Director UKI IMS and EMEA Platform in Street

The purpose of this role is to provide leadership and strategic direction of the Infrastructure Managed Services (IMS) team in the UK&I cluster as well as leading the Platform & Cloud teams across the EMEA region. The role reports to the EMEA IMS Lead and works closely with Global Infrastructure and IMS colleagues in all regions.

IMS delivers infrastructure and enabling services for client solutions generating revenues as described in the dentsu Master Services Set (MSS). Revenues are included in the CXM service line P&Ls.

• Collaborates with client teams to capture requirements and deliver solutions throughout the sales and delivery lifecycle.
• Ensures that all client solutions are aligned with Global infrastructure and IMS policies, standards and best practices.
• Manages the UK&I IMS finances, including client revenue and IMS budget (UK&I IMS revenues of c£800, IMS budget c. £3m).
• Sets standards and ensures the governance and compliance of technology operations is upheld.
• Identifies and incorporates global trends into the creation of roadmaps to underpin the delivery of key technical programmes (e.g. Automation, AI, Infrastructure as Code).
• Works with partners to ensure the provision of modern, secure and integrated toolsets.
• Provides an escalation path for all IMS Operations in the UK&I as well as Platform and Cloud capabilities across the region.
• Oversees Regional Duty Management as part of the IMS global support model.
• Reports on key metrics including regional incident and request tickets.
• Leads and develops team. Key direct reports include cloud architects, DBAs, and the regional Duty Manager.
• Upholds and promotes dentsu's core values and culture.

Professional skills

• Proven ability to understand client/stakeholder needs and transform them into world-class solutions that meet/exceed their respective expectations.
• Proactive, upbeat and collaborative communication style, with the ability to be direct, tactful, and transparent.
• Hands-on technology experience focused on solution delivery and platform optimisations.
• Demonstrable ability to engage all stakeholders in a positive, productive manner.
• Ability to develop and retain world-class technology talent.
• ITIL and relevant Cloud (AWS, GCP, Azure) certifications are highly desired.
• An understanding of emerging methodologies, technologies, architectures, products (primarily AWS, GCP and Microsoft technology stacks).
• Ability to assess and communicate technology budgets and delivery schedules.
• Ability and experience to develop and manage metrics that contribute to continuous improvement with regard to the quality of delivered services.
• Ability to optimise staff utilisation, ensuring they remain engaged and effective.
• Ability to travel within the EMEA region as needed.

What you'll bring

The suitable candidate will possess circa 10+ years of designing, building and supporting enterprise-class solutions operating in a 24/7 environment preferably across multiple countries. Within this, circa 5+ years in a managerial role with expert knowledge of cloud infrastructure and data platforms, as well as a good understanding of end-user, network, data centre technologies and information security.

A few of the benefits

• You’ll have a great compensation package, private health & dental insurance, corporate discounts and career development through Dentsu University, and free access to LinkedIn learning.
• 29+ days of annual leave (25 days of regular holidays, birthdays off and 3 additional wellness days).
• We also offer the opportunity to volunteer for up to 2 days per year and tend to close down the agency between Christmas and New Years.
• You’ll have a hybrid working schedule, with flexible start/end hours.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual. We believe that diversity fuels creativity and innovation, benefiting our employees, partners, and communities.

We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic. Beyond recruitment, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

We recognize the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements for all roles. If you need reasonable adjustments due to a disability or medical condition during our recruitment process, please contact us, quoting the reference number of the role that you are applying for. Your needs will be handled with respect and confidentiality to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience.