IT Support Specialist

The Texas Tribune, the state’s go-to source for Texas politics and public policy news, is hiring an IT Support Specialist to help enact the organization’s goals and provisions with regard to Information Technology, security, and systems.

The IT Support Specialist will report to the Chief Product Officer and will collaborate closely with colleagues across departments, including the Operations Manager, Director of Human Resources (HR), Engineering team and external vendors to make sure our coworkers can do their best work with the best tools available, and help ensure that our digital security and technical processes are at their highest possible standards.

We seek candidates eager to deepen their professional experience in the IT space, teach their colleagues safe and efficient technical workflows, and focus on the unique challenges related to information security for reporters and newsrooms.

The salary for this position starts at $54,000 + depending on qualifications.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing the front line of hardware and software services to colleagues across the organization.
• Working with vendors to handle permissions, security, and troubleshooting of technical issues.
• Working with HR and Operations staff to ensure smooth onboarding and offboarding of colleagues and contractors.
• Reviewing access and security standards on technical services, and working with tech-focused colleagues (in operations, engineering, data visuals and more) on best practices and processes for managing data and sharing information.
• Educating staff on tools and tricks with regards to hardware and software that can save time and minimize security risk.
• Reviewing and researching hardware infrastructure, such as laptops, devices, and conference room equipment.
• Conducting reviews of our internal communication systems and permissions, in service of standardizing and improving our processes.

Requirements:

• BA/BS degree and 2+ years of relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience providing hardware and software services to others, as a professional, freelancer/contractor, or technical expert.
• Ability to take on high-profile, high-risk projects with trust and close attention to detail.
• Responsiveness and strong communication skills with colleagues, vendors, and partners.
• Skill in meeting deadlines, managing multiple projects and prioritizing tasks.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment or remotely.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with staff across departments.
• Flexibility to assist occasionally with requests off-hours or on-site in our Austin office.

We know there are great candidates who won’t check all of these boxes, and we know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. The deadline is February 22.

Here’s what you should know about the Tribune. From day one we’ve had disruption, innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. We’re ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We believe we can meet the demands of our audience and our own expectations for excellence without breaking the bank — or our staff. We understand not everything is a story for us — we have to make choices — but we’re always looking to expand our boundaries. We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for media these days obligates us to find a different way, reliable and sustainable, to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias — and we don’t need to be part of the problem. We don’t need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in people’s heads. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

All of us at the Trib believe the best way to achieve that mission is to resemble the state we cover. We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we’re taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this role, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

The Texas Tribune office is located in downtown Austin, steps away from the Texas Capitol building. This position is based in Austin, but we will consider candidates who are based elsewhere in Texas and can travel occasionally to our Austin office. We have colleagues in the organization that come into the office on a regular basis and colleagues that are based in various cities throughout the United States.

This job is full time and has the following benefits:

Submit your application here by February 11, with a resume and examples of your work, please submit a cover letter detailing your vision for this position and how you would approach the work. We can't wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for all, and we encourage applicants of all identities, backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply. Learn more about The Texas Tribune
here.