IT Director Operations

Freelance Assignment: Director IT Operations
About the Organisation
Join a dynamic, pan-European distribution company with:
* €5+ billion in annual turnover
* 10,000+ employees
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Role Overview
Reporting directly to the CIO, this role is responsible for defining, implementing, and managing the group-wide IT operations strategy, with a focus on:
* High availability, performance, and scalability
* Strong security and compliance posture
* Driving operational excellence and harmonization across the enterprise
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Key Focus Areas
* Unifying cloud and on-premise infrastructure (MS Azure & local data centers)
* Enhancing service delivery through automation and modern tooling
* Collaborating with country IT leads and business stakeholders to support growth and agility
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Core Responsibilities
IT Operations Strategy & Leadership
* Develop and execute IT operations strategy aligned with business and digital goals
* Lead infrastructure standardization and operational consolidation
* Ensure excellence in business continuity and IT service delivery
* Act as a key partner to the CDIO and country IT leaders
Infrastructure & Cloud Operations
* Oversee Azure cloud and on-prem environments across Europe
* Guide migration and modernization initiatives
* Implement hybrid cloud best practices around governance, security, and cost control
* Ensure robust monitoring and proactive resolution mechanisms
ITSM & Operational Excellence
* Standardize ITIL-based support processes (incident, change, problem management)
* Define and track SLAs and KPIs to ensure reliable service
* Accelerate adoption of AIOps, FinOps, and self-service automation
* Ensure high system availability and responsive support models
Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance
* Maintain compliance with GDPR and relevant cybersecurity standards
* Collaborate with the CISO to implement a zero-trust model
* Lead disaster recovery and business continuity planning
* Enforce vulnerability management and patching compliance
Budget & Vendor Oversight
* Manage IT operations budget with a focus on TCO
* Lead vendor selection and contract negotiations in coordination with CDIO and investors
* Optimize licensing, procurement, and cloud resource allocation
Stakeholder Collaboration
* Work closely with country IT and digital leaders
* Drive cross-functional modernization and automation programs
* Provide strategic input on emerging infrastructure trends and technologies
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Candidate Profile
Technical & Strategic Expertise
* 5+ years in IT infrastructure/operations leadership in international settings
* Experience with MS Azure, hybrid cloud, and infrastructure consolidation
* Knowledge of IT security frameworks, automation, and network architecture
* Familiarity with ITIL, DevOps, and AIOps-driven operations
Leadership & Business Acumen
* Skilled in leading technical teams and promoting high-performance culture
* Demonstrated ability to drive operational efficiency across diverse environments
* Strong financial and commercial understanding of IT operations and vendor contracts
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Contract Details
* Freelance interim role at group level
* Immediate availability preferred
* Based within a pan-European distribution context, high visibility to executive stakeholders
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Interested?
Please respond with your CV as soon as possible to be considered for this impactful leadership assignment.

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