Pretoria: IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

An established organisation in the financial sector is seeking an experienced IT Infrastructure and Operations Manager to join their high‑performing team. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a strong communicator with proven leadership abilities and a design‑thinking mindset to drive innovation and operational excellence. Its an ideal environment for a seasoned professional looking to expand their influence and advance their career within a respected, forward‑thinking company. Formal Education: Bachelors Degree in Information Technology, Systems or Engineering or related field from an accredited institution is required; ITIL certification. Experience: 8-10 years relevant ICT experience in operations management. Previous experience of leading an operations management team within an IT capacity. Proven knowledge and experience of delivering technical support services. Demonstrated experience with IT systems and IT management as a senior level with a sequence of increasing responsibilities in large and diverse business settings. Experience in working through major organizational change . A track record of providing cloud infrastructure services to a geographically diverse and complex organisation. A track record of successful large project implementations . Demonstrated ability to work effectively with other managers to achieve key business and technology goals. Knowledge: Managerial abilities at senior level; High level negotiation skills; Project management Relevant regulatory knowledge; System Development Life cycle (SDLC); IT Architecture. Knowledge about joint standards within the financial sector. Skills: Communication, both verbal (e.g., presentations, seminars, etc.) and written (e.g., reports, articles, etc.); Design Thinking and Group session facilitation; Team leadership. Duties: Ensure policies and procedures are aligned to strategy, legislative, regulatory and internal requirements (including standards and best practice); Plan all aspects of infrastructure environment to optimally deliver service to the Group; Plan staff and resource requirements to deliver on agreed ICT strategy; Manage all infrastructure areas plan, implement, operate, monitor and measure according to the agreed standards and best practices selected; Conduct technology research related to Infrastructure to remain abreast of current developments and future trends; Managing the day to day operational and projects tasks within the IT Infrastructure team; Managing the organizations network infrastructure overseeing network security, ensuring that the network is stable and efficient, and minimizing downtime; Ensure that servers are properly maintained, secure, and optimized for performance; Responsible for managing changes to the IT environment. This includes evaluating new software and hardware, implementing upgrades, and ensuring that all changes are properly documented and tested; Responsible for managing data centers, including ensuring that data is stored securely, managing access, and minimizing the risk of data loss; Keep meticulous records of everything related to systems and processes to ensure consistency and reliability; Managing the IT Infrastructure staff by recruiting and training employees, communicating job expectations and monitoring performance; Overseeing the annual IT Infrastructure budget and ensuring cost effectiveness; Monitoring daily operations, including server hardware, software and operating systems; Coordinating technology installations, upgrades and maintenance; Selecting and recommending new and replacement hardware and software, when necessary; Testing, troubleshooting and modifying information systems so they operate effectively; Generating performance reports for operating systems and the Service Desk function; Ensuring all IT activities are performed within the parameters of applicable laws, codes and regulations; Evaluating technology risks in order to develop a robust disaster recovery plan and backup procedures; Keeping up to date with advances in technology and industry best practice; Demonstrating a deep technical and strategic understanding of the IT Services and Operations; Solving complex and diverse problems by continually re-evaluating new and/or conflicting factors; Managing internal and external communications and being the primary contact of escalation for business issues; Assisting with the management of relationships with external organisations and suppliers.Manage ICT equipment and license portfolio for utilisation, warranty, support and contract compliance; Create asset lifecycle plans for hardware and software; Ensure audit compliance; Implement ITSM, ITIL and other standards relevant to the job role; Discuss and agree Infrastructure elements of Service Level Agreement (SLA) with business; Manage and measure according to SLA; Report to CIO monthly on SLA achievement stats and exception; Create and oversee implementation of development plans for staff;