Job Description
Job Title: Group IT Azure Infrastructure Engineer
Department: IT
Reporting to: Group Infrastructure Manager
Location: London, UK with some International travel
Please make sure you read the following details carefully before making any applications.
Who We Are
Our international brand, rooted in a century of French heritage, passionately connects cooks worldwide to personal stories and a rich legacy of food lovers. With a focus on the future, we strive to build exquisite, quality products that bring joy across generations, ensuring every home's heart beats from the kitchen. Guided by our values of PASSION, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE, & TEAMWORK, we celebrate our diverse team spanning 22 countries and cultures, making Le Creuset a vibrant and inspiring workplace.
Job Summary
This is a key role within the Group IT Technology team and is responsible for delivery and implementation of Azure designs, services, and resources across the Le Creuset Group organisation and regional teams. Working alongside the Group Infrastructure Manager and Infrastructure team to ensure that global Azure landing zones are securely managed and are well maintained, target service & availability levels are established and well reported both internally and with third party suppliers. To work with regional Infrastructure Teams and suppliers to establish consistent and efficient IT Systems & Services across the group.
The role will require a high degree of technical knowledge around a wide range of infrastructure services but particularly Azure, Windows, Microsoft 365, Mail filtering, Network typology, Proxy, VPN, LAN/WAN and Firewall as well common security standards & technologies. Knowledge of ITIL Incident, Problem, Request, Change & Knowledge will be required.
Strong Azure cloud knowledge encompassing design and implementation is necessary with a focus on conformity to the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework and data landing zone architecture and provision.
It is also important to understand Microsoft data landing zone architecture and to be conversant is Infrastructure as code practices with DevOps.
It is important that a mature consideration is made to balance the need for stability whilst also delivering appropriate IT change. The needs of the different subsidiaries and their local operations will need to be considered as well as gathering the requirements of the business and aligning these to the services offered by IT.
The role may require some international travel and an expectation for being available 24/7 in times of critical project delivery or major incident.
Le Creuset has a successful, regionally focused operating model so the Group IT Azure Infrastructure Engineer needs to ensure that local as well as central needs are managed in an effective way.
Responsibilities:
The Group IT Azure Infrastructure Engineer will be responsible for:
Planning & Scheduling
- Working with the group and regional Infrastructure teams and Managers to plan and schedule the transition of new Azure services and changes into production environments in a safe and sustainable way;
- Interacting with other departments within IT and third-party vendors to provide appropriate Azure designs and solutions to meet the needs of Le Creuset;
- Working on a portfolio of change in line with an agreed Technology strategy and roadmap agreed with the Group Infrastructure Manager;
- Effectively planning and delivering against a tight update schedule to ensure all Azure resources, operating systems, virtual network platforms and hardware firmware are kept up to date;
- Working within the CAB and change management processes to ensure changes are delivered to the highest standard and following best practice;
- Working closely with business stakeholders on access, requests and management of Group Infrastructure and Azure platforms.
Strategic Azure Infrastructure Roadmap
- Working to a structured & strategic Azure Infrastructure roadmap.
- Consideration is needed to ensure that Azure Infrastructure services are managed, updated, and developed in accordance with the roadmap.
- Leading discussions with technical and IT teams regarding implementation and design of technical solutions
- Ensuring that value for money is achieved
Technical Azure Infrastructure Design and Delivery
- Leading the delivery of the technical solutions
- Owning the development and support of core Azure Infrastructure systems and services along with the Group Infrastructure Manager.
- Identifying major areas of improvement, automation and efficiency through use and implementation of appropriate reporting tools
- Providing direction to and leading other teams regarding Azure Infrastructure Management best practice and technical project delivery
- Being proactive and working closely with the engineering and projects functions to ensure all deliverables are documented and delivered on time as required.
- Always adhering to appropriate levels of security and always putting security at the forefront of any solution.
Support
- Working closely with technical project resources to deliver a premium support capability 24/7
- Delivering against team service level targets ensuring that specific KPI’s are being met
- Support internal IT colleagues and customers as required
- Strong adherence to and use of the ITSM Service Desk toolset ensuring that administration of tickets is always completed on time and kept up to date.
Documentation
- Ensuring systems are documented appropriately according to IT standards and stored in the KMS.
- Ensuring proper documentation is provided for Training and Service Introduction
Key Relationships:
The key relationships will include:
- Regional Infrastructure Support and other Group Infrastructure team staff - The Group IT Azure Infrastructure Engineer will need to work closely with all infrastructure teams, managers, and staff to manage through changes and designs and to ensure systems are always being managed with security in mind.
- Central Project teams - It may be important to form close relationships with some key internal stakeholders on the project teams to fully understand future requirements for projects and to fulfil the requirements of them as customers.
- Customers and business stakeholders - It will be important to provide excellent customer service and be quick to respond with expertise and solutions in response to requests for licensing, access, or instruction on the use of key systems and solutions.
Personal Development:
To ensure own responsibility for personal development areas and agree appropriate opportunities with your line manager. Encouragement and support will be given to the development of fresh thinking and improvements to Service Management
Ad-Hoc Tasks:
From time to time as deemed appropriate, ad hoc tasks will be assigned, these should be completed to the agreed standard and timescale.
Skills
The key personal skills include:
- Communication
- Presentation
- Critical Thinking
- Collaboration
- Problem Solving Skills - isolate complex problems using internal and external tools.
- Problem Resolution - resolve application design and logic errors.
Knowledge
- Cloud Network & Security (Azure and/or AWS)
- Network Security: configuration of NextGen Firewalls (any of Cisco, Palo Alto, FortiGate (Ideal), Checkpoint. VPN (IPSec, SSL, site-to-site)
- Security products: Mimecast (Email security), FortiGate (firewall), Netskope (web filter), CrowdStrike (end point)
- Office 365 and Microsoft licensing
- Requires experience and knowledge of Security standards including relevant ISO standards 27001 or CIS Critical Security Controls, etc.
- Requires expert knowledge of modern Azure platform, technology, an operation.
- Awareness of GDPR as well as other local regulatory control mechanisms
Experience
- Extensive experience in delivering IT related Network, Security, Azure, and Infrastructure propositions.
- Direct experience in working in an ITIL environment.
- Vendor management experience including the management of outsourced near shore partners.
- A passion for and deep understanding of leading-edge technologies. Clear and tangible experience of defining and delivering compelling, business aligned IT strategies.
- International experience and working across multiple regions.
Qualifications
- The candidate should have, as a minimum, a good analytical degree or equivalent certification roadmap.
- Ideally the candidate will also have advanced certifications that relate directly to the role including e.g. Azure.
Leadership Competencies
- Be a strong and influential character, and team player with good interpersonal skills able to create a sense of community amongst the disparate members of the team.
- Drive innovation and continuous Improvement
- Build trusted relationships
- Comprehend the business environment and interrelationships between business processes.
- Promote and champion business and IT objectives, and business, technical and market awareness.
- Good track record for sound thinking, creativity, achieving results and cost control.
- Flexible and pragmatic approach to the demands of this role, the area of responsibility and the changing needs of the business.
Any Other Conditions Pertaining to the Role
Le Creuset have UK and International offices and there will be a requirement from time to time to visit these sites, depending on the specific project requirements. Finally, the role delivers success through excellent relationships at both a local and central level.