IT Manager

About Sand

Sand Technologies is a fast-growing enterprise AI company that solves real-world problems for large blue-chip companies and governments worldwide.

We’re pioneers of meaningful AI: our solutions go far beyond chatbots. We are using data and AI to solve the world’s biggest issues in telecommunications, sustainable water management, energy, healthcare, climate change, smart cities, and other areas that have a real impact on the world. For example, our AI systems help to manage the water supply for the entire city of London. We created the AI algorithms that enabled the 7th largest telecommunications company in the world to plan its network in 300 cities in record time. And we built a digital healthcare system that enables 30m people in a country to get world-class healthcare despite a shortage of doctors.

We’ve grown our revenues by over 500% in the last 12 months while winning prestigious scientific and industry awards for our cutting-edge technology. We’re underpinned by over 300 engineers and scientists working across Africa, Europe, the UK and the US. 

As an organisation, Sand is fully cloud-native, our workforce is globally distributed and works remote-first. We have physical offices in some locations, but have no LAN/WAN or any physical server infrastructure to manage.

About the role

We are looking for a dynamic, solutions-oriented IT Manager to lead and grow our internal IT function at SAND Tech. You will be responsible for overseeing and strengthening our IT infrastructure, tools, and support systems. This includes managing endpoint security, IT operations, access controls, hardware provisioning, remote working tools, and integration with compliance and security frameworks such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and SOC2.

This is a hands-on role for someone who is excited to build out and manage modern IT operations in a remote-first, fast-paced tech environment.

Specific Responsibilities

• IT Operations & Support
  
  
• Oversee IT operations including virtual infrastructure, software, endpoint management, and user support across a globally distributed team.
• Lead the implementation and maintenance of patch management tools (e.g., Action1, Qualys) and EDR tools (e.g., CrowdStrike).
  
  
• Infrastructure & Systems
  
  
• Maintain and improve the organization’s collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Slack, Replit, GitHub, etc), and secure remote working setups.
• Set up and maintain employee devices, asset inventories, and lifecycle processes.
  
  
• Compliance & Security
  
  
• Support implementation and monitoring of IT-related controls aligned with ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, and other compliance standards.
• Ensure regular updates, backups, and security configurations across systems.
• Implement and enforce access control, password management, and MFA policies.
  
  
• Vendor & Tool Management
  
  
• Evaluate and manage third-party tools and vendors used for communication, storage, productivity, and security.
• Negotiate contracts and manage renewals.
  
  
• People & Process
  
  
• Provide responsive IT support to employees, acting as the first point of contact for incidents and service requests.
• Document IT policies and procedures and contribute to IT onboarding processes.
• Work closely with the Risk and Compliance team to ensure continuous improvement of IT and security posture.

Requirements - Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field. Certifications in ITIL, CompTIA, or cloud security are a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in IT operations, systems administration, or infrastructure support, preferably in a fast-growing tech or consulting environment.
• Experience managing Google Workspace, Slack, GitHub, VPNs, cloud file systems, and remote monitoring/patching tools.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles, endpoint security, patch management, and network basics.
• Exposure to compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC2, HIPAA, Cyber Essentials) and risk-based IT controls.
• Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and support a distributed team across multiple time zones.

Personal Attributes

• Courage: Willingness to speak up, challenge the status quo, and embrace new challenges.
• Humility: Openness to learning, seeking help when needed, and a focus on serving others.
• Adventure: A passion for setting ambitious goals, tackling difficult tasks, and finding joy in the journey.
• Initiative: Proactive problem-solving, a sense of ownership, and a willingness to go above and beyond.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through challenges, and emerge stronger.

Due to the considerable amount of virtual work and interaction with colleagues and customers in different physical locations internationally, it is essential that the successful applicant has the drive and ethic to succeed in working in small teams physically but in larger efforts virtually. Self-drive to communicate constantly using web collaboration and video conferencing is essential.