only live map of the global supply chain – the Altana Atlas – using AI and machine learning models to fuse massive sets of public and private data to map the supply chain all the way "to the soil." Through the Atlas, companies and governments can understand the distant origins of products well beyond their own direct suppliers; discover trading relationships deep in their networks; measure labor and environmental impacts; identify related risks and opportunities; ensure effective compliance and enforcement with trade requirements; and collaborate to manage all of it. We have built a fundamental understanding of how the world's economy works through AI, and the implications for global resiliency, sustainability and opportunity are enormous.

This is a lofty mission, and our success depends on building a diverse, global team and creating an environment in which they can thrive. We operate in accordance with our values: we focus on value creation, not capture; we foster diversity and embrace difference; we embrace reality; we get things done; we amaze our clients. When you join Altana, you'll be joining a vibrant, collaborative, team working together to solve complex problems with the potential for global societal impact.

The Opportunity at Altana

We are looking for an exceptional IT Operations Lead to build and lead our internal IT function while providing white-glove technical support to our senior leadership team. This is a unique opportunity to shape IT operations at a high-growth technology company transitioning from an MSP model to a strategic internal capability. You'll be the go-to technical expert ensuring our executives—who frequently appear in media and on television—have flawless technology experiences when it matters most.

In this role, you'll wear multiple hats: strategic IT leader, hands-on technical problem solver, vendor relationship manager, and trusted advisor to the C-suite. You'll leverage AI and automation to build a next-level IT function that matches our company's innovation-first culture, while ensuring every team member has the technology support they need to do their best work.

Over the next 12 months, you will:

• Lead the MSP transition: Successfully migrate from our current managed service provider to a hybrid model, building internal capabilities while strategically leveraging external partners where it makes sense

• Deliver executive excellence: Provide proactive, white-glove technical support to senior leadership, ensuring zero technical issues during high-stakes media appearances, investor meetings, and public engagements

• Build the IT team: Recruit, hire, and develop an internal IT support team aligned with our growth trajectory and service excellence standards

• Optimize vendor relationships: Manage relationships with technology vendors, SaaS providers, and service partners; negotiate contracts and ensure we're getting maximum value from our technology investments

• Own the IT budget: Develop, manage, and optimize the IT budget, making data-driven decisions about technology investments and demonstrating clear ROI

• Solve complex problems: Roll up your sleeves to troubleshoot and resolve escalated technical issues across our technology stack, from endpoints to cloud infrastructure

• Innovate with AI: Implement AI-powered tools and automation to transform IT operations—from intelligent ticketing and self-service portals to predictive support and automated provisioning

• Establish IT standards: Define and implement IT policies, procedures, and standards that scale with the company while maintaining security and compliance requirements

• Partner cross-functionally: Collaborate closely with Security, Engineering, and Business Operations to ensure seamless technology operations across the organization

What you bring to Altana:

Essential Experience:

• 8+ years of progressive IT experience

• 3 years in a leadership or senior technical role

• Proven track record providing executive-level technical support, ideally in fast-paced environments where technology reliability is mission-critical

• Demonstrated success building or scaling internal IT teams from the ground up

• Experience managing MSP transitions or building hybrid internal/external IT models

• Strong vendor management skills with experience negotiating contracts and managing multiple technology partnerships

• Budget ownership and management experience, with ability to forecast, track, and optimize IT spend

• Deep technical troubleshooting skills across modern enterprise technology stacks (macOS, Windows, cloud apps, collaboration tools, mobile devices)

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences and remain calm under pressure

• Track record of implementing automation and efficiency improvements in IT operations

Technical Capabilities:

• Expert knowledge of modern workplace technologies: G Suite/Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Teams, and other collaboration platforms

• Experience with IT management and monitoring tools MDM, zero touch provisioning, etc

• Strong understanding of SaaS application management, inventory, and shadow IT concerns

• Familiarity with IT service management frameworks and ticketing systems (Jira Service Management, etc.)

• Understanding of information security best practices and compliance requirements (SOC 2, ISO 27001 awareness is a plus)

The AI Advantage:

• Enthusiasm for leveraging AI tools and platforms to transform IT operations

• Experience implementing or piloting AI-powered IT solutions (chatbots, automated triage, intelligent knowledge bases)

• Creative mindset for identifying opportunities to apply AI/ML to traditional IT challenges

• Comfort working at a technology-first company where AI is core to our mission and culture

Personal Attributes:

• Exceptional service orientation with a "no problem is too small" attitude

• Proactive and anticipatory—you solve problems before they become issues

• High attention to detail, especially when supporting high-visibility executive activities

• Ability to context-switch rapidly and manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Strong business acumen with understanding of how IT enables organizational goals

• Humble and collaborative team player who thrives in a values-driven culture

This role is…

Based in our New York City office. Minor travel may be required to our Washington DC and London, UK offices.

US Salary Range and Benefits

$120,000 - $170,000 USD

The salary range, to the extent specified for this role, is a good faith statement of the minimum and maximum levels of the annual based salary for the position. The base salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on a wide range of compensation factors, including, but not limited to, work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Altana's total compensation package. Altana also offers either a discretionary bonus or a variable compensation plan depending on the role. Additionally, Altana offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Flexible Time Off: Altana operates with a Flexible Time Off (FTO) policy that gives you agency over your own time off so you can maximize your work-life balance.

• Parental Leave: We offer industry leading Paid Parental Leave (PPL), providing 14 weeks of leave for non-birthing, adoptive, and foster parents and up to 26 weeks of leave for birthing parents, all paid at 100% of your base salary.

• Health Benefits: We have a full suite of medical, vision, and dental benefits with generous employer contributions, designed to give you flexibility and choice for your individual health situation. Our high deductible health plan is 100% employer paid for employees and supplemented with an employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (HSA). There is also a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option.

• Supplemental Benefits: Altana provides life, short- and long-term disability, and AD&D insurance coverage, all at no cost to you, so you know that you and your loved ones are covered in case of an emergency.

• 401(k) Savings: Save for and invest in your future using our Guideline 401(k) retirement savings program.

• Commuter Benefits: Save money on your commute by setting aside pre-tax funds for public transit or parking!

• Wellness: Because we value mental and emotional health, every Altana employee has access to a free premium subscription to Calm, the #1 app for meditation, sleep, and mindfulness.

• Pet Insurance: Pets are family too! Keep them healthy with Wishbone insurance and / or our Total Pet vet service and telehealth discount plan.

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to confidential personal support.

• Dependent Care FSA: You will have access to a Dependent Care FSA, which allows you to set aside pre-tax funds for childcare expenses

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process.

Why it’s great to work at Altana

• We love to collaborate, and we win as a team!

• We are committed to engineering excellence

• We value personal and professional development

• We learn from diverse backgrounds and perspectives

• We impact the world, from enabling developing countries to identifying drug traffickers

At Altana, we believe that a diverse workforce enables greater creativity, performance, and adaptability. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome you to join us as you are. Our employment opportunities and decisions are based on business needs and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, family care or medical leave status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the laws or regulations in the areas in which we operate. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, in any situation.

Offers related to employment at Altana will come from an Altana.ai email address. We will never ask for payment as part of the interview or onboarding process.