Retail IT Infrastructure Manager, Chicago IL.

Due to our continuous growth, we have a new role at WashSmart Laundry!!!

We are seeking a results-oriented Retail IT Infrastructure Manager to oversee, maintain, and enhance the technology infrastructure across all store locations. The role is hands-on technical and managerial: you’ll ensure that all stores have reliable, secure networks (guest / employee / company device Wi-Fi), functional and secure phone systems, monitoring via security cameras, and fully operational POS / credit card payment systems. You will work closely with vendors, store operations leadership, and possibly a small internal team or contractors to ensure uptime, compliance (e.g. PCI), and consistency across locations.

Key Responsibilities

●       Design, implement, and manage store-level Wi-Fi networks (segmented: customer, employee, corporate devices), ensure coverage, reliability, security, and upgrade path.

●       Deploy, configure, and maintain telephone / phone systems at each store (VoIP or PBX), including redundancy, call routing, troubleshooting.

●       Oversee security camera/surveillance systems: installation, remote monitoring access, storage/retention policies, maintenance, ensuring compliance with privacy/security standards.

●       Manage Point of Sale (POS) systems and credit card terminals: hardware & software uptime; coordinate with payment processors; ensure PCI DSS compliance; manage periodic updates / patches.

●       Coordinate with vendors / service providers (internet ISP, telecom, POS vendors, camera vendors, etc.) for orders, updates, support, SLAs, and cost control.

●       Monitor system health and performance (network latency, security, phone call quality, camera feeds, POS transaction errors), establish incident response and escalation process.

●       Develop and enforce standards, documentation, and policies for all store tech (Wi-Fi, phones, cameras, POS), including security best practices, backups, and disaster recovery.

●       Budgeting and lifecycle planning for store technology: forecast hardware refresh, anticipate growth or upgrades, and seek cost-effective solutions.

●       Provide training & support to store managers and staff on systems: usage, basic troubleshooting.

●       Stay current with technological trends relevant to retail operations (networking, security, payment systems) and recommend improvements.

Required Qualifications & Skills

●       Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or equivalent experience preferred.

●       5+ years of experience in retail IT, multi-site infrastructure, or related field; hands-on with networks, VoIP, POS/payment systems.

●       Strong technical knowledge of networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, Wi-Fi standards, firewalls), VoIP or PBX telephony systems, video surveillance/IP camera systems, POS systems + payment processing / PCI DSS requirements.

●       Ability to manage multiple vendor relationships.

●       Solid troubleshooting skills — ability to diagnose issues remotely and on site.

●       Strong organizational skills, ability to document systems and procedures.

●       Good communication skills — able to explain technical issues to non-technical store or operations staff.

●       Willingness to travel among store locations, perform occasional on-site work.

●       Leadership or project management experience is a plus.

WashSmart is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal history, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.