IT Lead - Cloud expert

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 ResponsibilitiesDesign 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 ManagementAct 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 & ComplianceWork 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 ManagementSupport 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.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 & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or similar field.6–10+ 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 SkillsExcellent 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.#J-18808-Ljbffr