About Bound

We believe an athletic director's job is one of the most critical in a community: to shape the lives and experiences of student-athletes. But as we listened, we learned that with dwindling budgets and growing responsibilities, they’ve had no choice but to spend more time managing logistics than leading their teams and programs. After countless conversations, we gained a deep understanding of their challenges, from handling transactions to managing schedules and tracking results.

This insight was the catalyst for Bound. We created an all-in-one platform to give ADs back their time. With our OneSchedule Technology at its core, our platform integrates essential tools like Activity Registration, Tickets and Passes, and 20+ additional solutions. Today, Bound empowers schools across the country to manage every aspect of their athletics and activities, all within a single, unified solution.

We're not just a software company; we are a team made up of former athletic directors, administrators, coaches, parents, and fans. We all share one core belief: in the power of youth sports and activities to positively impact communities and the people who live in them.

About the Role

As the sole IT operations leader, you’ll own the full lifecycle of technology at our company — from security and support to systems architecture and AI innovation. You’ll design scalable infrastructure, protect our environment, support employees with empathy and efficiency, and introduce AI-driven solutions that elevate how we work. This role blends strategic planning with hands‑on execution and is ideal for someone who thrives in a high‑ownership, high‑impact environment.

Key Responsibilities

IT Security Leadership (30–35%)

• Own and mature the company’s security program, including policies, controls, and monitoring.
• Oversee identity and access management (IAM), including provisioning, deprovisioning, permission audits, and least‑privilege enforcement.
• Manage endpoint protection, MDM, patching, and vulnerability scanning.
• Lead incident response: triage alerts, coordinate investigations, document findings, and drive remediation.
• Conduct periodic access reviews, security audits, and compliance checks.
• Partner with HR, Operations, and Engineering to ensure secure workflows across onboarding, offboarding, and system integrations.
• Maintain compliance with internal policies and external frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, etc., if applicable).

IT Support & Operations Management (25–30%)

• Serve as the primary escalation point for all IT and security incidents.
• Lead the IT support function, ensuring timely, high-quality resolution of employee issues.
• Manage device lifecycle: procurement, setup, deployment, tracking, and retirement.
• Oversee office technology (Wi-Fi, printers, conference rooms) and remote support processes.
• Maintain internal documentation, knowledge bases, and employee-facing guides.
• Build scalable processes that reduce friction and improve reliability.

Systems Ownership & Architecture (10–15%)

• Own the architecture, administration, and optimization of core SaaS systems.
• Manage SSO, MFA, directory services, and system integrations.
• Evaluate, implement, and deprecate tools based on business needs.
• Maintain documentation of system architecture, dependencies, and configurations.
• Ensure governance for tool access, data flows, and system configurations.

IT Asset Management & Vendor Ownership (10%)

• Maintain accurate inventory of all hardware, software, and licenses.
• Manage vendor relationships, renewals, and contract evaluations.
• Track warranties, device lifecycle, and replacement planning.
• Forecast IT budget needs and support Finance with cost optimization.

AI Architecture, Automation & Governance (10–15%)

• Design and implement AI-driven solutions that enhance productivity, security, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and integrate AI tools (e.g., copilots, automation platforms, LLM-based workflows).
• Build automations for provisioning, ticket triage, reporting, and system health monitoring.
• Establish guidelines for responsible AI usage across the company.
• Manage data access, privacy considerations, and model/tool selection.
• Monitor AI tool performance, adoption, and governance.

Policy, Governance & Compliance (10%)

• Create, maintain, and enforce IT and security policies.
• Lead annual reviews of policies and procedures.
• Conduct periodic compliance audits and partner with HR on policy alignment.
• Support Finance and leadership with audit requests and documentation.

Employee Training & Enablement (5%)

• Develop and deliver training on security, tools, and best practices.
• Create self‑service resources, guides, and knowledge bases.
• Lead periodic security awareness initiatives.

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery (5%)

• Own and maintain the company’s disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Conduct periodic tests of backup and recovery processes.
• Ensure critical systems have redundancy and failover strategies.

Required Qualifications

• 4–7 years of experience in IT support, IT security, systems administration, or related fields.
• Experience managing or leading IT functions or projects.
• Strong knowledge of identity and access management (Okta, JumpCloud, Azure AD, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with endpoint management, patching, and device hardening.
• Familiarity with AI tools, automation platforms, or scripting (Python, PowerShell, Bash).
• Experience with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 administration.
• Strong troubleshooting skills across Mac/Windows devices.
• Understanding of security frameworks and best practices.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Experience architecting or deploying AI/ML or automation solutions.
• Certifications such as Security+, Network+, CISSP, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Familiarity with SOC 2, ISO 27001, or similar compliance frameworks.

Who You Are

• Experienced IT leader with a strong foundation in security, support operations, systems administration, and emerging AI technologies.
• Comfortable being both strategic and hands‑on as the sole owner of IT operations.
• Strong communicator who can translate technical concepts into clear, friendly guidance.
• Proactive, organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Curious and innovative — you enjoy exploring new tools and building scalable systems.
• Collaborative partner who works well with HR, Operations, Engineering, and leadership.

Work Hours & Flexibility

Bound does not operate on a traditional “routine” workweek. When work needs to be done, we collaborate to get it done — whether that’s in the morning, afternoon, evening, or occasionally on weekends.

At the same time, Bound supports flexibility for personal needs, family events, appointments, and time to recharge. Employees are trusted to manage their schedules while meeting deadlines and delivering high‑quality work.

Work Location

Bound supports in-office, remote and hybrid work. Some roles may require on‑site presence depending on team needs and responsibilities. Location expectations for this role: Ames, IA / Hybrid

Physical Requirements (Essential Job Functions)

• This role may require occasional lifting of equipment up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while troubleshooting or configuring devices.

Why Join Bound?

Bound Core Values:

• Moments Matter – We work for moment creators.
• Hands On. Hands In. – We live these problems and live to solve them.
• You Are Unusual – Everyone was given remarkable gifts. We want to see those in action.
• We Figure It Out – We don’t dwell on a problem or issue, we work together and figure it out.
• Learn It Alls – We are learn it alls, not know it alls

Benefits:

• Flexible work hours
• Flexible time off / PTO as needed
• 11 Holidays annually
• Retirement savings - up to 3% match
• Medical, dental and vision with employer contribution

Bound is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.  Bound is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us.