Senior Director, IT Infrastructure and Operations

Position Summary:

The Senior Director, IT Infrastructure and Operations will lead IT infrastructure, operations, and key vendor relationships. You will own IT operations across cloud (Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and AWS), on-premises infrastructure, network, End User Services, and AV. The role requires sound judgment, decisiveness, and a strong sense of urgency in a fast-moving, regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day operations of Zenas’s network and cloud infrastructure across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and AWS.
• Set and execute the cloud strategy for scalability, reliability, disaster recovery, security, and cost.
• Oversee deployment, monitoring, maintenance, upgrades, and support for end-user devices, IT applications, networks, and the service desk.
• Manage configurations, software installs, updates, and upgrades across Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS, and other systems.
• Monitor performance and availability and act proactively to maximize uptime across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Mature the IT service desk and ensure SLAs are defined, measured, met, and improved.
• Manage vendor relationships, including contract negotiation, performance, and accountability to service levels.
• Build capacity plans and budgets that support growth and scalability while controlling cost across cloud and on-premises infrastructure.
• Sustain high infrastructure uptime, using automation and modern operational practices where appropriate.
• Develop and test disaster recovery and business continuity plans, with particular attention to cloud.
• Maintain IT policies and procedures for end-user computing and infrastructure, aligned with best practices and SOX, FDA, and GxP requirements.
• Lead and mentor the End User Services team, supporting growth and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to meet their IT infrastructure needs across research, development, and commercial activities.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years in IT, with at least 6 years in IT management.
• Hands-on experience administering Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 in production, including identity and core cloud services.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives at once, applying analysis, problem-solving, time management, and sound judgment.
• Vendor management experience, including contract negotiation, selection, and performance management.
• Experience scaling IT operations for a growing user base, staying ahead of demand.
• Experience across computer operations, network and technical management, and end-user support.
• Familiarity with ITIL, and experience with incident, service request, and configuration management, and computer system validation (CSV).
• Effective in a small, fast-paced IT team, with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in a commercial-stage or high-growth life sciences or biotech environment strongly preferred.
• Sound Judgment & Decision-Making: Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions with incomplete information, knows when to act and when to escalate, and balances speed with rigor.
• Sense of Urgency & Ownership: Treats system uptime and user impact with urgency, drives issues to resolution, and takes ownership of outcomes.
• Leadership: Leads and develops a high-performing End User Services team, setting clear standards and raising the bar.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops infrastructure strategies aligned with business goals.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, listens actively, seeks clarification, and responds directly.
• Adaptability: Adapts to a changing environment and manages competing priorities without losing focus.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities and prioritizes the success of the team.
• Ethics & Integrity: Treats people with respect, inspires the trust of others, and works with integrity.

#LI-Hybrid

The position is eligible for a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Zenas is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary pay range for this role is $209,200 to $261,523. Actual compensation packages will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to depth of experience, education, skillset, overall performance and/or location.

Zenas believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package to all employees. Our base salary is just one component of Zenas’ competitive total rewards strategy that also includes annual performance bonus, equity, full range of benefits and other incentive compensation plans.