Director, Technology - Networking & Operations

Description

We are looking for a Director, Technology - Networking & Operations, who is passionate about food and enjoys working in a fast paced, customer service centric, team environment!

Description

The Director, Technology – Networking & Operations will be responsible for developing and implementing technology solutions that align with Longo’s strategic objectives. This includes overseeing the organization’s IT infrastructure, network architecture, while contributing to strengthening our security posture to ensure stability, scalability, and compliance. The role involves leading and mentoring a team of IT professionals, managing departmental budgets, and ensuring adherence to relevant regulations and standards. The Director will monitor system performance, proactively address operational issues, and stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends. Additionally, this leader will drive the strategic vision for technology across the organization, identifying opportunities for innovation and digital transformation to support Longo’s long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies such as AI, automation, and IoT to modernize infrastructure and support evolving business needs.
• Lead the development and implementation of IT policies, procedures, and standards to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across the organization.
• Manage the Service Desk and Service Delivery functions to ensure timely resolution of IT issues and incidents, while delivering a high standard of customer service to internal stakeholders.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of the company’s networking infrastructure, including WAN, LAN, WLAN, and VPN, ensuring secure and scalable connectivity across all locations.
• Manage the system administration function, including provisioning, configuration, and ongoing maintenance of all IT systems and servers to ensure optimal performance and availability.
• Oversee the application support function to ensure business-critical applications remain available, functional, and secure at all times.
• Manage relationships with third-party hosting providers to ensure alignment with business operations and service requirements.
• Oversee vendor management, including the selection, negotiation, and management of key IT vendors and service providers.
• Manage the Point of Sale (POS) system, including the installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance of all POS systems specifically for new store openings.
• Select and implement cost-effective technologies that support long-term scalability and operational resilience.
• Cultivate a team culture rooted in alignment with Longo’s core values and technology practices.
• Act as a strategic advisor to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring IT initiatives are clearly understood and supported.
• Internal Service Level Agreement compliance & optimization, negotiate contracts for services and equipment purchases.
• Maintain and update the DR playbook to reflect changes in the IT environment and evolving business needs.
• Contribute to the development and execution of security standards and processes across the IT environment.
• Provide detailed documentation and reporting for critical incidents, including mitigation strategies and permanent fixes.
• Define and evolve incident, problem, and change management practices to align with organizational needs.
• Assist in the delivery of key company and departmental initiatives by aligning IT resources and expertise.
• Provide a forward-looking 3–5 year technology roadmap aligned with the organization’s long-term goals.
• Foster alignment between IT operations and security teams to ensure cohesive protection strategies.

Qualifications, Skills & Credentials:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Over 15 years of progressive experience in IT operations, including a minimum of 7 years in senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing core IT operational functions including Service Desk, Service Delivery, Networking, Systems Administration, Application Support, Data Centre Operations, Vendor Management, and Point of Sale systems.
• Deep technical knowledge of enterprise IT infrastructure, systems architecture, and application ecosystems.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive strategic initiatives.
• Exceptional project management capabilities with a track record of successfully managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Extensive experience in budget planning, business case development, financial oversight, and resource optimization.
• Proven ability to negotiate and manage vendor contracts and relationships to ensure service quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Industry certifications such as ITIL, PMP, or equivalent are highly desirable
• Technical Skills:
• Network architecture and design (LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, VPN, MPLS)
• Cloud infrastructure (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) and hybrid environments
• Virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)
• Server and storage systems (Windows Server, Linux, SAN/NAS)
• Monitoring and performance tools (SolarWinds, Nagios, Splunk)
• Cybersecurity frameworks and tools (firewalls, endpoint protection, SIEM)
• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
• ITSM platforms (ServiceNow)
• Scripting and automation (PowerShell, Python, Bash)
• Identity and access management (Active Directory, Azure AD, Okta)