Head of Infrastructure

We're looking for a Head of Infrastructure to lead and modernise the UK/EU infrastructure estate across Azure cloud, on prem data centre, networks, collaboration and core platforms. You'll drive the cloud migration waves, refine UK/EU cloud strategy, and embed modern practices-Infrastructure as Code, DevOps enablement, automation and AI-assisted operations

You will be accountable for operational excellence and strategic evolution of the UK/EU infrastructure estate across cloud (Azure), on prem data centre, office infrastructure, networks, collaboration platforms, storage, backups, and end-user connectivity and more.

This role leads day-to-day operations while driving transformation-most notably the Azure cloud migration programme and the review/refinement of UK/EU cloud strategy-and ensures the infrastructure function is future-ready through automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), DevOps enablement, and intelligent operations (AIOps/AI-driven monitoring and maintenance).

The role holder is a leader first: developing a high-performing team, aligning with global peers

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Infrastructure Operations & Service Reliability (Run)

• Own and continuously improve the reliability, availability, performance, and security of the UK/EU infrastructure estate.
• Lead operational management across:
• On prem data centre services (compute, storage, virtualisation, power/cooling/vendor support, capacity)
• Office infrastructure and connectivity (LAN/WAN/Wi Fi, site resilience, meeting room tech as applicable)
• Network services including routing/switching, segmentation, and secure connectivity
• Perimeter and security appliances, including Palo Alto firewalls and Cisco network capabilities
• Microsoft Exchange (as applicable-hybrid or legacy) and collaboration dependencies
• UCaaS / voice / conferencing platforms and related integrations
• Backups, disaster recovery, and business continuity
• Storage platforms and data protection controls
• Establish and run effective operational practices:
• Incident, problem and change management (modern ITSM/ITIL-aligned)
• Capacity, availability, and performance management

Cloud Migration Programme Leadership (Change / Transform)

• Lead UK/EU infrastructure contribution to the Cloud Migration project, partnering with global architecture, infrastructure and information security.
• Coordinate and deliver:
• Azure migration waves (planning, dependencies, readiness, cutover governance)
• Workload assessments (technical fit, complexity, risk, data sensitivity, cost and performance considerations)
• Transitional and target-state architectures (hybrid designs, landing zones, identity/networking patterns)
• DevOps capabilities setup and enablement (pipelines, environments, deployment standards, release governance)
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and repeatable patterns to reduce risk and improve time-to-deliver.

Modern Infrastructure Practices: Automation, AIOps & AI-Assisted Operations

• Identify and deliver opportunities where automation and AI improve operational efficiency and service reliability, including:
• Hardware and platform performance monitoring (predictive alerts, capacity forecasting, anomaly detection)
• Operating system and platform health (patch compliance, drift detection, configuration baselines)
• Event correlation and incident reduction via AIOps practices (noise reduction, root-cause acceleration)
• Build a roadmap for self-healing capabilities (automated remediation), automated testing, and policy-as-code controls.
• Champion shift-left operational quality-standard patterns, automation-first delivery, and measurable service SLOs/SLAs.

Strategy, Roadmap & What's Next

• Review, refine, and drive the UK/EU Cloud Strategy aligned with global direction and local business needs.
• Maintain a rolling infrastructure roadmap balancing security, reliability, cost optimisation, and transformation.
• Be future-focused-evaluate emerging infrastructure directions such as:
• Green IT / sustainable infrastructure (energy-aware choices, hardware lifecycle optimisation, cloud carbon considerations)
• Modern security patterns (Zero Trust alignment, segmentation, identity-first design)
• Ensure standards remain current as technology and regulatory expectations evolve.

Vendor Management, Commercials & Lifecycle Governance

• Own relationships with strategic infrastructure partners and suppliers; manage service performance and escalations.
• Maintain governance of the hardware and software estate to ensure:
• No critical component falls out of support, maintenance, or into end-of-life/end-of-support
• Asset, configuration and dependency information remains accurate and useful
• Support or lead commercial/contract negotiations in the infrastructure space (renewals, RFPs, value realisation, service credits, risk management).

People Leadership & Organisational Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the infrastructure team to be fit for today and tomorrow.
• Build a scalable operating model to support projected company growth:
• Role clarity and skills development (cloud, automation, security, SRE-like practices)
• Performance management, objectives, feedback cycles, and succession planning
• Healthy team culture across onshore and offshore resources, operating as one team
• Ensure strong stakeholder engagement and effective communication across IT and the business.

Cross-Functional Alignment (Global & Regional)

• Align with global and regional peers across Architecture, Infrastructure, and Information Security.
• Partner with the Project Management Office on project intake, resource availability, project sizing and Project Managers as assigned.
• Ensure consistent implementation of global patterns while reflecting UK/EU requirements and constraints.
• Contribute to enterprise-wide standards, reference architectures, and governance forums.

Key Deliverables (What Success Looks Like)

Within the first 6-12 months, the role holder is expected to deliver outcomes such as:

• A clear UK/EU infrastructure roadmap aligned to cloud strategy and growth plans
• Improved operational maturity (reduced recurring incidents, stronger change success rate, improved monitoring/alerting quality)
• Tangible automation/IaC adoption opportunities (repeatable deployments, reduced manual effort, improved compliance)
• Progressed Azure migration waves with strong governance and stakeholder confidence
• Robust lifecycle management with visible tracking of EOL/EOS risks and timely remediation plans
• A strengthened, scalable team operating effectively across onshore/offshore delivery

Must-Have Technical Experience

• Deep Microsoft Azure experience in infrastructure/platform delivery and operations, including:
• Networking (VNets, routing, connectivity patterns, hybrid connectivity)
• Identity and access (Entra ID/Azure AD concepts, role-based access, IAM)
• Governance (policies, cost controls, landing-zone principles)
• Monitoring/operations and reliability approaches
• Proven experience leading/owning cloud migration programmes (wave planning, workload assessments, cutovers, transitional architecture)
• Strong Infrastructure as Code (IaC) capability and associated practices (version control, review, reusability)
• Knowledge of modern infra tooling and practices such as DevOps enablement, CI/CD for infra, configuration management, and observability
• Broad infrastructure knowledge across:
• Data centre operations, virtualisation, storage, and backup/recovery
• Office/network infrastructure and service management
• Collaboration/communication platforms (including Exchange and UCaaS dependencies)
• Network/security infrastructure experience including Palo Alto firewalls and Cisco technologies (routing/switching/WAN)

Must-Have Leadership & Delivery Experience

• Demonstrable people management experience: coaching, supervision, performance management, team evolution and capability building
• Strong project and delivery management skills (planning, RAID, stakeholder management, governance)
• Proven ability to manage vendors/partners and drive outcomes via third parties
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills-able to communicate clearly from engineers to executives

Desirable / Advantageous

• Experience implementing or operating AIOps / AI-assisted infrastructure operations
• Experience with SRE-style practices (SLOs, error budgets, reliability engineering, blameless postmortems)
• Exposure to modern security frameworks (Zero Trust principles, vulnerability management automation)
• Formal IT service management exposure (ITIL or equivalent) and strong operational governance mindset
• Sustainability/Green IT initiatives experience (lifecycle optimisation, energy-aware infrastructure decisions), * Bachelor's degree (or equivalent practical experience) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related discipline
• Relevant certifications (desirable): Azure (Administrator/Architect), Security, Networking, ITIL, Agile/Project Management

Competencies & Behaviours

• Leadership & Accountability: takes ownership, sets direction, builds trust
• Modern Engineering Mindset: automation-first, measurable outcomes, quality and repeatability
• Strategic Thinking: balances run excellence with transformation and innovation

Performance Measures (Indicative)

• Service availability/reliability; reduction in recurring incidents
• Change success rate; operational risk reduction
• Progress against cloud migration waves and roadmap milestones
• Automation/IaC adoption metrics; reduction in manual toil
• Lifecycle compliance (EOL/EOS exposure reduced); audit readiness