As part of the IT Infrastructure & Cloud team, the IT Lead Cloud Expert will play a critical role in driving our cloud strategy, optimizing our Azure footprint, and ensuring stable, secure, and cost-efficient cloud operations across all regions, including on-ground collaboration with country IT teams. This role supports both day-to-day operational stability and long-term modernization initiatives, ensuring our cloud and hybrid environments are aligned with business requirements, especially high-availability workloads and real-time platforms.
Key Responsibilities
Cloud Architecture & Engineering
- Design and enhance the Azure landing zones used across the business.
- Implement cloud architectures that align with infrastructure standards, security policies, and operational practices used by the team.
- Modernize existing infrastructure by consolidating VMs, shifting workloads to PaaS, and improving performance.
- Lead the setup, governance, and support of Microsoft Fabric in collaboration with analytics and platform teams.
- Support early-stage adoption and enablement of Azure AI Foundry to build and deploy AI-driven solutions where relevant.
Cloud Operations, Optimization & Cost Management
- Act as the point of expertise for Azure operations within the infrastructure team.
- Manage and optimize Azure costs, including budgeting, forecasting, tagging, and alert configuration.
- Drive VM consolidation initiatives across environments to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
- Monitor health, capacity, and performance of cloud workloads to ensure business continuity and operational resilience.
- Support the team during incident management, major outages, and escalations involving cloud components.
Governance, Security & Compliance
- Work closely with Information Security to apply cloud security standards across regions.
- Work closely with application and network teams to ensure aligned delivery and smooth project execution.
- Conduct regular assessments of cloud posture, identity configurations (Entra ID), and RBAC structure.
- Apply proven best practices learned from previous engagements and ensure consistency across environments.
- Support audit, compliance, and policy enforcement efforts related to cloud and hybrid infrastructure.
Integration & API Ecosystem Management
- Support the enablement of secure and scalable API connectivity with internal systems and third-party partners.
- Ensure the API ecosystem integrates smoothly with existing infrastructure and follows governance controls.
- Collaborate with application teams on API-centric initiatives requiring infrastructure or cloud support.
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage Azure and cloud vendor relationships, including CSP partners.
- Participate in reviewing and evaluating new cloud tools, platforms, and services, including AI and analytics capabilities.
- Provide informed cloud insights to business stakeholders around scalability, cost, and operational readiness.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or similar field.
- 610+ years of experience in infrastructure with 4+ years specifically in cloud engineering/architecture.
- Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure, including cost management, governance, and VM optimization.
- Experience with Microsoft Fabric setup and administration.
- Understanding of Azure AI Foundry and how to support building and deploying AI-driven solutions.
- Deep understanding of hybrid environments, identity management, and network integrations.
- Practical experience supporting country IT and distributed environments.
- Knowledge of API lifecycle, secure integrations, and platform connectivity.
- Azure certifications preferred.
Key Skills
- Excellent troubleshooting skills across cloud, network, and hybrid layers.
- Strong cost awareness and ability to optimize cloud spend without affecting performance.
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with applications, security, and regional IT teams.
- Proactive, structured, and able to operate effectively in a high-demand environment.
