Head of Cloud Infrastructure

Head of Cloud Infrastructure
Permanent
Edinburgh/Hybrid
£61,626 - £72,684 per annum (Grade M1)

The Scottish Funding Council is Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority. Our ambition is to make Scotland an outstanding place to learn, educate, research, and innovate - now and for the future. We invest around £2 billion every year, and our funding?enables colleges and universities to provide life-changing opportunities for over half a million people.?

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, and supported by a small team, this post is responsible for the development, growth, management, and delivery of SFC’s Cloud infrastructure and associated projects. This is high profile work as part of SFC’s longer-term Digital Transformation that will turn SFC into a smarter and more secure organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement the strategic vision and direction of the Azure Cloud Infrastructure in alignment with business objectives and IT standards.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a high-performing team of Cloud IT professionals, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and customer-centric service delivery.
• Develop and maintain an Azure Cloud Infrastructure roadmap, addressing both short-term operational needs and long-term strategic growth objectives.
• Ensure robustness, scalability, security, and compliance of the Azure Cloud Infrastructure, enforcing best practices and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with various internal teams and external partners to build an integrated and optimized IT infrastructure.
• Direct the assessment and selection of Azure Cloud services and tools, conducting cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments to inform decision-making.
• Oversee the design and implementation of Azure Cloud migrations, ensuring minimal business impact and maximum value realisation.
• Manage the budget for Azure Cloud infrastructure, ensuring cost-efficiency and value for money.

Person specification

It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:

Essential Requirements:

• Proven experience in a similar senior role, managing and developing Azure Cloud Infrastructures.
• Extensive knowledge of Azure services, cloud computing technologies, business IT applications, security, network configurations, and system operations.
• Demonstrable experience in cybersecurity best practices and the integration of cybersecurity strategies into cloud operations to mitigate potential threats.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities, including the capacity to lead high-performing, diverse teams through prior technical coaching/leadership roles.
• Relevant certifications across major Cloud Providers, preferably Microsoft Azure.
• Degree level education (SCQF level 9) or equivalent experience

Core Technical Knowledge

Essential:

• Solid background in on premises infrastructure, virtualisation technologies or applications.
• Solid background in the Microsoft 365 Suite, Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams
• Solid background in Microsoft Intune (Windows 10/11, Autopilot, Android/iOS, MAM/MDM)
• Proven experience in Azure Virtual Desktop deployment and management
• Proven experience in Azure Networking (Routing, DNS, Connectivity)
• Proven experience with Azure IaaS (networking, storage, virtual machines).
• Proven experience with Azure Backup & Recovery Services.
• Proven experience with Azure Governance (Blueprints, policies, tagging, cost management).
• Proven experience with Azure Active Directory including on premises Active Directory.
• Experience with Windows Server
• Experience with Azure Security (NSG, ASG Sentinel, Security Centre, Defender, ACL, Azure Firewall, Policy).

Additional information

Location
SFC offers hybrid working for its employees. This means that whilst the role is based at our Edinburgh office, there is substantial opportunity to work from home most of the time. As a rule of thumb SFC expects that a minimum of three days a month in the office (on average) will achieve the benefits of its hybrid approach, however it is for the employee and their line manager to agree the balance between home and workplace working - determined primarily by business need. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.

Key Rewards and Benefits

• Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.
• Annual leave entitlement of 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 4 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 11.5 days pro-rata.
• A flexible approach to hybrid working.
• Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy.
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• Support for continuous professional development.
• Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.

The Selection Process

Pre-Employment Checks
As part of our pre-employment process, we will ask you to provide relevant documentation to show that you are eligible to work in the UK and a Basic Disclosure Scotland certificate. You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this role; we do not offer sponsorships. We also take up references as part of this process. Expenses will be reimbursed for Basic Disclosure check. This will only be requested if you are appointed into the role.

Disability Confident
If you need any adjustments to support your application, such as information in alternative formats, please contact us and we’ll do everything we can to help. If you’re eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme please give details when prompted at the appropriate stage in the online application process.