IT Operations Manager

About the Role

We are looking for a seasoned IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cybersecurity Manager to spearhead our organization’s IT operations and infrastructure ecosystem. This pivotal role is designed to ensure the delivery of secure, stable, and high-performing IT services while fostering operational excellence, resilience, and continuous enhancement across infrastructure and cybersecurity domains. The successful candidate will possess a unique blend of hands-on technical proficiency and strategic leadership, enabling them to drive governance, innovation, and reliability within our IT environment.

Key Responsibilities

The IT Operations Manager will oversee a comprehensive range of responsibilities, including:

IT Infrastructure & Platforms

• Enterprise Infrastructure Management: Oversee data centers, cloud, and hybrid environments to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance.
• Network & Connectivity: Manage networks, firewalls, VPNs, and connectivity services to guarantee secure and uninterrupted access.
• Server & Storage Solutions: Lead the administration of servers, storage systems, backup solutions, and disaster recovery frameworks to maintain data integrity and availability.
• Infrastructure Lifecycle: Drive end-of-life (EOL) and end-of-support (EOS) management, capacity planning, upgrades, and licensing to align with organizational needs.

IT Operations & Service Management

• ITIL/ITSM Leadership: Implement and enforce ITIL and ITSM best practices, including incident, problem, and change management, to enhance service delivery.
• Operational Discipline: Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and runbooks to ensure structured and consistent execution of IT operations.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor and improve operational performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as system availability (targeting ≥99.9%), mean time to repair (MTTR), and service reliability.
• Proactive Operations: Transition from reactive support models to proactive operations, minimizing downtime and enhancing user experience.

Cybersecurity Operations

• Security Governance: Manage day-to-day cybersecurity operations, including identity and access management (IAM), vulnerability management, and patching.
• Threat Monitoring & Response: Oversee security monitoring, incident response coordination, and endpoint security to mitigate cyber risks effectively.
• Compliance & Reporting: Provide regular updates on security posture, operational risks, and compliance status to stakeholders and leadership.

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

• Resilience Planning: Develop, maintain, and test disaster recovery (DR) plans and backup/restore strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Critical System Protection: Ensure the resilience of essential business systems, including ERP platforms, through rigorous DR testing and readiness assessments.

IT Projects & Vendor Management

• Project Delivery: Lead infrastructure and security-related projects, such as cloud migrations, network enhancements, and resilience initiatives, ensuring seamless transition into operations.
• Vendor Oversight: Manage relationships with cloud providers, telecom partners, and managed service providers (e.g., Security Operations Centers) to ensure adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) and enterprise standards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop the IT infrastructure, operations, and security team, fostering a culture of accountability, knowledge sharing, and operational discipline.
• Documentation & Risk Mitigation: Ensure comprehensive documentation and eliminate single points of failure to enhance operational reliability.

Qualifications & Experience

To qualify for this role, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Experience: 12–15 years in IT infrastructure, operations, or cybersecurity, with a minimum of 5 years in a managerial capacity.
• Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience in hybrid IT environments (on-premises and cloud) and a deep understanding of ITIL practices and enterprise IT operations.
• Cybersecurity Expertise: Proven experience in cybersecurity operations and the use of relevant tools and frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications: ITIL v4 certification and Azure certifications are highly desirable.
• Industry Experience: Prior experience in manufacturing or industrial environments is a plus.

Key Skills

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Leadership & Decision-Making: Strong ability to lead teams, make strategic decisions, and drive operational excellence.
• Process-Driven Mindset: A structured approach to IT operations and cybersecurity, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
• Problem-Solving & Incident Management: Exceptional analytical skills to resolve complex issues and manage incidents effectively.
• Business Alignment: The capacity to balance security, performance, and business objectives to support organizational goals.