Director Information Technology Infrastructure

About the role: We are seeking an experienced and innovative Director-IT Infra to lead our IT Infrastructure and IT Security teams. The ideal candidate will drive the management and strategic oversight of on premises datacenter assets, end user systems and on-cloud SaaS / PaaS / IaaS services with a focus on Microsoft and Open-Source technologies, while leading initiatives to transition workloads from current on-premises to hybrid cloud ecosystem. Leadership and Management:  Work closely with CTO to define a strategic direction for organization IT ecosystem and align them to business objectives; digital transformation initiatives and “Right-Fit” technology.  Formulate, strategize and implement IT and InfoSec policies aligning them to industry standards; best practices / guidelines and organization goals.  Managing vendor / service provider relationships and run periodic cost optimization through vendor / tool consolidation and timely AMC negotiations / renewals.  Develop and implement change management processes to ensure smooth transition and adoption of new technologies. Communicate changes to all stakeholders and provide necessary support during change.  Lead the IT Infra team and IT InfoSec teams. Foster an innovation driven, collaborative, ever learning and high-performance team environment. IT Infrastructure Management:  Lead initiatives to migrate on-premises workloads to Microsoft Azure and integrate Open Source tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Developing and executing strategies for the migration of data and applications to cloud-based infrastructure.  Manage on-premises servers using Microsoft Windows Server and Linux Ubuntu running on virtualization platforms like VMware ESXi and Linux KVM.  Ensure the reliability, availability. performance, security and high uptime of all IT assets, including hardware like Dell servers; HPE servers; SAN Data Storages; WAN / LAN Devices; EPABX systems etc.  Develop and implement maintenance schedules using tools like Microsoft System Center. Setting up, managing and monitoring organization's datacenter operations.  Oversee network architecture, connectivity uptime, and network performance using Cisco routers, switches, and other communication devices.  Setup IT Infrastructure Monitoring Tools to identify and resolve IT infrastructure problems before they can adversely affect critical business processes. Report to management team insight into the status of physical, virtual, and cloud systems and help ensure availability and performance. Security and Compliance:  Implement and manage security measures, including Next-Generation Firewalls; IDS / IPS; VPNs; Next-Generation Endpoint Security; DLP; IRM / EDRM; Web Proxy etc.  Conduct regular security assessments at server level and network level using tools like Nessus, Nmap etc. to assess security implementation and mitigate vulnerabilities.  Ensure compliance with security policies and procedures using SIEM solutions like Splunk and ensure zero data theft and data leakage.  Monitor and respond to security incidents with solutions like Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Open-Source tools such as Wazuh, OSSEC etc.  Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards, maintaining certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 27001, PCI DSS.  Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans based on best practices and industry standards using solutions such as Commvault, Borg, Veeam etc. Innovation and Improvement:  Identify opportunities for technological improvements and innovation with a focus on Microsoft / Open-Source solutions and build blueprints to transition from older technology leading to reduce TCO and enhanced systems experience.  Promote the adoption of emerging technologies and open-source tools to enhance business / IT operations.  Setup key IT processes and capture data touchpoints to evaluate IT Teams performance and OKRs. Build a culture of continuous improvement and service excellence.  Provide leadership to drive Infrastructure and Network Security maturity improvements across the organization, in line with the changing Threat Landscape, Regulatory and Compliance requirements etc.  Rewire the current processes, practices and disciplines for IT Service Management using ITIL principles aligning IT services with the needs of the business Experience:  At least 10-12 years of relevant experience in IT infrastructure management and information security.  Must have proven experience leading and managing complex hybrid IT teams.  Must have proven experience in leading initiatives to transition workloads from current on-premises to hybrid cloud ecosystem.  Must have proven experience in implementing and managing IT Security, Business Continuity Plans, Disaster Recovery Frameworks and Security Audits.  Must have technical proficiency and hands-on experience with Microsoft technologies (e.g., Windows Server, Azure Services, Microsoft 365, SharePoint etc.) and Open-Source technologies (e.g., Ubuntu Linux, KVM, Docker, Kubernetes etc.).  Experience in managing datacenter operations, network systems and virtualization environments.  Experience with IT process optimization and implementing change management processes.  Any relevant industry certifications like CISSP, CISM, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Red Hat Certified, Cisco Certified Network Professional etc. will be added advantage.  Experience working in large publication company, management consulting company or Tier 1 startups will be added advantage.