Director of IT Infrastructure

About the job
Here’s a snapshot of the role:

Hands-on leadership of a growing team (expanding soon) managing apps, end-user support, and IT infrastructure. take ownership of a 100% on-prem environment and lead its evolution toward the cloud.
Lead initiatives to revamp virtualization, migrate away from VMWare, and introduce Windows support where needed.
Oversee Linux-first environments, with some Windows, data centers, and cloud experience (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
Manage Opex and Capex budgets while working closely with engineers to solve hands-on technical challenges.
Hybrid role – 3 days onsite in Toronto
Position Summary

The Director of IT Infrastructure is responsible for the end-to-end management of an organization’s internal technology infrastructure. This includes systems engineering, virtualization, hybrid and cloud integrations, and end-user services.

This role goes beyond day-to-day operations. The Director will design and execute the infrastructure roadmap, drive innovation in containerization and hybrid-cloud solutions, and lead a team of engineers through large-scale, transformational initiatives. The position plays a critical role in maintaining a secure, scalable, and future-ready technology environment.

The Director will also contribute to the organization’s long-term technology strategy, ensuring IT capabilities align with business objectives and support sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Infrastructure Planning

Develop and execute infrastructure strategy in partnership with systems engineering teams, defining standards across compute, storage, and virtualization platforms.
Lead the adoption and strategic direction of containerization technologies to support modern application delivery.
Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to assess short- and long-term infrastructure requirements across on-prem and cloud environments.
Provide budgetary input into multi-year technology roadmaps, identifying major initiatives and future capability investments.
Translate business requirements into technical solutions and prioritize infrastructure initiatives to ensure reliable and consistent delivery.
IT Systems & Infrastructure Operations

Oversee the design, deployment, and ongoing management of systems infrastructure, virtualization platforms, and supporting operating systems and software.
Maintain comprehensive infrastructure documentation, including configurations, disaster recovery plans, and service records.
Lead compliance audits related to security, backups, and disaster recovery in alignment with organizational policies.
Monitor system performance and availability, conducting testing and root cause analysis to drive continuous improvement.
Optimize infrastructure through automation, scripting, and configuration management.
Ensure infrastructure assets comply with security hardening and vulnerability management standards.
Manage Linux and open-source environments (e.g., Red Hat, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux) and enterprise platforms such as DHCP, DNS, virtualization, and hypervisor technologies.
Provide oversight for databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) to ensure availability, integrity, and performance.
Lead containerization and orchestration platforms using Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes.
Resource & Financial Management

Lead technology evaluations and procurement to ensure scalable, cost-effective infrastructure solutions.
Own budget planning and financial oversight for the systems engineering function.
Conduct ROI and cost-benefit analysis for proposed technology initiatives.
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and service performance.
Lead hiring, training, and professional development of infrastructure staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
Optimize resource allocation and portfolio management to ensure financial discipline and project efficiency.
End-User Services

Provide strategic oversight of IT Service Desk operations, ensuring effective support for both on-site and remote users.
Manage the full lifecycle of end-user hardware, including procurement, deployment, and decommissioning.
Ensure effective capacity planning and resource allocation to support a geographically distributed workforce.
Oversee IT policy compliance, mobile device management (MDM), and risk mitigation aligned with SOC 2 Type II principles.
Promote user enablement through documentation, knowledge base content, and training resources.
Skills & Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field (required)
10+ years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure and systems engineering
Extensive experience in Linux-based and hybrid-cloud environments
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional and geographically distributed teams
Strong understanding of ITIL frameworks and enterprise IT operations
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
Technical Skills

Must-Have

Linux Enterprise environments (Red Hat, Ubuntu, CentOS/AlmaLinux)
Virtualization platforms (VMware, Proxmox, KVM)
Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes)
Monitoring tools (LibreNMS, Nagios)
Backup and recovery solutions (Rubrik, Veeam)
Hybrid cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)
Strongly Preferred

Windows Server and Active Directory administration
PostgreSQL and enterprise-grade databases
Experience supporting open-source infrastructure applications
ITIL v4 certification
Experience with MDM solutions and device fleet management
Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary with performance-based bonus
Permanent, full-time position
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage, including health and lifestyle spending accounts
Parental leave top-up program
Ongoing support for professional development and career growth