Head of Cloud and Database Operations

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us.  We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream.  Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real. 

About the function: Information Technology

Given the carve-out and the new strategic journey, ofi is focussing on areas that accelerate growth through innovation strategy. Along these lines, the IT function is looking forward to driving the next wave of value creation that can have a tangible positive impact on the organization as well as our partners including farmers, suppliers, customers and communities.

About the role

The Head of Cloud and Database Operations is responsible for leading the strategic planning, implementation, and management of cloud infrastructure and database platforms across the organization. This role ensures high availability, performance, scalability, and security of cloud-hosted and on-premises data systems while aligning with business and compliance requirements.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for Cloud and Database operation and various projects planning and execution in a similar domain. Selected candidate will be responsible for ongoing migration of our on-premises infrastructure to the Azure/AWS cloud platform. This role requires a deep understanding of cloud computing, Azure/AWS services, and cloud migration strategies.

The ideal candidate should also possess strong communication, IT Technical, planning, process improvement, and strategic decision-making skills. A proven ability to work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment will be required for success in this position.

Key responsibilities

Cloud Operations

• • Lead the design, deployment, and optimization of cloud environments (AWS, Azure).
  • Ensure operational excellence in cloud services including compute, storage, networking, and security.
  • Drive automation to improve Cloud operation Maturity
  • Manage cloud cost optimization and vendor relationships.

Database Operations

• • Oversee administration of enterprise databases (SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Sybase.DB2).
  • Ensure database performance, availability, backup, and disaster recovery.
  • Implement data governance, security, and compliance policies.
  • Collaborate with data engineering and analytics teams to support business intelligence initiatives.

Security & Compliance

• • Ensure cloud and database platforms meet regulatory and internal security standards.
  • Work with InfoSec to implement encryption, access controls, and audit mechanisms.

Team Leadership

• • Lead a team of cloud engineers, DBAs, and operations specialists.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Monitoring & Reporting

• • Implement robust monitoring and alerting systems.
  • Provide regular performance and capacity reports to leadership.

Vendor Management

• • Collaborate with vendors to ensure effective service delivery and cost optimization.
  • Monitor SLA performance and drive continuous service delivery improvement.
  • Negotiate contracts and maintain strong relationships with technology partners.

Financial Management

• • Develop operating expense and capital global budgets annually and monitor actuals to plan and reforecast monthly.
  • Lead an ongoing cost reduction program to eliminate, consolidate, or renegotiate IT hardware, software, and services while improving IT services to our global business.

Collaboration

• • Work closely with other IT teams including Cyber Security, Applications Development, and the Project Management Office to deliver seamless services.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure alignment with business needs.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s in computer science, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in IT operations, with 5+ years in cloud and database leadership.
• Expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and enterprise databases.
• Certifications such as AWS/Azure Architect, Oracle DBA, or similar are a plus.

Preferred Skills

• Strong understanding of ITIL, Agile, and SRE principles.
• Experience with hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

ofi is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

Applicants are requested to complete all required steps in the application process including providing a resume/CV in order to be considered for open roles.