IT Director

Role: Director of IT - Infrastructure & End User Support

Work Location: Houston (hybrid) - Galleria area

Number of Positions: 1

Type: Fulltime

Industry: Service industry

Summary:

We are seeking a Director of IT to drive the network infrastructure, service desk, and cloud operations that support the mission of the organization. The Director of IT is foundational in selecting and implementing new technologies that advance our cloud-first approach.

Leading a team of two direct reports - a Service Desk Manager and an IT Infrastructure Manager - and 11 indirect reports, this position requires a hands-on technical leader who owns the delivery of an excellent support experience and can develop a team of best-in-class talent.

Key Responsibilities:
•Responsible for supporting the internal/external system infrastructure of 80+ national locations, Cloud Data Center, business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
•Ensures the creation, support and optimization of key IT infrastructure areas including network infrastructure, server and virtual environments, cloud services, telecommunications, and operating systems.
•Introduces innovative, differentiating infrastructure and operations capabilities that enhance our overall competitive advantage and enhance employee productivity.
•Responsible for the design, implementation and upgrades of all infrastructure components including servers, firewalls, VPNs, PCs, phone systems, messaging, and voice and data circuits.
•Serve as Subject Matter Expert on cybersecurity and compliance. Make recommendations and ensure conformance with all security and compliance initiatives - audits, gap analysis, pen testing, controls, PCI, CCPA, Third Party Risk Management, and incident response.
•Build and develop a high-performing IT team, providing mentorship, training, and career development opportunities.
•Develop and manage KPIs for the Infrastructure and Service Desk teams to drive continuous improvement.
•Manages the strategic planning and development of IT-related initiatives and project plans relating to technologies, systems, information specifications, schedules, funding, and staffing. Project management responsibilities include:

o Partners with the development team to develop their DevSecOps processes.

o Supports business acquisition due diligence and integration efforts

o Manage vendors and support our outsourced model - MSP, Microsoft, security, remote hands, MDR, threat management, etc.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in a senior IT leadership role
• 5+ years' experience with Azure or similar cloud architecture - IaaS, PaaS, SaaS.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with IDS, Active Directory, Windows servers, firewalls, telephony, endpoint detection and response, PowerShell, and SIEM systems.
• Practical knowledge of cloud shared responsibility model and security best practices.
• Strong knowledge of cloud foundations including Virtual Machines, Azure Active Directory, Entra, Azure Site Recovery, IaC (Infrastructure as Code), containers, function and logic apps, Storage, VNETs, and Compute.
• Strong knowledge on Azure security, privacy, compliance, and trust services. Excellent organizational and leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills and a strong attention to detail
• Available to respond to critical issues arising during non-business hours

Preferred:
•Bachelor's Degree highly preferred
•Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Azure, and/or related certifications highly preferred

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