The role now
The head of infrastructure and operations runs the platforms everything else depends on: cloud and data centres, networks, end-user technology, service management and the operations team. Resilience and recovery are now central to the job, not a side duty.
Most roles now combine running what exists with moving it: cloud migration, consolidating vendors, and automating operations.
Hiring a Head of Infrastructure and Operations: settle these first
Run, change, or both?
Be clear whether the priority is stability, a migration, or cost. Candidates who are strong at large migrations are not always the ones you want running steady-state operations.
How much is outsourced?
Managing managed-service providers well is its own skill. Say how much of the estate sits with vendors.
Which obligations apply?
Operational resilience rules, such as APRA’s CPS 230 for regulated entities, shape the role. Name them in the brief.
Stepping up to Head of Infrastructure and Operations
Infrastructure and cloud managers who step up need to own the whole service, including the parts run by vendors, and to explain risk and cost to executives.
Own a major vendor relationship, lead a recovery test, and build a cost case for a platform change.
The techexec network is built for this step. Members get a monthly briefing, small roundtables and a confidential career conversation with Aaron. Join the network.
What we ask candidates about
- The size and make-up of the estate you have run.
- An outage you led the response to.
- How you manage vendors and managed services.
- A migration or consolidation you delivered.
Questions
Do you recruit heads of cloud and IT operations?
Yes. Head of cloud, head of IT operations and head of infrastructure roles overlap heavily, and we treat them as one family.
Is this a path to CIO?
It is one of the most common. Infrastructure leaders who build business and board exposure are well placed for a first CIO role.