Azzure Cloud Operations Manager

Location: Onsite in Memphis, TN; Maryville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Lafayette, LA; New Orleans, LA; Charlotte, NC; Raleigh, NC or Dallas, TX. 

Summary:

The Cloud Operations Manager role is a critical position responsible for overseeing the deployment, maintenance, and optimization of cloud infrastructure and services. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and leadership skills to manage cloud operations effectively while ensuring high availability and performance of applications. The successful candidate will work closely with cross-functional teams to drive cloud strategy and innovation while adhering to best practices in security and compliance.

Responsibilities:

· Cloud Strategy Development: Develop and execute a comprehensive cloud strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals. This includes evaluating cloud service providers and determining the optimal architecture for applications. The strategy should also focus on cost management and scalability.

· Infrastructure Management: Manage the cloud infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and reliability. This involves monitoring resources, scaling services as needed, and troubleshooting issues that arise. Regular audits and assessments will help maintain infrastructure integrity. · Team Leadership Skills: Lead and mentor a team of cloud engineers and operations staff. Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the team. Provide guidance on best practices and encourage professional development opportunities.

· Incident Response: Develop and implement incident response strategies to address outages and service disruptions effectively. Ensure that incidents are documented and analyzed to prevent future occurrences. A robust communication plan is essential during incidents to keep stakeholders informed.

· Cost Optimization: Monitor cloud spending and implement strategies to optimize costs without sacrificing performance. Utilize tools and analytics to identify areas for savings and improve resource utilization. Regularly review cloud usage patterns to inform budgeting decisions.

· Security Compliance: Ensure that cloud operations comply with industry standards and regulatory requirements. This includes implementing security best practices and conducting regular security audits. Maintain documentation related to compliance and incident response for audits.

· Collaboration with Development Teams: Work closely with development teams to support CI/CD pipelines and application deployment in the cloud. Ensure that systems are designed for scalability and reliability from the onset. Facilitate communication between operations and development for improved efficiency.

· Performance Monitoring: Implement and manage performance monitoring tools to track the health of cloud services. Analyze metrics and logs to identify performance bottlenecks and address them proactively. Regular reporting on performance to stakeholders is essential.

· Disaster Recovery Planning: Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity. Conduct regular testing of recovery plans to validate their effectiveness. This process should include documentation and training for relevant staff.

· Vendor Management: Manage relationships with cloud service providers and third-party vendors. Negotiate contracts and ensure that service level agreements (SLAs) are met consistently. Regular reviews of vendor performance will help identify opportunities for improvement.

· Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Create and maintain documentation related to cloud operations, processes, and best practices. Facilitate knowledge sharing sessions within the team to enhance collective expertise. This documentation is crucial for onboarding new team members and maintaining operational continuity.

· Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Stay abreast of emerging cloud technologies and industry trends. Propose improvements and innovative solutions to enhance cloud services and operations. Encourage a culture of experimentation and learning within the team.

Requirements:

· Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

· Experience: Minimum of 7+ years of experience in Azure administration or a similar role.

· Leadership Experience: Proven leadership skills with experience managing and developing technical teams. Ability to inspire and motivate team members while driving performance. Excellent interpersonal skills are crucial for team dynamics

Skills:

· Expertise in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools such as Kubernetes is also important. A solid understanding of networking concepts and protocols is beneficial.

· Knowledge of automation tools and scripting languages such as Python or Bash. Experience in automating cloud deployment and operations processes is crucial. Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like CrossPlane/Terraform is beneficial.

· Familiarity with cloud security best practices and compliance standards. Experience with security tools and frameworks is essential. Understanding of identity and access management (IAM) is beneficial.

· Experience in developing disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Ability to conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies. Familiarity with disaster recovery tools and practices is valuable.

· Experience in cloud cost management and budget forecasting. Ability to analyze cloud usage data and develop strategies for cost optimization. Familiarity with Azure Cost Management is advantageous.

· Strong analytical skills with a knack for troubleshooting complex problems. Ability to think critically and develop effective solutions quickly. A proactive approach to identifying and mitigating issues is essential.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Ability to present technical concepts in an understandable manner. Strong documentation skills are also necessary.

· Strong communication and collaboration abilities.

About Us:       

First Horizon is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. With $81.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2023, we serve clients through a team of approximately ~7,300 associates and ~418 banking centers throughout the southeastern United States. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation’s best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank.       

Benefit Highlights:       

• Medical with wellness incentives, dental, and vision 
• HSA with company match 
• Maternity and parental leave 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Mentor program 
• 401(k) with 6% match 
• More -- FirstHorizon.com/First-Horizon-National-Corporation/Careers/Our-Benefits

Corporate Diversity Commitment:        

We remain committed to creating a more equitable society, and that starts with our associates, our clients, and the communities we serve. We do this by elevating equity, providing capital and counsel, and committing to excellence in everything we do.       

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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)