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City of Vancouver

Manager, Desktop Services

City of Vancouver · Vancouver, BC

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  • On site
  • Full-time
  • CA$143,092 / year
  • Vancouver, BC

Job highlights

  • Lead desktop services strategy and operations for 6500 clients.
  • Manage operational and capital budgets totaling $7 million annually.
  • Oversee procurement, operation, and disposal of IT assets.
  • Develop and implement technology solutions for business objectives.
  • Manage and mentor a team of technical and administrative staff.

About the role

Manager, Desktop Services

Requisition ID: 45510 Organization Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents. Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace. Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication. Main Purpose and Function Provide strategic direction, execution and optimization of Desktop Services delivery of service for incidents and service requests. Implementation of technology solutions to support business unit strategy and business objectives. The manager makes recommendations and implements changes affecting operations for enterprise support systems such as SCCM and Service Now. Responsible for the activities related to the procurement, operation and disposal of personal computer assets, peripherals and software and the technical and administrative staff that support end users and devices. This includes project work not limited to lifecycle replacement of client hardware, office moves, software upgrades, compliance verification and remediation, software support and hardware support for all business units across the City. The manager utilizes strong relationships with other Technology Services (TS) teams and business teams to deliver incident and service request support. Decisions and strategies may have impacts on operational and capital budgets as well as changes in positions and staffing levels. The position reports to the Director of Infrastructure & Operations, managing a variety of Desktop Field Services Technicians and Desktop Field Services Specialists as well as administrative support staff and supervisors report to this position. This position is highly integrated with the Digital Workplace Services and the Service Desk teams as well as significant relationships with other TS service delivery teams such as Cybersecurity, Data Centre and Systems, Identify and Access Management, and Unified Communications. The manager participates in several internal boards to manage technology and changes that can impact clients including Change Advisory Board (CAB) and Workforce Standards Board (WfSB). The manager develops strategic plans and works with operations teams to implement and operationalize changes in policies, processes, and procedures. Specific Duties And Responsibilities
  • Strategy and planning development and execution for providing desktop services to 6500 clients across all business departments at the City of Vancouver.
  • Define and develop strategic plan for the Desktop Services team and collaborate with the Director of Infrastructure and Operations to ensure both strategic and tactical priorities are aligned to meet the organizational objectives.
  • Partner with business departments and Technology Services teams to ensure business priorities are adequately resourced and technology implementations align with Technology Services strategy and policy.
  • Participate in the research and assessment of new modern desktop hardware, and digital workplace technologies in conjunction with cities software stack and collaboration tools to improve productivity, user experience, and business outcomes.
  • Monitor industry trends and best practices to determine if the city would benefit from similar implementations. Where alignment with business strategy and priority exist, develop strategies to include in work plans.
  • Engage team members to support and buy in to service delivery expectations and improvements.
  • Analysis of trends and historic data to determine areas of improvement, developing and implementing improvement plans and verifying changes have had the desired effect. Particularly striving for consistent configurations across the fleet of devices and improving efficiency and sustainability of support.
  • Evaluation and improvement of support models for business unit specific hardware and software.
  • Developing strategies to improve management of devices using best practices in enterprise environments. Shaping and evolving the culture of the support organizations to have long term vision and perspective when implementing technical solutions.
  • Developing and maintaining synergy and collaboration with other organizations at the city which include Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Vancouver Public Library (VPL).
  • Administrative management functions for the team such as Personal Development Planning, Performance Reviews, time off management, time approval, hiring (onboard and off board), coaching, assigning and reviewing work, establishing training and personal development plans, setting goals and standards. Assisting with disciplinary matters up to and including termination.
  • Providing operational support to supervisors.
  • Managing operational budget of 2 million annually and capital budget of 5 million dollars.
  • Performance management for the team setting service level expectations and managing work intake and resources to achieve expected results.
  • Responsible for the asset lifecycle including setting standards, managing procurement processes, managing vendor relationships for supply chain, annual hardware replacement and renewal, disposal, configuration and standard setup.
  • Resource management for projects requiring technical assistance such as significant hardware and software changes, office moves, technology implementations.
  • Support for elected officials and the audio/visual (AV) hardware used for public meetings.
  • Responsible for use of core technologies used by the team such as standard processes and procedures in enterprise management systems (Service Now and SCCM for example).
  • Frequent review of standards and exceptions to standards such as manually installed software, local administration privileges and other technical implementations that are exceptions to established policy and guidelines.
  • Other duties/responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications Education and Experience:
  • Post secondary education of minimum two year diploma with additional management training or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
  • Management or supervisory experience of at least 3 years.
  • Class 5 drivers license and eligible to drive city vehicle or use ride sharing program.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
  • Thorough understanding of current Microsoft Operating Systems and infrastructure.
  • Active Directory.
  • Thorough understanding of network topology and supporting infrastructure: Switches, routers, cabling.
  • Thorough knowledge of personal computer hardware and peripherals: Desktop and laptop computers and internal components, Printers and other output technology, Monitors and other display technology, Docking stations and hubs, Other frequently used peripherals in an enterprise environment.
  • Vendor management experience for supply chain management of hardware, software and services.
  • Project and / or operational management experience for budgets exceeding 3 million dollars per year.
  • In-depth knowledge of City of Vancouver culture, policies, operations and procedures.
  • General understanding of municipal financial and budgeting practices.
  • Detailed knowledge of business practices in effect at other local and more senior governments, and in private industry.
  • Proven experience in process documentation, business process reviews, and reengineering techniques.
  • Thorough understanding of “modern desktop” and implementation of technology to support desktop computers in an enterprise environment.
  • High degree of analytical and critical thinking skills.
  • Experience in decision making with new business processes and operational improvements.
  • Superior research and organizational skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills and presentation skills.
  • The ability to think innovatively, solve complex problems and present solutions in clear and compelling terms.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with technical and non-technical staff.
  • Ability to manage change and assist people with adapting to change.
  • Ability to analyze and anticipate implications of system changes on work processes and procedures.
  • Ability to solve complex problems and build relationships.
  • Ability to work with senior levels of management, vendors, consultants and unions.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, large workloads and multi-task effectively.
  • High level of proficiency with PC applications and collaboration tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and motivate staff.
  • Ability to supervise a team of business consultants, coordinate with subject matter experts and network effectively.
Business Unit/Department: IT, Digital Strategy & 311 (1070) Affiliation: Exempt Employment Type: Regular Full Time Position Start Date: May, 2026 Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $114,465 to $143,092 per annum Application Close: April 12, 2026 At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Before you click Apply now Once you start your application you can save your work and leave the applications page, however please remember to submit your profile to the specific job requisition before the posting closing date. In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position. Key skills/competency
  • Desktop Services Strategy
  • Incident and Service Request Management
  • Technology Implementation
  • Enterprise Support Systems (SCCM, Service Now)
  • Asset Lifecycle Management
  • Budget Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Team Leadership and Development
  • Process Improvement and Reengineering
  • Change Management

Skills & topics

  • Manager
  • Desktop Services
  • IT Management
  • Technology Services
  • SCCM
  • Service Now
  • Asset Management
  • Budget Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Vancouver

How to get hired

  • Research the City of Vancouver: Understand their commitment to sustainability, reconciliation, equity, and quality of life.
  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in desktop services management, enterprise support systems (SCCM, Service Now), and budget oversight.
  • Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Express your interest and detail how your skills align with the strategic direction and team leadership requirements.
  • Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience in managing technical teams, implementing technology solutions, and handling vendor relationships.

Technical preparation

Master SCCM and Service Now for enterprise management.,Understand Microsoft OS, Active Directory, and network topology.,Familiarize with PC hardware and peripherals.,Review asset lifecycle and procurement processes.

Behavioral questions

Describe a strategic plan you developed and implemented.,How do you manage and motivate a technical team?,Give an example of improving a business process.,How do you handle vendor relationships and negotiations?

Frequently asked questions

What are the key responsibilities for the Manager, Desktop Services at the City of Vancouver?
The Manager, Desktop Services at the City of Vancouver is responsible for providing strategic direction and operational oversight for desktop services, managing a budget of $7 million annually, overseeing the IT asset lifecycle, and leading a team of technical and administrative staff. This includes implementing technology solutions, managing incidents and service requests, and collaborating with various city departments and Technology Services teams.
What qualifications are essential for the Manager, Desktop Services role?
Essential qualifications include a post-secondary education (minimum two-year diploma) with additional management training or equivalent experience, at least 3 years of management or supervisory experience, a Class 5 driver's license, and a thorough understanding of Microsoft Operating Systems, Active Directory, network topology, and PC hardware. Strong project/operational management experience and knowledge of enterprise management systems like SCCM and Service Now are crucial.
What is the salary range for the Manager, Desktop Services position at the City of Vancouver?
The salary range for the Manager, Desktop Services position is between $114,465 and $143,092 per annum, based on Pay Grade RNG-091.
How does the City of Vancouver support diversity and inclusion in its hiring process for the Manager, Desktop Services role?
The City of Vancouver is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and encourages applications from Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, and persons with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process.
What technologies are central to the Manager, Desktop Services role at the City of Vancouver?
Key technologies include Microsoft Operating Systems, Active Directory, network infrastructure (switches, routers, cabling), SCCM, and Service Now. Experience with modern desktop hardware, software deployment, and AV hardware for public meetings is also important.
What is the application deadline for the Manager, Desktop Services position?
The application deadline for the Manager, Desktop Services position is April 12, 2026.
What are the opportunities for career growth within the City of Vancouver for a Manager, Desktop Services?
The City of Vancouver offers a rewarding career in public service with opportunities for professional development and the chance to play a key role in ensuring equitable access to services and upholding ethical governance. This role provides strategic leadership and impacts organizational objectives.