IT Manager

The mission of this role is simple: keep Pluckers running so smoothly that nobody ever has to think about IT. Think less "submit a ticket and wait," more the person who makes sure the POS is humming, the Wi-Fi holds up with a packed house on game day, and 34 kitchens never miss a wing order because of tech. You'll build the systems, processes, and team that let a fast-growing restaurant company scale without breaking, and you'll get your hands dirty doing it.

About the Role:

The IT Manager is a core piece of our young, growing IT department, supporting 34 restaurants and our corporate office in Austin. The infrastructure is real, the team is in place, and the foundation is solid. Now it's time to mature operations, tighten up process, and get ready for what's next. You'll partner with the IT Director on strategy while leading the team day to day. Bottom line: you'll help decide what this department becomes.

This role needs someone who wants to build, not just manage. You're a leader who's still happy to roll up your sleeves. You might be working a network deployment with the Systems Administrator in the morning, running a vendor call after lunch, and presenting a budget recommendation to leadership before the day's done. No task is beneath you, and no conversation is above you.

As the primary IT point of contact for the company, you'll work closely with Operations, Marketing, Finance, and executive leadership to make sure technology is helping every team do its job. You'll also make sure leadership never has to chase you for a status update.

Above all, we're looking for someone who has done the technical work, has managed people, and didn't stop doing one when they started doing the other. You have strong opinions about how IT should run, you'll defend them (professionally), and you'll push back when something doesn't make sense. You document your work, follow process, and hold your team to the same standard. You treat the department like it's yours to build, because that's exactly what this role is.

Multi-location or distributed environment experience is required for consideration.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary: $115,000 – $135,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and holiday pay.
• Paid parental leave for qualifying employees.
• Employee discount programs, free food at Pluckers, and company outings.
• Support for certifications and professional development.

Responsibilities:

• Work alongside the IT team to deliver infrastructure projects, system deployments, and technical improvements across all 34 locations.
• Own vendor relationships, contracts, procurement, and IT budget management.
• Establish and enforce standard operating procedures, documentation, and change management.
• Evaluate the current technology environment and drive improvements.
• Partner with the IT Director on department strategy, staffing recommendations, and long-term planning.
• Lead the team day to day through 1-on-1s, workload management, mentorship, and accountability.
• Serve as the primary IT point of contact for Operations, Marketing, Finance, and executive leadership.
• Take on full people management as the department matures, including hiring, performance reviews, and building out the team.

Qualifications:

• 6–10 years of progressive IT experience with both hands-on technical work and team leadership
• At least 2 years managing or leading an IT team
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft 365, enterprise networking, endpoint management, and security
• Demonstrated experience with vendor management, IT budgets, and procurement
• Multi-location or distributed environment experience
• Operationally disciplined, proactive communicator

Bonus Qualifications:

• Restaurant, retail, or hospitality experience
• Experience building or scaling an IT department through a period of growth
• Relevant IT certifications

Hours & Work Environment:

• Full-time at our corporate office in Austin, TX, with regular visits to restaurant locations.
• Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. Occasional evening or weekend work for critical infrastructure events or major deployments.
• Local travel, with occasional overnight trips for new store openings or vendor meetings.