Job Specifications
Venn Group are working with a local authority in London to recruit an Interim Infrastructure Operations Manager.
The post-holder will assume full accountability for the stability, availability, and optimisation of the Council’s Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure (Azure/Windows Server), WAN (Fortigate/Cisco), and Service Desk functions.
This role will be responsible for providing expert operational leadership during a critical period of transformation, tasked with the insourcing of IT services from external providers to an internal operating model.
The Infrastructure Ops Manager will implement rigorous ITIL processes, establish a FinOps culture to control cloud expenditure, and lead on infrastructural compliance.
This is a technical leadership role requiring hands-on expertise in navigating legacy environments to build a transparent, documented, and resilient IT estate.
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Rate: Negotiable DOE
Length: 6 months initial
Onsite: 2 days onsite minimum per week
Responsibilities:
Lead the forensic discovery of the IT estate from the incumbent supplier. utilise automated scanning and traffic analysis to map undocumented dependencies, assets, and service flows
Execute a safe and secure transition of services (Service Desk, Infrastructure Support, Network Management) from the outsourced provider to the Council, minimising impact on frontline public services.
Rigorously enforce contract exit clauses, ensuring full knowledge transfer, password handover, and data repatriation
Lead, mentor, and integrate a hybrid team of TUPE-transferred staff, contractors, and permanent council employees
Oversee the Council’s Azure tenant, ensuring best practice configuration of Landing Zones, Subscriptions, and Resource Groups. Drive the modernisation of IaaS workloads toward PaaS where appropriate
Take ownership of the perimeter and internal network security. specific responsibility for the configuration and optimisation of Fortigate Firewalls, SD-WAN interconnects, and switching fabric to support a flexible, hybrid workforce
Manage the lifecycle of the Microsoft stack, including Windows Server (2012-2022), Hyper-V/VMware clusters, and the M365 collaboration suite (Teams, Exchange, SharePoint). Ensure rigorous patch management and version control
Validation of backup and recovery capabilities (Azure Site Recovery/Backup). Schedule and execute DR tests to prove RTO/RPO targets can be met
Implement a FinOps framework to provide granular visibility of cloud spend
Proactively identify and remediate inefficient spend (e.g., unattached disks, over-provisioned VMs, non-reserved instances)
Manage ongoing relationships with hardware, software, and connectivity vendors, ensuring value for money and strict SLA adherence
Design and embed ITIL practices for Incident, Problem, Request, and Change Management. Establish a functional Change Advisory Board to govern risk.
Drive improvements in First Contact Resolution (FCR) and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) at the Service Desk level. Shift the focus from "ticket volume" to "user experience”
Enforce a "Documentation First" policy. Create a comprehensive Knowledge Base and Standard Operating Procedure library to eliminate "key person dependencies”
Lead the implementation of infrastructural controls required for ISO 27001 certification
Ensure rigorous access control, asset management, and physical security practices are documented and audited
Establish the foundational infrastructure governance for Artificial Intelligence. Ensure that compute resources and data storage mechanisms are compliant with the emerging ISO 42001 standard, paving the way for ethical AI adoption
Act as the primary interface for internal and external IT audits, providing evidence of control effectiveness
Experience and Skills:
5 years in a senior infrastructure management role (ideally local gov or public sector)
Proven track record of leading Insourcing/Transition projects
Experience managing hybrid estates (Azure + On-Premise)
Azure: Deep understanding of subscriptions, networking (VNETs/ExpressRoute), and cost management
Networking: Hands-on experience with Fortigate firewalls and SD-WAN
Microsoft: Expert knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory, and M365 admin
FinOps: Ability to analyse cloud bills and implement cost-saving measures
ITIL: Practitioner/Manager level understanding of Service Management
ISO Standards: Practical experience implementing ISO 27001 controls
To be considered for this position and for further information on this and other roles please apply with an updated CV.
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