Director, Infrastructure Operations

National Geographic•Washington, DC

2d•$185,250 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Infrastructure Operations oversees the operations of the Society’s computing architecture. This includes the Society’s wired and wireless data networks, telecommunications networks, computing and storage platforms, OS images, and the equipment on-premise platforms. Additionally, the Director, Infrastructure Operations is responsible for planning and executing infrastructural upgrades as well as ongoing patch management. The Director tracks and refines KPIs and other operational metrics to evaluate the health and performance of the infrastructure, identify defects, efficiencies, enhancements, and ensure a cycle of continuous improvement. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Infrastructure and Security, the Director, Infrastructure Operations manages the personnel and budget allocated to the infrastructure operations, including tracking and reporting usage of on-premise infrastructure resources by business unit or program. This role will recommend and implement technology solutions and integrate them with the service catalog and IT operational processes; Leveraging project management, leadership and technical expertise, ensuring optimal user satisfaction through reliable service delivery and effective change management. The ideal candidate will have a natural curiosity, proactive approach to find and recommend new solutions, and strong commitment to deadlines. To sustain a culture of innovation and fulfill NGS mission of illuminating and protecting the wonder of the world, it is expected a continued learning mindset and commitment to excellence from all outward-facing programs, services, products, as well as the systems and teams that support the Society’s work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
A minimum of 10 years of experience in the information technology field, with at least 5 years of hands-on experience designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise infrastructure including networks and hosts.
At least 5 years of management experience.
Extensive experience managing the 24/7 operation of network, storage, and computing infrastructure, including implementing new products as well executing regular maintenance.
Able to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills, including the ability to plan, schedule, and successfully carry out multiple projects at the same time to a successful conclusion.
Broad knowledge of technology infrastructure on-premise including network systems and management, computing and storage, telecommunications, data center operations, and virtualization.
Experience managing vendor relationships for all infrastructure services and solutions and reviewing vendor contracts, statements of work, and related documents.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Able to interact positively and productively with teams across the organization.
Strong customer service, troubleshooting, and problem-solving are a must.
Excellent leadership, management, and team-building skills.
Able to attract, mentor, and develop staff to ensure skills align and adapt to the mission and business goals.
Able to inspire and motivate others by example, and achieve positive outcomes through a balance of strong leadership and open collaboration.
Architectural understanding of enterprise network protocols (e.g., BGP, OSPF) and modern data center fabric topologies (such as spine-and-leaf or EVPN/VXLAN) to oversee our Arista environments.
Strategic oversight of corporate Wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure, focusing on high-density capacity planning, seamless mobility, and secure authentication frameworks (e.g., 802.1x, NAC).
A comprehensive understanding of cloud technologies for directory services and backups solutions.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of distributed antenna systems (DAS) and public safety radio systems/equipment.
Relevant enterprise management certifications (e.g., PMP or ITIL).
Knowledge of hybrid data center models and secure infrastructure connectivity to major public cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP).

Responsibilities

Develops and manages the infrastructure operations team roadmap, budget, and project plans and schedules under the direction of the Sr. Director, Infrastructure and Security.
Works with the Sr. Director, Infrastructure and Security to establish policies, standards, procedures, and governance activities related to infrastructure.
Directs compute and network engineering teams to develop innovative architecture and features to advance the goals of the organization.
Monitors benchmarks, trends, and product developments to anticipate change, minimize risk, and identify growth opportunities.
Directs the operational support of technology infrastructure, ensuring that all components meet service-level objectives for availability, capacity, performance, and other KPIs.
Leads infrastructure projects and supports all technology projects requiring team subject matter expertise or resources.
Monitors service level objectives, optimizes operational activities, and brings visibility into operations through analysis, trends, and measurement.
Ensures that the technology infrastructure adheres to NGS policies regarding information security, business continuity, etc.
Develops and maintains relationships with external IT vendors and service providers to ensure alignment in goals and seamless execution.
Performs personnel management and development for new and existing staff, ensuring that the team has the appropriate skills and depth to meet service level objectives and customer service standards.
Leads or participates in appropriate steering committees and internal technology working groups.
Collaborates with procurement, legal, and other administrative teams on RFP documents and processes, statements of work, contract negotiations and disputes, and other vendor performance management activities.

Benefits

medical, dental, and vision insurance
engaging and comprehensive wellness program
401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment
flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year)
10 days of sick leave
12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31
paid parental leave
adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
fertility benefits
learning and development opportunities
Lifestyle Spending Account
pet adoption assistance and insurance
pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy
employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit
a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks