IT Manager

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.

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 (One Login), 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

• 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 – One Login 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…