At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global IT strategy and manage a team of 20 IT professionals.
- Company: Join Oxford Instruments, a leader in industrial and scientific innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private healthcare, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid role with early finish on Fridays and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while making a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in IT leadership with experience in global operations and compliance.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
At Oxford Instruments, we enable the world’s leading industrial companies and scientific research communities to image, analyse and manipulate materials down to the atomic and molecular level. With a sixty-year history, and fourteen Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, our world-class products and technologies are helping our customers to address the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
Oxford Instruments is seeking an experienced IT Operations & Infrastructure Director to lead our global infrastructure strategy and service delivery. You will ensure our applications, networks, data, and core systems remain secure, robust, and aligned with the growth ambitions of the business.
About The Role
You will shape and deliver the global IT Operations and Infrastructure roadmap, manage a distributed team of around 20 IT professionals, and oversee multiple third-party service providers. With a strong customer focus, you will work closely with business leaders to understand requirements and ensure our infrastructure and services consistently meet expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead global strategy and operations across infrastructure, applications, and service delivery.
- Build strong relationships with business units to align IT services to future needs.
- Develop and maintain the infrastructure technology roadmap.
- Govern IT processes including incident, change, project and asset management.
- Manage contracts and budgets of c. £3m, including vendor negotiations.
- Ensure security, compliance, and alignment with frameworks such as NIS2, Cyber Essentials+, and ISO 27001.
- Lead technical projects, ensuring solutions are delivered effectively and securely.
- Develop and mentor a geographically dispersed team.
This Role Is Ideal If You…
- Have experience leading Service Delivery and Infrastructure teams in complex, global environments.
- Have partnered with third-party vendors to deliver modern technology solutions.
- Understand governance frameworks and have achieved compliance in regulated settings.
- Can balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
- Can drive collaboration across regions and time zones.
Person Specification
- 5+ years in a distributed manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing budgets >£3m and teams of 20+ across multiple geographies.
- Knowledge of ITIL, COBIT, or similar frameworks.
- Proven delivery of ISO27001 programmes.
- Strong technical experience in: Microsoft 365 & Azure Hybrid Firewalls, Antivirus, BitLocker, SIEM MFA Zero Trust architectures.
At Oxford Instruments, we are proud of the environment that we have created. We hope that by joining us, you will discover why people stay with our business for so long and have such a significant impact on our globally growing success story. This role is a hybrid role with the main location being High Wycombe. We work from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday and finish at 1:00 pm on Fridays, allowing you to start your weekend early.
Other Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Private health care
- Generous pension
- Car scheme
- Cycle to work
- Income protection
- Employee Discounts
- Life assurance
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.
Note to recruitment agencies: Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency CVs. Please do not forward candidate details in response to this advert, or to any Oxford Instruments employees or other company locations. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.
Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure employer: Oxford Instruments GmbH
At Oxford Instruments, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure, you will benefit from a supportive culture that prioritises professional growth, alongside competitive benefits such as private healthcare, generous pension schemes, and an early finish on Fridays. Our commitment to excellence and employee well-being makes us an exceptional employer in the heart of High Wycombe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in IT operations and infrastructure.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've managed teams and projects in the past, especially in complex environments. We want to see your strategic thinking in action.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Oxford Instruments.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Director of IT Operations & Infrastructure role. Highlight your experience with global infrastructure strategies and service delivery to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role, focusing on your leadership experience and how you can align IT services with business needs.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your achievements! Quantify your successes, like managing budgets over £3m or leading teams of 20+, to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Oxford Instruments!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oxford Instruments GmbH
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Microsoft 365, Azure, and security frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of ITIL and ISO 27001, as these will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience managing teams and projects. Think about how you've led service delivery in complex environments and how you’ve built relationships with business units to align IT services with their needs.
✨Understand the Business Context
Research Oxford Instruments and its role in the industrial and scientific sectors. Be ready to discuss how your strategic vision for IT operations can support their growth ambitions and address the challenges they face.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, such as vendor negotiations or compliance issues. Practise articulating your thought process and decision-making strategies to demonstrate your hands-on delivery capabilities.