Watch our 'ask me anything' recording to understand more about the role!

Salary: $160k + Super

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, or Remote.

About the Role

Blackbird is looking to hire an IT & Security Manager to oversee all aspects of our IT & Security function.

We are looking for a candidate who has a strong understanding of IT systems and processes that are suitable for a company of our size. We've grown from 10 to 70 people in the last two years, and our current IT setup is starting to show signs of strain. We've implemented an MDM (Jamf), use endpoint protection (SentinelOne), have an HRIS (Bob), and get regular security audits. Now we’re looking for someone that’s better at IT than us, has a systems mindset, and a genuine love for problem solving and helping others.

You should have a high ownership mentality, and be able to identify areas for improvement, then take action to resolve them. You have excellent communication skills and can lead strategically, while also executing plans effectively. You are comfortable with uncertainty and can create a solid plan from an ambiguous idea. You are willing to do any task, regardless of its size, and are excited about the prospect of building a team from scratch. Right now, our IT department is a team of two (you and the IT Analyst) so you’ll get plenty of opportunity to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty on all tasks, big and small. Over time, we hope to grow the team, and for you to grow with it.

Position Requirements

Your background is less important than the key skills and traits, which include:

• Tech skills: We are looking for someone who is comfortable with a variety of technologies and tools. This includes software, hardware, and other tech-related equipment that may be necessary for the job. Some of the key tech we use includes:

  • Mac Laptops

  • Google Workspace

  • Zoom

  • Slack

  • Jamf

  • Notion

• Problem solver: We don't expect you to know everything, but you should be willing to learn new skills, know when to outsource, and be comfortable digging into a problem if you don't know the solution at first.

• Productivity mindset: You are constantly thinking of ways to improve our way of working. You’re a productivity geek and champion this to the entire org.

• Proactive, with ownership mentality: We want someone who can spot areas for improvement and takes action without being asked. Never Settle is a term we often use.

• Hospitality mindset: no task is too small. You are never too important to take the bins out at the office, or to help out if you see anyone in need. You are happy to take on the small tasks as well as the big.

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is highly desirable.

• Experience with leading IT strategic planning. Bonus points if you know your way around cybersecurity best practices as well

• Strong knowledge of security best practices, standards, and regulations, such as ISO 27001, NIST, and GDPR

• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams

This role is full-time, and can work from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. If you prefer, you can work from one of our wonderful offices in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland.

Responsibilities

• Budget: Managing and reporting on the IT & Security budget

• Leadership: Lead the IT & Security function and develop your own team rhythm.

• Education: Identifying opportunities for team training and skills advancement

• Policy: Develop and implement security policies and procedures

• Security: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify security weaknesses and recommend corrective actions

• Monitor: Setup systems to continuously monitor for security events

• Projects: Manage our more complex cybersecurity initiatives, in partnership with our trusted cybersecurity operators.

• Support: No question too silly, no task too small. You will embody #hospitality-mindset at Blackbird by providing the team with tech support and guidance.

• Governance & Comms: Report to the exec team, give updates at company-wide Town Halls, provide training, and build awareness.

• Productivity: Streamline our IT systems and processes. You will be the voice of productivity at Blackbird, and regularly ensure our way of working is fit for purpose and at max efficiency.

• Maintenance: Systems & Processes need ongoing care. This includes overseeing and determining timeframes for major IT projects including system updates, upgrades, migrations and outages, and keeping automations up to date.

• Software & Hardware:

  • Strategy, improvements, tech stack/architecture, use of tools and budget

  • Hardware requirements and management / decommissioning (office and individual tech)

  • Provisioning management & set-up

Here is what success might look like in your first 6-12 months:

• Develop an IT & Security strategy for the next 12-24 months based on the findings from our recent security review, and make a good start on the corresponding projects. This might include streamlining software provisioning, upgrading our VPN and data control systems, and providing guidance on our laptop recycling policies.

• You will need to be very hands on and work with nearly every team at Blackbird in one way or another in your first year. You will embody our business operating principles, and in particular, you will be known for your hospitality mindset and being “all in together”.

• Turn IT & Security into a dedicated function at Blackbird, and grow the team.

• Structure our knowledge-base and set the information design principles across the business. Hold teams accountable for the ongoing maintenance and housekeeping.

• For our more complex security projects, you’ll work closely with our trusted partners and manage the projects from idea to completion.

• Increase awareness of the IT & Security function at Blackbird. You’ll do this through regular reporting to the exec team, presenting at company-wide town halls, joining the Governance Committee, and providing ongoing training and education to the organisation.

Working at Blackbird

We believe that building a diverse and inclusive team is critical to Blackbird’s success. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. We use Applied to ensure every applicant gets an equal chance of success.

We offer:

• Flexible working: Whether it’s working from home or leaving early to pick up the kids from daycare or school.

• Generous parental leave: We know family comes first, and we are proud to offer 20 weeks of parental leave for all parents (an additional 4 weeks for the birth parent), with no minimum tenure. In addition, we offer IVF, adoption and surrogacy leave. We also continue to pay superannuation and vest carried interest for up to 12 months of parental leave, and offer a supportive return-to-work policy to help with the ramp back.

• Learning & Development Budget: Our team is hungry to continuously learn and you’ll receive a budget to spend on whatever you’d like to learn - from coding courses to meditation.

• Wellbeing: We think in decades not days. To support our Blackbirds over the long haul we offer a range of holistic wellbeing benefits including a monthly healthy living allowance, 24/7 access to wellbeing support, a home office allowance, personal kit-kat days, and more!

• Unplugged weekends: We work hard without letting work get in the way of life. We’ve implemented no Slack or emails on weekends, so you can switch off and enjoy yourself.

• Connection: While being big fans of a fully distributed workforce, we value our vibe and time to connect online and IRL through team and company offsites, monthly social activities, weekly lunches and our many social clubs (#fun-manis, #fun-fantasybookclub, #bb-craft just to name a few!).

• A share of Blackbird’s success: We think it is important to share successes with the whole team. All Blackbird employees receive carry in funds raised and ownership in management companies formed while they are at the firm.

Blackbird is a Pledge 1% member —  we pledge 1% of our time, equity and profits to help not-for-profit causes in our community. Through Pledge 1%, we established the Blackbird Foundation to supercharge the creative capabilities of young people.

We are also very proud to have won the 2023 AFR Best Place to Work award in three categories including Overall winner. In 2022, we became certified as one of Australia’s Great Places to Work.

About Blackbird

Blackbird is Australia's biggest venture capital fund whose mission is to supercharge Australia and New Zealand’s most ambitious founders. We do this by raising venture capital funds, investing into the best startup companies and helping them succeed. We have a portfolio valued at over $7B, including some of the most successful Australian and Kiwi startups such as Canva, Safety Culture and Culture Amp.

We are inspired by investment firms such as Berkshire Hathaway and Bridgewater Associates. Like the companies we back, we want to build a business that lasts for decades and produces excellent returns for our investors. Most of all, we want to support our region’s most talented founders build category-defining technology companies.

We’ve written a lot about what we love at Blackbird, so check out our blog if you want some more information about us. In particular, you should read about our mission and values, our Blackbird’s Operating Principles (BOPs) and what we look for in founders.