Manager, IT Systems Administration

Not just a joba community a partnership a team

You’ll experience them all at London Drugs. As one of Canada’s fastest-growing and most successful retail chains, we know what it takes to build a satisfying career. We are seeking innovative, customer focused people to join our team Our IT Department currently has opportunities for:
**Manager, IT Systems Administration**

This position is responsible for the management and administration of the London Drugs Systems environment. The position will be part of the IT Management team and will work in conjunction with this group to plan and facilitate system performance, stability, redundancy, and functionality. The position also has responsibility for management and oversight of the IT Systems Administration and Computer Operations Teams.

**Additional responsibilities include**:
IT Planning and Administration:

- Contributes to the annual IT budgeting and operational/tactical plan.
- Estimates the time, resources and costs required to implement proposed technologies. Undertakes priority scheduling and resource allocations for technology related activities within the annual plan. Attempts to get business priorities and allocates resources for requests and activities outside the plan.
- Continuously re-appraises the effectiveness of technology in relation to the changing needs of the organization and evolving technology, and provides technology component support for planning and implementing technology upgrades and retirement.
- Develops technology policy, standards and guidelines in conjunction with IT management. Adheres to and enforces IT policy, standards and guidelines.
- Ensures the technology function is equipped with adequate tools for delivering appropriate technology solutions according to needs of the organization.
- Conducts vendor contract administration for Infrastructure services and products along with the General Manager, IT.
- Manages vendor supplying of products and services on an ongoing basis.
- Manages systems security, including the provision and maintenance of physical and data access security, virus protection and audit and control guidelines and features.
- Manages, develops and submits plans for the corporate data communications network and administration of the network.
- Helps to clarify hardware solution requirements of user departments.
- Ensures that regular backup and restore processes are in place to maintain data integrity.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the General Manager, Information Technology.

Human Resource Management:

- Contributes to the management and maintenance of IT roles and responsibilities and refines functions and activities that are required to provide sound and continual system and client support.
- Contributes to human resource planning by planning for the acquisition, development, removal, and succession of staff in I.T. Systems Administration and Computer Operations Teams.
- Ensures that training levels within the Systems Administration and Computer Operations area adequately reflect the needs of the department.
- Conducts staff evaluations for Systems Administration and Computer Operations.
- Ensures that resource allocations are appropriate to meet service expectations.

Computer Operations:

- Contributes to the systems security and ensures that violations are identified and dealt with.
- Provides physical security for technology components.
- Ensures that all production programs and procedures are completed according to the corporate needs.
- Ensures that Business Continuity plans are regularly adjusted and tested in accordance with process changes.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal,
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with vendors and all levels of user management and Information Technology personnel.
- Strong leadership skills, with an emphasis on managing all individuals within a team.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
- Sound judgment and ability to effectively problem solve as required.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Highly organized and able to multitask effectively and work under changing priorities.
- Ability to comprehend complex and sometimes un-defined technology problems and to resolve them quickly by clear, logical analysis of their key factors.
- Ability to create imaginative and practical solutions to technology problems and to select the most appropriate technology for the purpose while meeting corporate IT standards.
- Ability to make numerous, daily decisions regarding the use of hardware/system and human resources to best utilize them to address changing priorities.
- Ability to identify process requirements and implement solutions to service delivery bottlenecks.
- Self-motivated to remain current in emerging technologies and industry standards.
- Ability to understand network structures and computer systems at a “big picture” level