IT Operations Director

About the Role

The IT Operations Director is a pivotal leadership position responsible for overseeing and optimizing the organization’s IT infrastructure, network operations, and operational support functions. This role ensures the seamless delivery of high-availability, secure, scalable, and high-performance IT services that align with business objectives, regulatory standards, and cybersecurity requirements. The IT Operations Director will lead a team of professionals in managing data centers, cloud platforms, enterprise networks, end-user infrastructure, and business continuity operations, driving operational excellence and infrastructure transformation across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

The IT Operations Director will be accountable for the following core responsibilities:

• IT Infrastructure & Operations Leadership:
  • Lead and manage IT infrastructure and network operations teams to ensure optimal performance and alignment with business goals.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive IT infrastructure and operations strategies that support enterprise objectives.
  • Oversee the management and performance of data centers (both on-premise and colocation), cloud environments (including Azure, AWS, and hybrid platforms), enterprise networks (LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, and SD-WAN), servers, storage, virtualization, backup systems, and end-user computing environments.
  • Ensure high availability, resilience, scalability, and performance of all IT systems and services through proactive monitoring and strategic planning.
  • Establish and monitor operational KPIs, including system uptime, incident resolution times, and capacity utilization, to drive continuous improvement.
• Service Management & Operational Excellence:
  • Ensure 24/7 operational support and business continuity across critical systems and infrastructure, minimizing downtime and maximizing service reliability.
  • Align IT operations with ITIL best practices to enhance service delivery, including Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, Capacity Management, and Availability Management.
  • Lead root cause analysis (RCA) initiatives and drive continuous service improvement programs to enhance operational efficiency and service quality.
  • Champion automation initiatives across monitoring, patch management, provisioning, and infrastructure operations to streamline processes and reduce manual intervention.
• Cloud, Security & Compliance Oversight:
  • Lead cloud transformation and hybrid infrastructure initiatives, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance across multi-cloud environments.
  • Ensure compliance with cybersecurity frameworks, regulatory requirements, and internal IT governance standards to mitigate risks and protect organizational assets.
  • Collaborate closely with cybersecurity teams to manage vulnerability assessments, implement network security controls, and enhance security monitoring and incident response capabilities.
  • Oversee disaster recovery, backup, and business continuity planning, including regular testing and validation to ensure organizational resilience in the event of disruptions.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Management:
  • Manage relationships with infrastructure vendors, telecom providers, and managed service partners to ensure SLA compliance and optimize service delivery performance.
  • Collaborate with IT service management, application development, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders to support operational objectives and align IT services with business needs.
  • Provide executive-level reporting on service performance, operational risks, incidents, and infrastructure capacity to inform strategic decision-making.
• Financial & Strategic Management:
  • Develop and manage IT operations budgets, including forecasting and cost optimization initiatives to ensure efficient resource allocation.
  • Support long-term IT infrastructure planning and modernization strategies to future-proof the organization’s technology landscape.
  • Contribute to enterprise technology roadmaps and operational transformation initiatives to drive innovation and competitive advantage.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 12+ years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure and operations.
• Minimum of 5+ years in leadership or management roles, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence and strategic initiatives.
• Extensive experience in managing data center and cloud infrastructure, enterprise networking, IT operations, and service management.
• Hands-on experience with disaster recovery and business continuity planning, as well as infrastructure transformation initiatives.

Technical Expertise

• Strong knowledge of virtualization platforms such as VMware and Hyper-V.
• Proficiency in cloud technologies, including Azure and AWS, with experience in hybrid cloud environments.
• Expertise in enterprise networking, including routing, switching, firewalls, and SD-WAN solutions.
• Experience with backup and recovery solutions, such as Veeam, to ensure data integrity and availability.
• Familiarity with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions and infrastructure monitoring and management tools, including SolarWinds and SIEM platforms.
• Deep understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices to safeguard organizational assets.