IT Manager

Canyon seeks a full-time IT Manager to coordinate all technology operations for Canyon.

Canyon is a nonprofit arts venue opening in 2026 on the Lower East Side of NYC, dedicated to the exhibition of time-based media art and performance.

The IT Manager reports directly to Canyon's VP of Art & Technology and leads all technology operations for the institution. As Canyon's first IT Manager, this individual will establish and manage all core IT infrastructure while working alongside specialized technical teams-including AV engineers in Exhibitions and conservation technicians in Canyon's conservation center-to ensure seamless integration across all technology systems. This includes ensuring that Canyon's infrastructure supports high-performance media art installations, live events, visitor services, retail operations, and back-office systems. The IT Manager will maintain a secure, scalable, and efficient network that underpins all digital and audiovisual systems across the organization.

Working across the Exhibitions, Conservation, Facilities, and Operations divisions, the IT Manager will plan, implement, and maintain integrated AV/IT systems that bridge creative and administrative workflows. Initially operating as a hands-on sole IT practitioner, they will manage procurement, vendor relationships, and contracts for technology systems, coordinate with integrators and service providers, and develop best practices for cybersecurity, access control, and data integrity.

The ideal candidate combines technical fluency with hands-on leadership and clear communication. They are a pragmatic problem-solver who can anticipate infrastructure needs, translate between creative and technical teams, and ensure that Canyon's systems operate reliably and intelligently as the venue evolves.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the full IT stack: network, servers, storage, workstations, AV/IT convergence systems, security, backup/disaster recovery.
• Manage systems supporting the conservation centre (CMACC), exhibitions, performance program, office operations, and guest services.
• Develop and enforce IT policies, procedures and best-practices (e.g., access control, data management, media asset handling, cybersecurity).
• Lead hardware and software procurement, vendor sourcing, contract negotiation, and lifecycle planning.
• Collaborate with the Art & Technology division, Exhibitions team, Performing Arts team and Facilities to align IT/AV infrastructure with artistic and operational goals.
• Provide day-to-day support, troubleshooting and escalation for technical issues; manage and train any IT staff or contractors.
• Plan for scalability: our opening phase leads into growth - exhibitions, performances, conservation workflows and visitor services will all increase.
• Monitor budgets, create cost-control measures, and report on technology KPIs to leadership.
• Stay current with emerging technologies; recommend strategic technology adoption.
• Ensure robust disaster recovery and business-continuity planning - both for administrative systems and for media/archive data.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional IT management experience, preferably in a media-rich, arts-oriented or complex venue environment.
• Hands-on experience with converged AV/IT systems, network infrastructure, storage solutions, media-asset management or similar.
• Hands-on experience with deploying and managing ticketing systems, CRMs, or visitor experience technology.
• Proven ability to manage vendors, negotiate contracts, plan hardware/software lifecycle, and control budgets.
• Strong aptitude for systems thinking - integrating the needs of exhibitions, performance, conservation and visitor/guest services into IT strategy.
• Excellent communication, project management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-moving environment, juggle multiple priorities, escalate when needed and keep operations reliable.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience in a museum, gallery or live-arts venue with time-based media.
• Familiarity with conservation workflows or media-art asset management (valuable given our conservation centre).
• Knowledge of AV integration (e.g., digital signage, projection systems, live-event infrastructure, sound systems).
• Cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CISM) or equivalent experience.
• Experience with cloud services, hybrid infrastructure, virtualization, remote work support.
• Appetite for innovation: adopting new tools, automating workflows, evaluating new media tech.

Salary & Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience. The expected range is $125,000-160,000.

This is a full-time salaried position. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance; a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account; a 401(k) retirement account with a matching contribution; and tuition reimbursement.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To Apply

Please upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references in the 'Resume' section of the job application portal.