Role Purpose
Reporting to the Director of Technology Operations, the IT Infrastructure Manager is responsible for leading the Club’s core infrastructure services across all sites, ensuring high availability, performance, and security of all technology platforms.
The Club is undertaking a significant infrastructure modernisation programme, implementing a private cloud platform based on HPE GreenLake, including the deployment of HPE VM Essentials (VME) and migration from legacy virtualisation platforms, alongside the adoption of Qumulo storage and Veeam backup solutions across multiple data centres and locations.
This role will take ownership of the infrastructure platform as it transitions into steady‑state operation, ensuring it is stable, scalable, and aligned to the Club’s long‑term technology strategy.
The role combines strong leadership and technical authority, with accountability for team performance, vendor delivery, and infrastructure standards across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, manage, and develop a small team of internal IT Platform Engineers and third‑party technical resources
- Drive a high‑performance culture through coaching, mentoring, and clear accountability
- Assess team capability and drive continuous improvement through coaching, development, and effective role alignment
- Ensure effective workload distribution, prioritisation, and delivery across the team
Infrastructure Ownership & Operations
- Accountable for the performance, availability, and lifecycle management of all core infrastructure platforms across Stadium, Training Centre, and Club sites
- Ensure all infrastructure services meet defined SLAs and operational standards
- Oversee monitoring, patching, maintenance, and lifecycle management through effective delegation and governance
- Act as senior escalation point for critical or high‑impact issues, providing technical direction and decision‑making
- Take ownership of the Club’s infrastructure platform, ensuring it is stable, performant, and effectively operated following recent modernisation initiatives
- Oversee the successful adoption and ongoing optimisation of the infrastructure environment delivered in partnership with HPE and third‑party providers
- Ensure infrastructure services are well‑managed, documented, and continuously improved to meet evolving business needs
- Own strategic and operational relationships with key infrastructure vendors (including HPE and associated partners)
- Hold vendors accountable for service delivery, performance, and contractual obligations
- Ensure value for money, service quality, and alignment to the Club’s infrastructure strategy
- Ensure effective knowledge transfer from vendors to internal teams to build capability and reduce long‑term dependency
Architecture & Technical Authority
- Define and maintain infrastructure standards, architecture principles, and platform roadmaps
- Provide technical leadership and oversight across all infrastructure design decisions
- Review and approve technical solutions, ensuring alignment with best practice and long‑term strategy
- Maintain a strong understanding of the platform to provide credible technical leadership without being hands‑on day‑to‑day
Security & Compliance (Operational)
- Ensure infrastructure platforms are secure, patched, and compliant with organisational standards
- Work closely with Cyber Security and Network teams to support security controls and incident response
- Support vulnerability management, patching, and operational security activities across infrastructure
Stakeholder & Service Delivery
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure infrastructure services meet business needs
- Support matchday and event operations through effective planning, coordination, and readiness
- Ensure clear communication during incidents and major events
Technology Environment
The Club operates a predominantly on‑premise, private cloud infrastructure, including:
- HPE GreenLake private cloud platform across multiple sites
- HPE VM Essentials (VME) virtualisation platform
- HPE Alletra MP enterprise storage
- Veeam backup and recovery solutions
- Microsoft ecosystem including Windows Server, Active Directory, Entra ID, Microsoft 365, SCCM, and Intune
Person Specification
Skills/Experience
- Proven experience leading infrastructure or platform teams in a complex, multi‑site environment
- Strong background in enterprise infrastructure, including virtualisation, storage, and Microsoft platforms
- Experience managing vendor‑delivered infrastructure services and holding suppliers accountable
- Strong understanding of on‑premise or private cloud environments
- Ability to define and enforce technical standards and architectural direction
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience working within ITIL‑based service environments
- Experience with HPE GreenLake, HPE VM Essentials, or similar private cloud platforms
- Experience with Qumulo and/or Veeam
- Experience in large‑scale venues, multi‑site organisations, or event‑driven environments
Personal Attributes
- Strong leader with the ability to develop and elevate technical teams
- Technically credible, with the ability to challenge vendors and guide engineers
- Calm and decisive in high‑pressure environments
- Highly organised with strong prioritisation skills
- Collaborative and stakeholder‑focused
Safeguarding & Recruitment Statement
Safeguarding is fundamental to the success in all that we do. The Club follows a Safer Recruitment process for all roles. Successful candidates are to be reminded they would be subject to proportionate background, DBS and reference checks as required.
We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, disability, gender, race, or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
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