Systems Associate

Today, 67% of students and 82% of low-income students can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade. That’s when students are supposed to go from learning to read to reading to learn. It’s America’s number one education crisis and we know how to fix it.

Ignite Reading delivers one-to-one virtual tutoring that teaches every student the foundational skills they need to become a confident, fluent reader. We pair students who need extra support with expert reading tutors who provide daily, 15-minute, Science of Reading-based instruction that rapidly closes their decoding gaps. We focus on the foundational reading skills—phonics, phonemic awareness, and sight words—kids need to master so they can decode a sentence. Students in Ignite Reading’s program achieve over 2 weeks of reading skills growth per week of instruction, and notably all students achieve the same outstanding results including students with IEPs, multilingual learners, students of color and those receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

Ignite Reading is a mission-driven public benefit corporation. We believe we can do well for our team members and shareholders while we solve one of the nation’s biggest challenges. We believe we will be more successful with a diverse team and are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Your Role

Reporting to the Director, IT and Systems, the Systems Associate supports the day-to-day operation and administration of Ignite Reading’s internal technology and business systems. This role is responsible for independently completing routine IT, systems, and access requests through established workflows; providing frontline administration and support for HubSpot and other core business tools; and completing assigned security and compliance activities in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Systems Associate is expected to investigate issues, identify appropriate solutions, and carry assigned work through completion, escalating complex, sensitive, or policy-related matters as appropriate.

Support & Service

• Manage assigned requests through Ignite Reading’s internal help desk workflows, independently completing routine IT and systems requests from intake through resolution.

• Troubleshoot and resolve routine account, access, application, device, and systems issues across Ignite’s core tools.

• Research unfamiliar issues using available documentation, vendor resources, and other appropriate resources to identify and implement solutions.

• Communicate with requesters as needed, document work performed, and ensure requests are accurately resolved and closed.

• Escalate complex, sensitive, or policy-related issues to the Director, IT and Systems or appropriate external vendor after completing reasonable initial investigation and troubleshooting.

• Develop and maintain IT resources, guides, and documentation that improve staff self-service and consistency.

Go-To-Market Tool Support

• Provide frontline support for staff using HubSpot and connected tools including troubleshooting production issues and answering system questions.

• Assist with data hygiene, documentation, and process consistency to ensure our CRM HubSpot remains reliable and user-friendly.

• Triage incoming requests and escalate advanced cases to the appropriate department manager.

• Support user audits, permissions reviews, and other CRM security practices in partnership with IT & Systems leadership.

Systems Access & Administration

• Complete user lifecycle activities, including onboarding, offboarding, and access changes, through established workflows and procedures across Ignite’s systems.

• Provision, modify, and remove routine user accounts and permissions accurately and within established timelines.

• Maintain accurate systems records and documentation to support IT, HR, security, and compliance requirements.

• Conduct recurring reviews of permissions, access levels, and system configurations using established procedures.

• Complete assigned security and compliance activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Identify and escalate exceptions, potential policy violations, security concerns, or requests requiring additional approval to IT & Systems leadership.

Knowledge & Training

• Develop and update documentation, guides, and quick-reference resources to support staff adoption and self-service.

• Provide training touchpoints during onboarding and refresher sessions as needed.

• Maintain assigned IT & Systems documentation and internal knowledge resources, ensuring information remains accurate and current.

Process Improvement & Organizational Support

• Execute assigned work within IT & Systems projects that improve efficiency, security, compliance, and user experience.

• Implement small-scale workflow enhancements and automations in collaboration with IT & Systems leadership and relevant business owners.

• Identify opportunities to improve recurring support processes, documentation, and workflows and recommend solutions to IT & Systems leadership.

• Support evolving operational priorities across IT & Systems as Ignite’s tools, systems, and organizational needs change.

Competencies

• 1-3 years of experience in IT support, systems administration, or related roles; CompTIA A+ certification strongly preferred

• Experience with Google Workspace and Google Admin Console required

• Experience with HubSpot CRM across multiple Hubs, including Marketing, Sales, Service and Data (formerly Operations)

• Support-oriented, with practical experience in navigating and enhancing new systems and processes

• Previous experience in a start-up or hyper-growth environment preferred

• Enthusiastic personality with superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills

• Exceptional attention to detail, impeccable organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects

• A willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done while balancing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands

• Ability to be disciplined yet flexible while working in a remote environment

Preferred AI Skillset:

• Reduce manual hours by leveraging leading AI Models to identify, prioritize, and automate repetitive tasks across systems and workflows — freeing capacity for higher-impact initiatives.

• Explore generative AI use cases within HubSpot (e.g., chat-based workflow creation, AI reporting insights, and content assistant tools) to accelerate workflow design, reporting, and knowledge management.

• Implement AI-assisted data hygiene processes to detect duplicates, fill missing properties, and maintain CRM integrity through automated review or enrichment models.

• Build out micro learning to help foster meaningful and effective AI Tool usage, including personalized skills, team skills, projects, etc.

Compensation & Benefits

At Ignite Reading, we embrace transparent compensation for a few reasons: to promote fairness and equity, to reduce pay discrimination based on gender, race, or negotiation skill, and to build trust within our team. The same role receives the same compensation — no negotiation.

Salary: $70,000

We also ensure you have the tools you need to thrive both in and out of work.

📈 Employee Stock Options - we want our success to be yours too

🩺 Medical, Dental, and Vision plans to support you and your well-being (80% employee coverage, 70% dependent coverage)

🏥 Short-term Disability (100% employer paid)

🏦 401(k) retirement plans with company contribution

👶 12-weeks paid parental leave

🌴 Unlimited vacation days (+ 12 paid holidays)

💻 Technology Stipend

🧘 Wellness Stipend

🛟 Voluntary Life Insurance

👩‍💻 Professional Development Stipend

We believe in building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all applicants are considered for employment without attention to color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often don't apply for roles if they don't meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting significantly fewer requirements. We strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested!

We are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a virtual organization with headquarters in the California Bay Area.