Manager - Infrastructure

Job description / Role

Key Responsibilities:

Responsible for managing overall IT, day to day operations to improve infrastructure costs, performance, end user satisfaction while ensuring security and availability of data and services.

Provide leadership in planning and managing computer operations and production support, systems and database administration and network operations

Ensure system performance and SLA's are met

Manage IT resource requirements to ensure appropriate balance between tactical and strategic demands

Develop, implement and maintain IT infrastructure policies and procedures for ensuring continuous improvement in services Lead IT asset management team to ensure assets full lifetime cycle value is achieved

Manage strategic relationships with key IT product and service providers to ensure all the IT infrastructure needs are met. Provide in depth technical expertise for both tactical and operational initiatives. Provision in close cooperation with third party service provider an IT infrastructure that is suitable for the group to access and use their business applications

Ensure the implementation, maintenance and updating of systems such as Oracle, Microsoft, AWS, and Azure

Assess the relative impact of IT industry trends to current and future enterprise infrastructure needs and projects

Interface with business unit managers to define infrastructure support initiatives and solutions for improving service efficiency and effectiveness

Continuously evaluate the IT infrastructure and suggest improvements to enhance performance and security by using innovative and cost effective technologies

Analyze and predict trends and develop long range plans designed to maintain cost effectiveness

Participate in IT strategy planning activities

Responsible for designing and troubleshooting the global network of IT services to meet the functional objects of the business

Ensure the infrastructure team is mitigating, monitoring and managing infrastructure related risks

Work closely with project team members line managers for time allocation and prioritisation

Manages a dynamic team of individuals, constantly searching for creative ways to elevate the capabilities of technology systems to meet business needs

Participate in developing and managing IT Infrastructure budget process

Stay current with emerging technologies and recommend the innovative and cost effective solutions that can improve services and overall IT infrastructure.

Requirements

Skills:

At least 5 years of IT experience including managing teams responsible for architecture design and deployment, systems lifecycle management and infrastructure planning and operations.

Experience in areas such as network design and administration, data center operations, database administration, and systems programming and administration

Strong management and people development skills

Understanding of ITIL practices

Ability to think logically and demonstrate strong analytical and problem solving skills

Ability to manage internal and external projects from inception to completion

Expertise in setting and managing customer expectations

Skill in conceptualising creative solutions as well as documenting them and presenting them to senior management

Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs with ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence

Ability to develop and deliver projects using leading edge technologies

Experience implementing packages and working with vendors

Excellent oral and written communication skills

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.