We are looking for a proactive and experienced Operations and Infrastructure Team Leader with a solid technical background in Linux or Windows systems, VMWare, and a passion for transitioning teams to cloud environments, DevOps, and automation. In this role, you will manage a small team, ensuring effective day-to-day operations while driving strategic projects in cloud migration and infrastructure automation. You'll use your leadership skills to mentor and develop team members through appraisals, hands-on guidance, and collaborative planning.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a small team of operations and infrastructure specialists, conducting regular staff appraisals and fostering an environment of continuous growth and improvement.
• Infrastructure Management: Oversee the management and support of on-premises infrastructure, including Linux or Windows environments and VMWare virtualisation platforms, ensuring reliability, security, and performance.
• Cloud Transition: Lead the team in transitioning to cloud platforms, working to adopt scalable, resilient, and secure cloud solutions that support the company's business goals.
• DevOps and Automation: Drive the adoption of DevOps methodologies and tools, including automation frameworks such as Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, or Chef, to enhance infrastructure management and configuration.
• Kubernetes and Containerisation: Support the team in implementing Kubernetes and containerisation for streamlined application deployment and scaling, improving overall efficiency.
• Operational Planning: Develop and implement strategic plans for infrastructure improvements and automation initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Performance Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Oversee the monitoring and resolution of operational issues, maintaining uptime and reliability while ensuring rapid incident response and root-cause analysis.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with other departments, including software development and security, to align infrastructure operations with the broader organisational strategy.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement best practices for operations, infrastructure management, and DevOps adoption, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven experience in a technical leadership role within operations or infrastructure, ideally leading a small team.
• Strong background in either Linux or Windows server environments, with hands-on experience in VMWare virtualisation.
• Demonstrated experience in transitioning on-premises infrastructure to cloud solutions, preferably AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and automation tools (eg, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef).
• Experience with Kubernetes and containerisation for modern infrastructure management.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a proven record of mentoring team members and conducting effective appraisals.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset.

Preferred Skills:

• Certification in cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP) or DevOps methodologies.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and related tools (eg, Jenkins, GitLab).
• Knowledge of ITIL or similar operational frameworks.