Deputy IT Manager, Solari Inc.

Solari Inc. is seeking a person to undertake the role of deputy IT manager, supporting the IT manager, who plans for retirement or semi-retirement at approximately year-end 2024.

This brief explains:
1. Who and what is Solari Inc.?
2. Details of the Solari technical infrastructure.
3. Work responsibilities and skills required.
4. Considerations that will apply to the choice of an applicant.

Who and what is Solari Inc.?
Solari Inc. is a private company founded by Catherine Austin Fitts. Its mission is to provide “Actionable intelligence to help live a free and inspired life.” Further information can be found at the website: solari.com.

Solari publishes the Solari Report, a subscription-based blog and website that offers interviews, articles, and quarterly reports behind a password-protected paywall as well as public content.

Published content is sometimes sensitive or controversial, which has technical implications, discussed below.

Solari Technical Infrastructure
The Solari web presence consists of over seventy WordPress websites spread across a number of Linux servers in Europe and North America. Most of these host published content, but some are functional, providing services that include:

-An online shop selling subscriptions and print publications; this uses Paid Memberships Pro and FoxyCart as the WordPress eCommerce platform
-Self-hosted video servers
-A customer-support ticketing system
-A subscriber discussion forum
-A subscriber social networking system
-An email marketing system for a weekly email newsletter
-A team-support ticketing system
-An interview-support ticketing system

In addition to the web presence, the Solari research and editorial team prepares and enters content into the WordPress websites, using a mix of Apple and Linux computers.

Solari also operates self-hosted ownCloud/Nextcloud systems in Europe and North America used by the Solari team for collaboration.

Work Responsibilities and Skills Required
Data backup and cloud systems
-Design and maintain server-level redundant, multi-site data backup systems, based on rsync and SSL encryption and security.
-Maintain two self-hosted ownCloud cloud servers.
Competencies: In-depth knowledge of Linux/UNIX systems and backup strategies. Ability to manage self-hosted cloud systems.

Operating systems and server configuration
-Maintain and keep up-to-date Linux servers sited in multiple locations in Europe and North America.
-Manage the following at the server level: iptools, ufw, rsync, squid, apache2, OpenSSH & SSL, cron, automation scripts.
Competencies: In-depth knowledge of Linux/UNIX and macOS systems and tools.

Email servers
-Maintain Axigen and PostScript email servers, including email accounts, groups, and aliases.
Competencies: Familiarity with managing email servers.

Video servers
-Maintain, update, and QA (remote) video servers in two locations.
Competencies: Knowledge of video formats, tools, and streaming protocols.

Work with IT contractors
-Prepare project plans and briefs for specialist IT contractors when required.
-Monitor and manage IT projects, timelines, and contractors.
Competencies: Ability to write coherent project briefs and documentation. Ability to effectively communicate with, monitor, and manage IT contractors.

Support to Customer Service
-Support customer service questions related to access problems.
Competencies: Ability to troubleshoot browser and other website access issues.

Editorial team support
-Provide technical support for Solari team members on macOS and Linux systems.
-QA code for posts, pages, and images in multiple WordPress sites.
-Help with questions and recommendations from subscribers regarding how to use technology wisely. Example: https://home.solari.com/cybersecurity-what-we-do/
Competencies: Familiarity with macOS, Windows, and Linux desktop systems. Knowledge of HTML, CSS, image editing, etc.

Considerations That Will Apply to the Choice of an Applicant
Security and risk issues:
The often sensitive and controversial nature of Solari’s research and published content has in the past led to:

-Denial of service attacks on web servers
-Censorship of content on commercial hosting platforms
-Impoundment of funds by payment providers
-Other types of retaliation

Therefore, discretion, flexibility, risk aversion, and availability for quick responses when required on a 24/7 basis are essential qualities for this role, as is an up-to-date awareness of potential security risks and mitigation strategies.

Cultural considerations:
We are living in a world and an era that are rapidly becoming more risky and uncertain on many levels. Solari’s mission and “actionable intelligence” increasingly focuses on helping people to inform and protect themselves, their families, and communities in the face of current and probable future risks.
For this reason, it is desirable that the candidate have a familiarity with and personal interest in the issues and subject areas covered by Solari and in the high-visibility CEO’s and hosts’ interviews, articles, and activities. These include: current developments in encryption systems, artificial intelligence, blockchain systems, digital currency, data privacy, food adulteration, pharmaceutical capture, alternative health care, local food systems, and alternative media.

We are seeking an individual who is competent, reliable, and trustworthy—a person who can balance a broad set of priorities and support the mission of the company with enthusiasm and loyalty.

This role will involve working with a small, multidisciplinary team currently located in locales from California to Florida to The Netherlands. Subscribers are located throughout the world. The majority are in North America, with significant numbers in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and a small number in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Our policy is family first. Our team members are balancing personal obligations with work flow, and each team member is expected to extend themselves when other team members need support or help covering tasks when unexpected personal demands arise. Because we are operating in a world that can seem high-friction, we appreciate frictionless teamwork. We try to compensate for our smallness with a love of learning, so that we can work together to unpack and figure out opportunities and needs outside of our immediate area of expertise.

Relevant experience, education, and formal and informal qualifications, to the extent they are indicative of the above-mentioned qualities, would be desirable.

How to Apply
Solari is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Resumes and references should be submitted to employment@solari.com.

Successful applicants will be required to supply references and submit to a background check.