Director

Work Your Magic with us!  

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.  

We are seeking an experienced and visionary IT Infrastructure leader to serve as Director, Storage, Backup, Unix/Linux Platforms within our Group IT organization. This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing (HPC), Data Storage, and Backup platforms across a globally distributed, high-complexity environment. The successful candidate will lead a large, high-performing team and drive strategic technology initiatives that align with organizational goals across private and public cloud environments.

This role requires a dynamic individual who thrives in fast-paced, complex environments and brings a strong combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership to the table.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a global team, including Managers operating across core IT Infrastructure domains
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance work culture that enhances teamwork, innovation, and productivity
• Champion employee career development initiatives, designing and facilitating upskilling and reskilling programs to build organizational capability and future readiness
• Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and support team members in achieving professional growth goals

Strategic Planning and Roadmap Development

• Formulate and own multi-year strategic plans and technology roadmaps for Linux/Unix, HPC, Data Storage, and Backup platforms, ensuring full alignment with organizational objectives and business priorities
• Drive the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies and industry best practices to maintain a modern, scalable, and resilient infrastructure landscape
• Identify, assess, and implement automation opportunities to streamline processes, improve productivity, and eliminate manual workloads across the technology stack
• Act as a thought leader and trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on infrastructure strategy, technology trends, and capability development

Operations and Delivery

• Maintain end-to-end accountability for Linux/Unix, HPC, Data Storage, and Backup platforms across global data centers, edge sites, and both private and public cloud environments
• Oversee day-to-day operations, demand management, and project delivery, ensuring seamless platform functioning, service reliability, and timely execution of initiatives
• Define, monitor, and continuously improve service quality metrics, SLAs, and KPIs to ensure operational excellence across all managed platforms
• Drive business continuity planning and resilience strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure and minimize risk to business operations

Security and Compliance

• Implement and enforce robust security measures and governance frameworks to protect sensitive data, infrastructure assets, and systems from evolving cyber threats
• Ensure all managed platforms adhere to applicable regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements, including industry standards relevant to highly regulated environments
• Partner with Security, Risk, and Compliance teams to proactively identify vulnerabilities and remediate risks across the infrastructure portfolio

Financial Management

• Manage and optimize the Operating budget, balancing cost reduction objectives with the need to maintain quality, efficiency, and service performance
• Develop accurate budget forecasts, financial reports, and investment cases to support informed decision-making and resource planning
• Identify and execute on cost optimization opportunities, including vendor consolidation, technology rationalization, and process efficiency improvements

Stakeholder and Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with IT leaders across Business Units and cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless integration of infrastructure solutions and alignment with business needs
• Lead vendor relationship management, including contract negotiations, performance evaluations, and strategic partnership development with key technology providers
• Evaluate and onboard new technologies and service offerings, ensuring they meet organizational standards for quality, security, and cost-effectiveness

Required Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, with a demonstrated track record in managing large-scale, complex infrastructure environments
• Proven expertise in Linux/Unix, High Performance Computing, enterprise Data Storage platforms, and Backup and recovery solutions
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing large, globally distributed teams, including senior managers and technical specialists
• Strong knowledge of private and public cloud architectures, including experience working with major Hyperscalers
• Extensive budget management experience, with accountability for multi-million-euro technology budgets
• Solid understanding of IT security frameworks, risk management principles, and infrastructure governance best practices
• Proven ability to develop and execute technology roadmaps that align infrastructure investments with business strategy
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills with experience managing strategic technology partnerships
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills
• Experience in highly regulated industries (e.g., Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, Manufacturing) including familiarity with GxP, IACS, and Operational Technology (OT) compliance requirements is highly desirable

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline
• Relevant professional certifications in Linux/Unix administration, Storage, Backups and IT service management (e.g., ITIL)
• Experience with High Performance Computing (HPC) environments and workload management frameworks
• Familiarity with automation and infrastructure-as-code tools and methodologies
• Prior experience in a global, matrixed organizational structure with cross-functional leadership responsibilities

Key Competencies

• Strategic Vision – Ability to translate organizational goals into actionable technology strategies and long-term infrastructure roadmaps
• People Leadership – Demonstrated capability to lead, develop, and inspire large, diverse, and globally distributed teams
• Decision-Making – Sound judgment in complex, ambiguous environments with the ability to balance risk, cost, and business impact
• Collaboration – Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build consensus across all organizational levels
• Accountability – Ownership mindset with a commitment to delivering results against defined objectives and performance metrics
• Innovation – Proactive approach to identifying and leveraging new technologies, tools, and processes to drive continuous improvement

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!