Director of Cloud Strategy and Operations

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cloud Platform Strategy and Vision:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the design, deployment, and ongoing optimization of the organization’s cloud platforms.
• Ensure the cloud environment aligns with long-term business goals and IT objectives.

Cloud Architecture and Design:

• Oversee the architecture and design of cloud infrastructure, ensuring that the platform is robust, scalable, and capable of supporting business-critical applications.
• Lead the effort to build cloud-native solutions that can scale with the growth of the organization.

Platform Management and Optimization:

• Manage and optimize the cloud platform to ensure high availability, security, performance, and cost efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement and optimization initiatives across cloud services and resources.

Cloud Operations and Governance:

• Establish best practices and governance frameworks for cloud platform management, including security, compliance, monitoring, and disaster recovery.
• Ensure platforms adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of cloud engineers, architects, and platform specialists.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.

Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:

• Work closely with engineering, security, data, and other technical teams to ensure seamless integration of cloud platforms with other IT systems and applications.
• Ensure that platforms support DevOps processes, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and microservices.

Cloud Vendor Management:

• Manage relationships with cloud service providers (e.g., AWS, Microsoft Azure) and third-party vendors.
• Negotiate contracts, manage SLAs, and ensure platform performance meets agreed-upon standards.

Budget and Cost Management:

• Oversee the financial management of cloud platforms, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization.
• Implement strategies to reduce cloud spend while maintaining performance and reliability.

Innovation and Future Planning:

• Stay current with emerging cloud technologies and industry trends.
• Provide thought leadership on new tools, practices, and capabilities that could enhance the platform’s capabilities and contribute to business success.

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field. Advanced certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure certifications) or a Master’s degree are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in IT, with at least 10 years in a leadership role focusing on cloud platform management or infrastructure.
• Proven experience designing, deploying, and managing large-scale cloud platforms.
• Expertise with major cloud service providers (AWS and Microsoft Azure Cloud Platform).
• Strong background in cloud architecture, cloud-native applications, microservices, containerization (e.g., Kubernetes), and DevOps practices.
• Experience in managing cloud costs and cloud performance optimization.
• Experience working in an Agile environment and managing cross-functional teams.
• Deep technical expertise in cloud computing platforms, architecture, and infrastructure management.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to manage and mentor diverse teams.
• Strong project management abilities, with a focus on delivering complex cloud initiatives on time and within budget.
• Expertise in cloud security best practices, risk management, and compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to align cloud technology with business needs and objectives.