IT Manager at Grindr in Chicago, IL

About the Team: Grindr is an AI-native platform powering how millions of gay people connect globally. With 15M+ monthly users, 130B+ annual messages, and a team of fewer than 200, we move fast, stay lean, and tackle technical problems at a scale few companies ever see. We're building the infrastructure for the next chapter of the global gayborhood platform - and that means our internal systems need to match the ambition of our product. We're looking for an IT Manager who's as comfortable closing a support ticket as they are advising on org design, tooling strategy, and compliance (especially SOX). This is a player-coach IT Manager role. You'll own the day-to-day operational health of Grindr's internal technology environment while managing a distributed team of full-time staff and contractors across multiple offices. You'll work closely with Finance, Legal, and cross-functional leadership as the primary IT owner for SOX compliance, identity and access management, and internal automation. At Grindr, we operate in Grindr Mode. Moderately hardcore day to day, truly hardcore when it counts. It’s about doing great work without burning out. Outcomes over outputs. Smart, driven people who raise your bar, with room to live full lives. This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago office and will require you to be in person Tuesdays and Thursdays. About the Job: IT Operations and Infrastructure - Manage and continuously improve Grindr's Mac-first, Google Workspace environment across Bay Area, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York offices - Oversee IT helpdesk support, hardware lifecycle, onboarding/offboarding workflows, and day-to-day ticket resolution alongside your team - Maintain and optimize our identity and access management platform (OneLogin), including user provisioning, access reviews, and SSO integrations - Partner with IT leadership on the evaluation of in-house vs. outsourced/hybrid helpdesk models as the company scales SOX Compliance and IT Controls - Own IT General Controls (ITGCs) including access management, change management, and IT operations controls in support of Grindr's SOX program - Work directly with external auditors during annual SOX cycles - this means you're the operator and the point of contact, not a supporting cast member - Maintain documentation, evidence collection, and remediation tracking for IT controls in scope Automation and Tooling - Lead and oversee workflow automation projects using Workato, including building and maintaining integration recipes that reduce manual effort across IT and cross-functional teams - Evaluate and implement AI tools that improve IT operations efficiency - this includes vetting new tools, managing rollouts, and establishing governance guardrails - Stay ahead of the tooling curve; Grindr moves fast and expects IT to move with it Team and Vendor Management - Directly manage 2 full-time IT engineers (New York, Los Angeles) and 3 contractors (Bay Area, Chicago) - Own contractor performance, timecard oversight, and vendor relationships - including the ability to make hard calls when performance isn't meeting expectations - Develop your team through coaching, feedback, and hands-on mentorship Role Requirements: - 5+ years in IT, with at least 2 years in a management or senior lead capacity - Proven SOX ITGC ownership - you've worked directly with external auditors and can speak fluently to access management, change management, and IT operations controls - Deep hands-on experience in a Mac-first, Google Workspace environment - Identity and access management experience - OneLogin or Okta administration, not just usage - Demonstrated experience managing a mix of FTE and contractor staff in a distributed, multi-office environment - Automation experience with iPaaS tools (Workato, Zapier, or equivalent) - you've built or managed workflows, not just been adjacent to them - Experience at an AI-native or AI-forward tech company, with hands-on involvement in evaluating or rolling out AI productivity and IT tools - Direct Workato experience, including recipe development and integration management - Experience advising on or transitioning between in-house helpdesk and managed/outsourced models - Familiarity with the compliance and operational demands of a public or recently-IPO'd tech company You May Thrive in this Role if You: - Grindr is a high-expectation, fast-moving environment. If you're someone with strong opinions on how things should be done, you'll be listened to in a way that isn't possible at places with firmly entrenched processes. We want someone who brings a point of view, takes ownership without being asked, and doesn't wait for a perfectly scoped project to get started. - Diversity and inclusion is a core value at Grindr, which emphasizes the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or racial background. We're proud of the community we serve and the culture we've built internally. Benefits and Perks: - Health, Dental & Vision Full premium coverage for you. Partial coverage for dependents. - Family Formation Up to $300,000 in fertility and family-building support, covering IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and adoption. - Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match and immediate vesting. - Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation, company bonus, and equity for every employee. - Gender-Affirming Care : Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more. - Time Off & Rest Flexible vacation policy. Two company-wide rest weeks per year. - Other Benefits: Monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch About Grindr: Grindr is building the Global Gayborhood in your Pocket. With more than 15 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the gay community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just. As a public company, we're moving into the next chapter: becoming an AI-native organization that's redefining what's possible for our community. We're embedding AI into our product and operations, moving with startup speed while operating at scale. Everything we do is rooted in impact for our users and outcomes for the business. This isn't social work, it’s impact through excellence. Business success is what gives us the power to serve our community and the seat at tables others can't reach. How we work is defined by Grindr Mode, our operating model that's moderately hardcore day-to-day and truly hardcore when it counts. We think like owners, drive real outcomes, create clarity through action, and push each other to go further than we thought possible. We’re headquartered in West Hollywood with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. Our work extends beyond the product through Grindr for Equality, our nonprofit that's partnered with 100+ community organizations globally to advance safety, health, and human rights for LGBTQ+ people worldwide. We're profitable, growing, and building a team of smart, driven people who bring different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the work. Want to build technology at a massive scale that serves millions? Come join us! Grindr is an equal-opportunity employer. To learn more about how we handle the personal data of applicants, visit our Employee and Candidate Privacy Policy https://www.grindr.com/privacy-policy/applicant-privacy-policy/.