Director of IT

DIRECTOR OF IT – INFRASTRUCTURE & OPERATIONS

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

A well-established, growing organization in the Buffalo area is seeking an experienced Director of IT to lead critical infrastructure and operations teams through a transformative period of growth and modernization. This newly expanded role encompasses strategic and operational leadership for Network Infrastructure and Service Desk. Reporting directly to senior IT leadership, this position offers the opportunity to lead initiatives around scalable cloud solutions, optimize enterprise infrastructure, and guide teams through major system migrations and acquisitions.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ideal candidate combines technical expertise in cloud infrastructure and networking with proven ability to lead through data-driven decision making, complex enterprise projects, and organizational change.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor 3 Manager-level direct reports, overseeing 30-40 networking and service desk team members
• Establish and monitor KPIs and performance metrics to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Build a high-performing culture focused on innovation, accountability, and customer service
• Develop succession planning and talent development strategies across all teams

Cloud Infrastructure & Modernization

• Drive enterprise-wide cloud infrastructure initiatives across multiple platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or similar)
• Architect scalable, cost-optimized cloud solutions to support business growth and digital transformation
• Lead infrastructure planning for upcoming migration to Cloud ERP platform
• Ensure infrastructure performance, reliability, and scalability to support expanding business operations

Network & Infrastructure Operations

• Oversee complex SD-WAN environment with distributed network equipment
• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction for multi-layered network segmentation and security architecture
• Manage infrastructure monitoring and analytics platforms for proactive issue resolution
• Lead infrastructure refresh cycles (every 3-5 years) ensuring minimal disruption and maximum ROI

Service Excellence

• Oversee well-established Service Desk operations maintaining high service levels
• Leverage existing strong management team while providing strategic direction and resources
• Ensure seamless coordination between Service Desk, Network, and other Infrastructure teams
• Drive service improvement initiatives based on data analytics and customer feedback

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Leadership & Management Experience

• 10+ years progressive IT leadership experience with minimum 3+ years at Director level or equivalent
• Proven track record managing large teams ideally including multiple layers of management
• Demonstrated success using data, metrics, and KPIs to drive team performance and business outcomes
• Experience leading teams through organizational change, mergers/acquisitions, or major system implementations

Technical Expertise

• Strong background in cloud infrastructure architecture  (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or other platforms)
• Deep networking expertise with ability to evaluate complex technical problems and solutions
• Understanding of SD-WAN, network segmentation, and enterprise security architectures
• Prior technical experience with networking technologies 
• Knowledge of AI tools/techniques that can maximize infrastructure efficiency

Business & Strategic Acumen

• Proven ability to align IT infrastructure strategy with business objectives
• Experience managing infrastructure budgets and driving cost optimization initiatives
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for business stakeholders

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field required