Job Description

WHO WE ARE

At Trees for the Future (TREES), we believe farmers have the power to transform the world. For over 30 years,we’vebeen a global leader in agroforestry, partnering with farming families to build vibrant economies, sustainable food systems, and thriving ecosystems. Througha proven nature-basedsolution,farmers restore their land, plant thousands of trees, and grow diverse crops, breaking cycles of climatechange,and generational poverty. By reclaiming their agency, farmers are creating new possibilities for their families, communities, andtheenvironment.We’veworked all around the world and are currently active in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. TREES has planted over 400 million trees to dateand restored more than 40,000 hectares of land. Joining our passionate, collaborative team means empowering farmers torestoretheirland and unlock prosperity.

Learn more attrees.org

THE ROLE

TREES is building a dedicated internal IT function for the first time, and the IT Manager will play a foundational role in shaping it.

This is a hands-on role focused on enabling staff to do their best work. The IT Manager will oversee day-to-day IT operations, including staff support, Microsoft 365, identity and access management, cybersecurity, device management, software licensing, and vendor relationships, while building the systems and standards needed to support a growing global organization.

Reporting to the Vice President of People & Culture, the IT Manager will partner closely with People Operations,managed service providers, and external technical advisors to deliver a secure, reliable, and people-centered IT experience. The role will also lead key initiatives such as the rollout of Rippling IT, SharePoint governance, AI governance, andprovideday-to-day guidance to in-country IT Coordinators as TREES expands its IT presence(capacity?)across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Staff Support

• Be the person TREES’staff trust for IT support: responsive, approachable, and able to translate technical issues into plain language.

• Serve as the organization's internal IT escalation point, triagingrequestsand routing to vendors whenappropriate.This includes handling day-to-day end-user support.

Microsoft 365 & Collaboration

• Own and govern TREES' Microsoft 365 suiteincluding onboarding and offboarding of stafflicensesas necessary.

• Lead a meaningful SharePoint governance effort Oversee an initiative with third-party support to audit the current state, establish clear information architecture, define permissions and access standards, and build staff guidance for navigating the shared file environment. Develop SharePoint as a functional, findable, and trusted home for organizational knowledge.

• Champion adoption of M365 tools across the organization, helping staff get more value from platforms already in place. This includes change management, staff communications, and building self-service resources for a globally distributed team.

Vendor & Systems Management

• OwnTREES'core vendor relationships for IT services, includingour MSP(Managed Service Provider) and Rippling IT. Directthe MSP’swork on behalf of TREES, managing escalations, reviewing contract value, and ensuring their support serves our staff.

• Lead the Rippling IT rollout (August 2026 target), including architecture validation, coordination withthe MSPon handoffs, and staff change management.

• Manage software license needs by role andlocation andmake cost-conscious recommendations to leadership on renewals and investments.

Identity, Access & Security

• Own identity and access management: user provisioning and deprovisioning, RBAC, SSO, MFA, and app access governance. Ensure onboarding and offboarding IT workflows are airtight, automated where possible, and clearly documented.

• Maintain and improve TREES' security posture in partnership withthe MSP’ssecurity operations. Ownoursecurity awarenesstrainingprogram and serve as the internal owner for cybersecurity documentation.

IT Strategy & Planning

• Maintain and execute an IT Improvement Plan, a phased roadmap covering Rippling IT rollout, SharePoint governance, and infrastructure stabilization.

• Lead TREES' approach to AI tools and policy, supporting the development and rollout of AI governance, evaluating tools that couldbenefitstaff, and helping the organization think through how to use AI effectively and responsibly.

• Partner with program and data teams to ensure staff have the right software, integrations, and technical support to work effectively with data, contributing to TREES' ambition to become a more data-informed organization.

Team Leadership

• Providedotted-line management and day-to-day guidance to in-country IT coordinators as TREES builds out its IT presence across countries of operation, setting direction, supporting their development, and ensuring consistent IT standards across the organization.

WHO YOU ARE

• An enthusiastic advocate forTREES'mission and values.You believetechnologyis a strategic enabler of impact and are excited to help build thriving rural economies, resilient food systems, and a healthier planet.

• A trusted IT partner.Staff know your name not because something went wrong, but because you showed up before it did. You communicate clearly, follow through, and genuinely care about the experience of the people you support.

• A builder, not just an operator.You are energized by the opportunity to bring structure to a messy environment. Youdon’tneeda perfect startingpoint​,​you build toward one.You’recomfortable being the only IT person in the room.

• An M365 expert.You’vemanaged SharePoint, Teams, Exchange Online, and EntraIDhands-on. You understand what good looks like for a distributedorganization,and you know how to get there from where things are today.

• A strong vendor manager.You’vedirected the work of an MSP or IT serviceprovider;​​not justsubmittedtickets, but held vendors accountable, navigated contract renewals, and made sure their work served your organization’sactual needs.

• A communicator first.You translate technical complexity for non-technical stakeholders. You get things done across time zones and cultures. You make IT feel like a partnership, not a black box.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• 5 years of experience in IT management, IT operations, or a systems/infrastructure role,ideally in a nonprofit or distributed organization.

• Hands-on Microsoft 365suiteadministration.

• Experience managing anMSP relationship-directing their work, managing escalations, and holding them accountable.

• Solid understanding of identity and access management: SSO, MFA, RBAC, and user lifecycle.

• Strong communicationskills and a demonstrated ability to make technology accessible to non-technical staff.

• Experience with Rippling IT orcomparable HRIS-integrated IT service management platform is strongly preferred.

• Experience supporting a globally distributed workforce, particularly in regions with infrastructure constraints.

• Prior experience as the sole dedicated IT person at an organization is a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS

TREES is a people-first organization, and that includes how we take care of our own staff. We are committed to building a workplace where talented people can do meaningful work and grow.

We offer a competitive salary rangecommensuratewith experience, along with comprehensive medical insurance, workers’ compensation, and substantial paid time off. This is a fully remote position, with some overlaprequiredacross global time zones.

TREES is an International Organization that strives to be the best home for staff wanting to make an impact on the farmers we serve.We offer a multicultural, collegial work environment with a commitment to staff development and mission-driven work.

APPLY

If this opportunity speaks to you, please apply with 1) a cover letter that explains why TREES’ work excites you and whyyou’rethe right person for this role, and 2) yourCV/resumeby July 21st2026.Ensureboth documents are shared as PDF files. We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage early submissions.

Trees for the Futureisanequal-opportunityemployer. We do not discriminateon the basis ofrace, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status.

We embrace and value diverse skill sets and backgrounds. We are a community of leaders who are proud torepresentmany different national, cultural, and personal identities.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.