Exec Director, Cloud Ops and Infrastructure

Syneos Health • Bridgewater Township, NJ

101d • $193,600 - $367,800

About The Position

The Executive Director - Cloud and Edge Computing will provide visionary leadership for the enterprise's cloud infrastructure and edge computing strategy. This executive is responsible for ensuring scalable, reliable, and secure operations across a hybrid and multicloud environment (Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, AWS). Reporting to the SVP of Core Technology, the role will align cloud infrastructure initiatives with the company's life sciences business objectives and future AI strategy. This includes optimizing cloud capabilities for emerging AI/ML workloads and ensuring the organization's cloud and edge platforms are ready to support advanced analytics and AI-driven innovation in a regulated industry. Based in Morrisville, NC or Bridgewater, NJ, the Executive Director will lead a global team spanning North America, APAC, EMEA, and LATAM. A key focus is building out a capability center in Hyderabad, India, to leverage global talent and follow-the-sun operations. As a peer to the AI and Engineering capability leadership, this role carries similar leadership expectations - driving innovation, fostering a high-performance culture, and delivering platforms that empower the business. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise in cloud/edge technologies with strategic foresight and a strong emphasis on user experience, performance, and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; Master's preferred.
• 15+ years of IT infrastructure/operations experience, with 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Strong expertise in multicloud environments (Azure, AWS, Oracle Cloud).
• Experience in life sciences, pharma, or regulated industries preferred.
• Hands-on experience with servers (Windows/Linux), databases (SQL/Oracle), containers, and Kubernetes.
• Cloud certifications a plus.
• Proven ability to lead global teams, manage budgets, and deliver large-scale transformations.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Thought leader in cloud/edge computing with a forward-looking mindset.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a cloud strategy across Azure, AWS, Oracle Cloud and on-prem systems, ensuring interoperability.
• Oversee cloud infrastructure and services, aligning with AI/ML strategies and adopting emerging technologies.
• Oversee server administration (Windows/Linux), databases (SQL Server, Oracle), and edge deployments.
• Ensure reliable performance, optimize storage, and support real-time analytics use cases.
• Collaborate with engineering to develop an internal developer portal and self-service provisioning.
• Champion automation (IaC, CI/CD) and embed SRE/DevOps practices to drive developer productivity.
• Lead FinOps initiatives, ensuring cost transparency and accountability.
• Optimize compute, storage, and network costs, forecast budgets, and implement cost-saving measures.
• Work with Security teams on IAM, zero-trust, and compliance (GxP, HIPAA, GDPR).
• Integrate security into cloud ops, ensure audit readiness, and partner on incident/problem management.
• Own relationships with cloud providers (Azure, Oracle, AWS) and MSPs.
• Negotiate contracts, ensure SLA adherence, and continuously evaluate third-party solutions for operational excellence.
• Champion end-user experience, ensuring high performance and reliability.
• Implement observability and strong problem management processes to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead a global team across NA, APAC, EMEA, LATAM, and build capability in Hyderabad.
• Foster high-performance culture, attract and develop talent, and collaborate across Engineering, Security, Data/AI, and Finance.
• Communicate cloud strategy progress to executives.

Benefits

• Company car or car allowance
• Health benefits to include Medical, Dental and Vision
• Company match 401k
• Eligibility to participate in Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and individual performance
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) and sick time

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree