Meet the IT Manager
Want to be head and shoulders above the IT Crowd? You’ll need to know what qualities mark out an IT grommet from an IT guru.
For the answers we went straight to Roddy Matheson, IT Manager for Greenbelt, one of the UK’s leading land management companies, serving more than 50,000 households.
IT Manager . . . what’s that all about?
My role is to provide the information and communications systems, both software and hardware, to support Greenbelt staff.
This covers everything from configuring mobile phones, provisioning servers and networking infrastructure, and providing helpdesk support and training to developing applications, project management, backup strategy and security planning.
That’s a lot of duties! Can there be a typical day?
Well, I’m very much a hands-on type of manager. I dip into the helpdesk every day to close off tickets and keep up my general IT maintenance skills.
A large part of the job is checking things are working the way they should be and analyzing, fixing or improving things that are not.
Aside from meetings nearly every day, there is checking computers, servers, network equipment and applications are patched up and up to date with security updates is part of my daily routine, although much of that is automated.
What big projects have you handled lately?
We recently expanded our real-time reporting system to cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This system, which has been used successfully in Scotland for the past year, provides our contractors with a web portal they can access via smartphone, tablet or computer while onsite.
This allows them to see exactly what work needs carried out on-site and instantly report back as soon as the work is complete. It means our office-based staff have up-to-the-minute information about the status of works, which allows them to provide a better service to our customers.
What are the big challenges in the IT jobs sector?
Less than a quarter of IT jobs and computer science degree places are held by women and fewer move into a tech career.
This lack of diversity means products and solutions are aimed at men, as there isn’t the female perspective.
We’re effectively eliminating almost 50% of potential brainpower that could really move the game on.
Without more inspiring female leaders blazing a trail, fewer women will be attracted to the tech workforce.
Any top tips to climb the career ladder?
Never assume there’s only one answer to a problem. Thinking outside the box is a key skill that needs to be cultivated and often leads to innovation.
Also a lot of IT pros are intensely focused on a narrow field – think of head-down programmers or server techs alone in server rooms. We need to break out of stereotypes and be sociable.
Being personable and communicating well are two of the most important things you can do beyond your normal IT role.
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