How to hire an information technology operations leader

How to hire an information technology operations leader, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information technology operations leader hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an information technology operations leader job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology operations leader
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an information technology operations leader do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The information technology operations leader hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an information technology operations leader to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an information technology operations leader that fits the bill.

   This list presents information technology operations leader salaries for various positions.

   Type of Information Technology Operations Leader	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Technology Operations Leader	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$37-63
   Leader	Leaders pave the way for a company to achieve certain goals. They are in charge of bringing the organization to greater heights... Show more	$23-73
   Systems Administrator Lead	A systems administrator lead is responsible for planning, designing, and implementing procedures for critical enterprise systems. Typical duties of systems administrators include managing the day-to-day operations of a company's computer and network systems, developing new application and system implementation plans, and establishing guidelines for installing and managing the organization's computer operating systems... Show more	$37-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Windows
   • Cloud
   • ITIL
   • Lifecycle Management
   • Governance
   • Incident Management
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Linux
   • Shared Services
   • Disaster Recovery
   • ITSM
   • Production Environment
   • Technical Support

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Direct database development team and manage SQL servers.
   • Manage CIO infrastructure engagements wing-to-wing from design to delivery.
   • Perform desktop PC hardware troubleshooting and warranty repair as well as network printers.
   • Monitor and address incident and change management activities using an ITSM software.
   • Evaluate and select ITSM and SDLC tools and methodologies to provide service management capabilities.
   • Conduct regular PC specification reviews to ensure the needs of the HSM line of business are meet.

   More information technology operations leader duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the information technology operations leader job description is a good way to get more applicants. An information technology operations leader salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an information technology operations leader in Virginia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level information technology operations leader. Additionally, an information technology operations leader with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average information technology operations leader salary

   $102,369yearly

   $49.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information technology operations leader salary

   $78,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average information technology operations leader salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$127,750	$61
   2	New Jersey	$116,765	$56
   3	New York	$113,068	$54
   4	Utah	$112,499	$54
   5	Arizona	$112,158	$54
   6	Nevada	$107,400	$52
   7	Maryland	$105,345	$51
   8	Delaware	$103,424	$50
   9	Connecticut	$103,382	$50
   10	Texas	$103,049	$50
   11	Ohio	$101,225	$49
   12	New Mexico	$101,138	$49
   13	Georgia	$100,091	$48
   14	Florida	$99,717	$48
   15	Massachusetts	$99,419	$48
   16	Hawaii	$98,364	$47
   17	Colorado	$97,557	$47
   18	Wisconsin	$96,196	$46
   19	Michigan	$94,666	$46
   20	Missouri	$92,805	$45

   Average information technology operations leader salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$141,618	$68.09	345
   2	Harley-Davidson	$134,082	$64.46	1
   3	BRP US Inc	$130,542	$62.76	3
   4	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$124,764	$59.98	157
   5	Zurich	$121,649	$58.49	21
   6	Gillette	$118,414	$56.93
   7	AIG	$118,212	$56.83	8
   8	Cytokinetics	$116,206	$55.87
   9	Olin	$115,623	$55.59	5
   10	General Motors	$114,950	$55.26	52
   11	AstraZeneca	$112,961	$54.31	5
   12	P&G	$112,562	$54.12	11
   13	Wawa	$112,445	$54.06
   14	Delaware North	$112,115	$53.90	2
   15	ABX Air	$111,445	$53.58
   16	The Coca-Cola Company	$110,239	$53.00	8
   17	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$110,050	$52.91	31
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$107,618	$51.74	1
   19	NRS	$106,788	$51.34
   20	Bridgepoint Education, Inc.	$106,029	$50.98

4. Writing an information technology operations leader job description

   A good information technology operations leader job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an information technology operations leader job description:

   Information technology operations leader job description example

   At Owens & Minor, we are a critical part of the healthcare process. As a Fortune 500 company with 50+ facilities across the US and 18,000 teammates in over 90 countries, we provide integrated technologies, products and services across the full continuum of care. Customers-and their patients-are at the heart of what we do.
   
   Our mission is to empower our customers to advance healthcare, and our success starts with our teammates.
   Owens & Minor teammate benefits include:
   Medical, dental, and vision insurance, available on first working day 401(k), eligibility after 30 days of employment Employee stock purchase plan Tuition reimbursement Development opportunities to grow your career with a global company
   
   Writing MOCA commands, updating policies, and configuring the warehouse management system.• Provides full support of the RedPrairie Integrator to support interfaces to multiple warehouse automation systems.• Maintains an on-going collaborative approach with the Warehouse Operations team to continuously improve warehouse efficiency through technology.• Configures Warehouse systems and interface setup for new customer implementations.• Works with 3rd Party software providers and consultants to implement upgrades and changes to the applications.• Tests all new code, configuration, and interfaces.
   Maintains communication of all system related issues, changes, and upgrades to the 3PL business teams.• Adheres to the SDLC and change management process in support of ISO Standards as well as compliance to CFR 21. Part 11.• Maintains communication with the 3PL team, 3rd Party software providers, and other interested consultants to ensure that the proper information is shared in a timely and efficient manner.• Coordinates efforts with employees, vendors, customers and other partners to ensure successful completion of projects.• Identifies opportunities that lead to operational improvements and/or savings
   
   If you feel this opportunity could be the next step in your career, we encourage you to apply.
   
   Owens & Minor is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, religion, disability, age, status as a veteran, or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find information technology operations leaders for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any information technology operations leaders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level information technology operations leaders with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your information technology operations leader job on Zippia to find and attract quality information technology operations leader candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with information technology operations leader candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview information technology operations leader candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new information technology operations leader

   Once you've found the information technology operations leader candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new information technology operations leader. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an information technology operations leader?