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Affinity Group

Food sales brokerage with analytics

IT Director

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
$120k - $135k
Expert
Bachelor's
Charlotte, NC, USA+1 moreMore locations: Buffalo, NY, USA
HybridHybrid work with in-office days at the assigned location; occasional travel to regional offices may be required.
IT OperationsSystem Administration

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
  • Prior experience managing IT operations, systems administration, or a help desk/support function.
  • Hands-on ability with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Entra ID administration, including Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, and licensing.
  • Hands-on ability with Microsoft Intune and Windows endpoint management.
  • Hands-on ability with Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Hyper-V, and Remote Desktop Services.
  • Hands-on ability with backup and recovery, and infrastructure monitoring.
  • Hands-on ability with business network administration across many small offices, including Cisco Meraki firewalls, Aruba Instant On switching and wireless, and domain name service.
  • Hands-on ability with endpoint and email security, multi-factor authentication, and a password vault.
  • Hands-on ability with Microsoft Azure at a small-business scale, including scheduled automation and secret storage.
  • Hands-on ability with IT service management in a help desk platform, including assets, change, and a knowledge base.
  • Hands-on ability with PowerShell scripting, source control, and AI-assisted automation.
  • Hands-on ability with vendor and license management for hardware, software, and telecommunications.
  • Strong written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical staff.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities across a distributed, multi-office organization.
Responsibilities
  • Manage day-to-day IT operations, including network, server, endpoint, and cloud infrastructure across all Affinity Group offices.
  • Lead and prioritize the IT help desk function, ensuring timely resolution of employee support requests and tracking recurring issues.
  • Administer core business systems and platforms, including Microsoft 365, CRM, and other line-of-business applications; coordinate upgrades, integrations, and access management.
  • Implement and maintain data security, backup, and disaster recovery practices; monitor for vulnerabilities and coordinate remediation.
  • Manage relationships with IT vendors, the managed service provider, and telecom/internet carriers, including contract renewals, performance, and assessment of third-party security and business risk.
  • Plan and track the IT budget, evaluate new tools and equipment purchases, and recommend cost-effective solutions.
  • Lead technology rollouts, including new hardware, software, or office setups, from planning through deployment and training.
  • Own governance of AI-assisted tools and automation used within IT, ensuring use follows the organization's AI and development policies and receives appropriate review.
  • Partner with senior leadership on the IT roadmap and budget as the business grows, including evaluating what remains in-house versus with outside partners.
  • Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Operations leaders across both divisions to understand technology needs and support regional teams.
  • Maintain documentation for systems, processes, and IT policies, and train employees on tools and security best practices.
  • Provide occasional after-hours or on-call support for critical system issues; travel to regional offices may be required.
Desired Qualifications
  • Microsoft certifications relevant to this environment, such as Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert, Azure Administrator Associate, or Security Operations Analyst Associate.
  • ITIL Foundation certification for IT service management practice.
  • PMP or a similar project management certification.
  • A security certification such as CompTIA Security+ or (ISC)² SSCP/CISSP.

About the company

Affinity Group is a North American food sales and marketing agency that works as a broker to help brands grow in both foodservice and retail channels. It provides sales strategy, culinary support, store-level merchandising and planning, plus category management and consumer-trend insights. The company leverages data and analytics to guide decision-making and deliver real-time results for clients, with divisions for foodservice and retail offering tailored solutions such as menu development, marketing insights, and perishables brokerage. It differentiates itself through its dual-channel focus, a track record of acquisitions to broaden reach (Matrix Sales & Marketing and Jon Morris & Co.), and ongoing data integration and AI enhancements through a partnership with Mascari NXT. Its goal is to drive sales growth and stronger brand performance for client brands across the North American market by turning data and market insights into practical sales and merchandising plans.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Charlotte, North Carolina

Founded

2014

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • PR Newswire said the Mascari NXT deal expands customer reach by 50%.
  • Datassential's May 2026 case study validates Affinity's pitch-to-win execution with measurable placements.
  • Leadiq noted December 2025 produce leadership hiring, signaling continued channel-specific investment.

What critics are saying

  • Mascari NXT integration in 2026 risks distraction and culture clash across sales teams.
  • Small-company profile and 51-200 employees create client-concentration risk if one account leaves.
  • AI selling is becoming table stakes; competitors can copy it within twelve months.

What makes Affinity Group unique

  • January 2026 Mascari NXT acquisition adds AI-driven selling to food brokerage.
  • Affinity Group combines foodservice, retail, and fresh-channel coverage under one sales agency.
  • Datassential's May 2026 case study showed 2 LTO wins and one permanent menu placement.

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Benefits

  • Phone/Internet Stipend
  • Flexible Work Hours

Company News

PMQ
Feb 4th, 2026
Affinity Group Acquires Mascari NXT as Part of Strategy to Advance Food Industry Sales - PMQ Pizza

Affinity Group, a leading North American sales and marketing agency, today announced the acquisition of Mascari NXT, an AI and data integration company. As a subsidiary of Affinity Group, the company will operate as Mascari NXT, An Affinity Group Company. This acquisition marks a major step in Affinity Group’s long-term strategy to advance food industry […]