Director, IT Operations

The Director, IT Operations participates with IT leadership to establish strategic plans and objectives for the infrastructure and workplace technology that support the entire organization. Infrastructure and workplace technology comprise network, server, and storage environments, data center, Azure and AWS cloud services, endpoint and device management, voice and telecom services, and video conferencing and meeting room technology. Both infrastructure and service desk services are delivered through a combination of internal staff and managed service providers, and standards, architecture, and change for globally shared platforms, including the Microsoft 365 tenant, cloud infrastructure, and network services, are aligned with Japan headquarters. The role combines strategic planning, technical leadership, and team leadership, and maintains the technical depth required to direct, review, and challenge the work of the team and its partners.

• Partners with the IT business systems teams, Japan headquarters IT, and business stakeholders to anticipate infrastructure and workplace technology needs ahead of annual planning and multi-year refresh cycles, maintaining a forward-looking technology roadmap
• Serves as the strategic IT advisor to business and IT leaders on workplace technology and infrastructure, translating operational and service challenges into solution options with clear tradeoffs to guide decisions on technology investment, prioritization, and service design
• Establishes intake, prioritization, and governance processes with the IT business systems teams and business stakeholders, including service reviews and reporting of service levels, risk, and tradeoffs in business terms
• Manages the IT Operations function through the Service Desk and Infrastructure leaders, setting direction and priorities, allocating capability across initiatives, and holding accountability for service quality and delivery
• Directs the technical work of the team, including infrastructure architecture design, system configuration, integration, testing, and troubleshooting
• Owns the technical integrity of infrastructure and workplace technology, including architecture, availability, security controls, and compliance, assessing solution designs, configuration standards, technical proposals, and delivery quality at key milestones
• Partners with Japan headquarters IT and global platform teams on global platform design, contributing Shionogi Inc. requirements and local operational practices to shared solutions, and integrating shared platforms to support local business processes
• Directs the operation and lifecycle of infrastructure and workplace technology, including capacity planning, refresh cycles, and retirement
• Directs the diagnosis and resolution of major incidents and escalated technical issues, engaging directly where warranted
• Manages the service desk as the single point of contact for IT across all Shionogi Inc. users, including incident, request, and problem management, knowledge management, end-user enablement, event and meeting technical support, service levels, and user satisfaction
• Directs disaster recovery and IT service continuity for infrastructure and workplace technology, including recovery design, testing, runbook maintenance, and alignment with the business continuity plan
• Manages relationships, statements of work, pricing and contract terms, and service level performance with managed service providers, telecom carriers, and device and endpoint providers, including performance reviews, escalation, and remediation
• Partners with IT System Assurance on security policy and standards and with Quality on audit readiness and regulatory inspections, implementing security and compliance controls across infrastructure and workplace technology
• Establishes infrastructure qualification and data integrity practices that meet GxP, computer software assurance (CSA), computer software validation (CSV), and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements
• Balances innovation with compliance, security, and operational reliability when applying emerging technologies in regulated environments
• Applies and contributes to standards, policies, and best practices in infrastructure delivery and service operations
• Owns infrastructure and operations budget planning across operating, capital, and IT people costs, developing forecasts, business cases, and spend plans, and managing spend and procurement approvals within delegated authority
• Drives continuous improvement in the reliability, security, and support experience of infrastructure and workplace technology

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline
• Minimum of 10-12 years of IT experience, including IT focused leadership roles in pharmaceutical or other regulated environments
• Previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry is required.
• Hands-on experience leading and delivering infrastructure and workplace technology implementations, configurations, integrations, and support services
• Experience applying ITIL-based service management practices, including incident, request, problem, change, escalation, service level, and continuous improvement processes
• Proven experience managing managers or supervisors and delivering services and projects on schedule
• Deep operational experience with Microsoft, AWS, network and server management, WiFi and wireless services, voice and telecom systems, video conferencing and meeting room technology, endpoint and device management, identity and access management, data center management, and workplace services
• Experience managing outsourcing partners, managed service providers, telecom carriers, device and endpoint providers, contracts, and technology budgets

Competencies

• Combines technical judgement with service awareness when evaluating solutions and tradeoffs
• Applies strong project management and execution discipline across concurrent initiatives
• Directs and develops a technical team, building capability and succession
• Effectively resolves ambiguous, cross-functional technical challenges with sound judgement
• Builds trust and credibility with business leaders, global counterparts, and external partners
• Sustains service and delivery discipline under compliance and audit scrutiny
• Clearly articulates complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences

Other Requirements

• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Experience with project delivery management
• Experience managing technology vendor contracts, service levels, renewals, and third-party delivery performance
• Ability to work effectively across global teams
• Supports regulatory inspections and audits as required
• Willingness to engage hands-on as needed, including critical incidents and planned maintenance outside standard business hours. Flexibility to adjust work hours as needed to meet IT deliverables.
• Must live a commutable distance to our US Corporate Headquarters in Florham Park, NJ. Office presence required 50% per month, at least 2-3 days per week.

Additional Information

The base salary range for this full-time position is $200,000 - $230,000. Individual pay is determined by several factors, which include but are not limited to: job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range does not include the comprehensive benefits, bonus, long-term incentive, applicable allowances, or any additional compensation that may be associated with this role. 

Disclaimer

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of requirements, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other requirements, duties and responsibilities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

You acknowledge and agree that information described herein may be disclosed to applicable regulatory authorities, alliance partners and/or third-party service providers as necessary for Shionogi to fulfil its obligations under applicable laws, including but not limited to compliance with regulatory inspections and/or audits.

Shionogi Inc. is an equal opportunity employer supporting individuals with disabilities and veterans. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment opportunities based on valid job requirements without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, ancestry, citizenship, disability, genetic information, status as a disabled veteran, a recently separated veteran, Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veterans, and Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. It is the policy of Shionogi Inc. to undertake affirmative action for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements to recruit a diverse pool of protected veteran and individuals with disabilities applicants and to ensure that our employment practices are, in fact, non-discriminatory.

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