IT Support Specialist
About the job
- An associate's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- One to two years of IT support or helpdesk experience; relevant internship or coursework experience is considered.
- Strong working knowledge of macOS and common productivity software.
- Familiarity with identity and access tools such as Okta.
- Familiarity with Google Workspace basics.
- Ability to work in person in Chicago three days per week.
- Authorized to work in the United States.
- Serve as the first point of contact for IT support requests submitted through Jira Service Management.
- Triage, prioritize, and resolve tickets in a timely manner, escalating complex issues to the IT Systems Engineer or Systems Architect as needed.
- Set up, configure, and deploy hardware, including laptops, monitors, and peripherals, for new hires and existing staff.
- Support employee onboarding and offboarding from an IT equipment and access perspective.
- Provide day-to-day technical support to staff on hardware, software, and common applications such as Google Workspace, Zoom, and Slack.
- Create and maintain how-to guides and FAQs for common issues.
- Help staff become comfortable with new tools and features as they are rolled out.
- Track and maintain inventory of IT hardware and equipment.
- Support basic device management tasks using the organization's MDM tool.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical staff.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Comfort learning new tools and systems quickly.
- Experience that has informed a belief in Braven's mission and prepared the candidate to work with, or for, Braven's student Fellow population.
About the company
Braven is a non-profit that partners with colleges, employers, and funders to help underrepresented and first-generation students move from college to strong first jobs. It delivers career readiness through the Braven Accelerator, a semester-long, credit-bearing course that blends online modules with in-person labs, with Fellows working in cohorts and receiving guidance from volunteer professionals. After the accelerator, Fellows get ongoing support via alumni programs, mentoring, and access to internships and jobs, guided by volunteer Leadership Coaches who also develop their own management skills. Braven works with public universities like San José State, National Louis University, Rutgers University–Newark, and Spelman College, and also offers BravenX, a fully virtual version with stipends for students outside partner campuses, all aimed at expanding networks, skills, and pathways to quality jobs and education equity.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$1M
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2013
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Braven raised commitments to $146M by February 2026, financing near-term expansion.
- Anthony Pinder joined July 20, 2026, strengthening higher-education partnership sales.
- Kean targets 1,000 students yearly by 2028, validating Braven’s campus demand.
What critics are saying
- Braven needs $333M through 2030; missing commitments stalls the scale plan.
- Employer and philanthropy supply 93% of revenue, exposing Braven to partner churn.
- If outcomes slip while scaling to 50,000 students, universities will replace Braven.
What makes Braven unique
- Braven embeds credit-bearing career courses into universities, not standalone workshops.
- Its FY26-FY30 plan ties scaling to employers, schools, and volunteer Leadership Coaches.
- Braven’s 2026 partnerships span San José State, Rutgers-Newark, Spelman, Kean, and UMass Lowell.
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Benefits
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- 401(k) Company Match
- Health Insurance
- Parental Leave
- Sabbatical Leave
- Hybrid Work Options
- Fertility Treatment Support
- Family Planning Benefits