IT Infrastructure and Cloud Manager

IT Infrastructure and Cloud Manager

Location: Cullompton

About Us: Welcome to a company where innovation meets passion! We are dedicated to building a diverse and talented workforce that drives our success. We support over 3,000 colleagues across 50 UK locations and are looking for an experienced IT Infrastructure & Cloud Manager to lead our Azure, network and Microsoft 365 environments. We believe in fostering a dynamic work environment where every member can grow and excel. If you're looking for a place where your ideas are valued and your career can flourish, you've found it!

Job Description: Reporting to the Head of Technology, the IT Infrastructure & Cloud Manager will lead the team responsible for the organisation's core infrastructure and workplace technology services. You will oversee service performance, lead infrastructure projects and drive continuous improvement across the business. Working closely with Cyber Security and wider Technology teams, you will ensure services remain secure, resilient and aligned with business needs while supporting the adoption of new technologies and ongoing digital transformation.

The role is hybrid, with three days a week at our Cullompton office and occasional travel to other sites. You will join a 24x7 third line on-call rota, one week in five.

Key Responsibilities:

Team, project and service leadership (40%)

• Lead, develop and coach a multi-skilled team of Infrastructure Engineers; balancing skills, workload, service management and planned maintenance activity.
• Prioritise the team's work across projects, BAU, changes, third-line tickets and MDR alerts, keeping priorities clear when the business changes direction.
• Lead infrastructure projects end to end, from scoping and planning through risk, suppliers and delivery. Our PMO supports, but infrastructure project leadership sits with you.
• Own infrastructure, network and Microsoft 365 major incidents through to resolution and post-incident review, working with the Service Delivery Manager.
• Act as an approver on the Change Approval Board.
• Manage suppliers across managed services, cloud, licensing and hardware, including contracts, renewals, SLAs and performance, working with the Head of Technology.
• Contribute to the roadmap for your areas alongside the wider Technology management team and champion the Gregory Way.

Microsoft Azure (30%)

• Own the design, build, operation and optimisation of our dual-region Azure estate, across IaaS (primarily Windows and SQL Server VMs, storage, backup) and PaaS (Azure SQL, App Services, Blob Storage, Azure Firewall, Key Vault).
• Lead continual optimisation: right-sizing, reservations, FinOps, tagging and governance through Azure Policy and landing zones.
• Design and maintain connectivity between Azure, our sites and third parties, including SD-WAN, VPNs, private endpoints and DNS.
• Keep the estate resilient through high availability where needed, cross-region recovery with Azure Site Recovery, monitoring, patching and regularly tested DR.
• Own vulnerability management for Azure-hosted servers, databases and applications, patching to agreed timescales under the governance of the Cyber Security Manager.
• Support Microsoft Fabric and our data platform with Data Services and lead the move of legacy systems onto modern Azure services, including the secure adoption of AI and Analytics capabilities.

Networking (15%)

• Own the design, configuration, deployment and monitoring strategy for a large enterprise network that spans 50 sites.
• Define routing and traffic policy for our third-party managed Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, and hold the provider to it.
• Lead the management of our Cisco Meraki switching and wireless, and network access control technology.
• Lead our network segmentation programme, including SD-WAN, Zscaler and Azure Firewall policy.
• Own the standard for on-site technology (CCTV, access control, print, time and attendance, warehouse automation connectivity), and support new sites, changes and closures.
• Build in resilience with dual underlays and failover, and maintain monitoring, documentation and firmware across the estate.

Microsoft 365 and endpoint services (15%)

• Own the configuration of our Microsoft 365 tenant, including Entra ID (Conditional Access, PIM, hybrid identity), Exchange Online, Teams Telephony and SharePoint.
• Own the standard build and lifecycle for PCs, laptops, mobiles and our frontline Android estate through Intune and Autopilot.
• Keep the tenant current with the Microsoft roadmap, including the controlled rollout of Copilot and AI features.
• Implement the security controls specified by the Cyber Security Manager (Conditional Access, MFA and passkeys, EDR, device compliance) and evidence them for Cyber Essentials and customer due diligence.
• Provide third-line escalation for the service desk.

Requirements:

• At least five years' IT infrastructure experience across cloud, networking and Microsoft workplace technologies, including two or more in a lead or management role.
• Hands-on experience designing and operating Azure IaaS and PaaS in production, including cost and governance management.
• Strong enterprise networking skills: routing, switching, wireless, SD-WAN, firewalls and segmentation.
• Deep hands-on experience of Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Conditional Access and Intune.
• Proven line management of a technical team, and experience leading projects without a dedicated project manager.
• Experience managing multiple suppliers and contracts.
• Major incident and change management experience.
• A security-first mindset, with hands-on vulnerability and patch management and a working knowledge of Cyber Essentials or similar frameworks.
• Clear communication with technical and non-technical audiences, up to senior management.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Certifications such as AZ-104, AZ-700, CCNA or Meraki CMNA, MD-102 or MS-102, and ITIL 4 Foundation, or working at that level.
• Experience with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Meraki, Portnox, Zscaler, SentinelOne, Microsoft Fabric, Azure SQL Managed Instance, customer-facing serverless web services, managed detection and response providers, or securing AI services such as Copilot.
• A multi-site, 24x7 operational background, such as logistics, distribution, manufacturing or retail.

Why Join Gregory Distribution Ltd?

• Competitive Salary: £60,000 - £65,000pa, Depending on experience.
• Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00 plus participation in the team on-call rota, currently 1 week in 5.
• Training: Monthly Courses for a variety of areas.
• Benefits: Additional holiday purchasing scheme*, Retail discounts with Circular Benefits*, Retail Trust Wellbeing Support*, and more.
• Career Growth: Explore opportunities for professional development within our expanding business.
• Company Benefits: Excellent holiday allowance. Life assurance, pension, and sickness scheme*.
• Extras: Christmas Savings Club*, Black Circle Tyre Discount*, Cycle To Work Scheme*, Free Uniform and paid Volunteer Day.
• Wellbeing Support: Benefit from the Retail Trust Wellbeing Support* program.
• Team Environment: Be part of a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration.

How to Apply

If you have the drive to be the best and want to be part of a flourishing and ambitious company, apply now!

Please submit your application as soon as possible. Due to high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications.

Eligibility: Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK with no restrictions. Proof of Right to Work will be required at the interview stage.

Contact Us: For any queries, please contact our Recruitment Team at . Our team is available Monday to Friday, 08:30hrs - 17:00hrs.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to recruit directly but have a Preferred Supplier List for when we need assistance. We’ll be in touch if we need you.

*Subject to terms and conditions.