Director of Global IT Infrastructure, Cloud Services, and Network

About Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates is a leading global consulting firm that provides economic, financial, and business management expertise to major law firms, corporations, and governments around the world. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its combination of industry experience and rigorous, fact-based analysis that provides clients with clear, implementable solutions to complex business concerns. 

The Information Technology (ITS) department at Charles River Associates is a team of 40 professionals dedicated to enhancing, maintaining, and developing the firm's technology infrastructure and security. The team comprises six functions: Enterprise Applications Services; Service Delivery & Telecom; Information Security; Infrastructure, Cloud and Networks; Project Management and Procurement; and Human Resource Information Systems. Information Technology staff are based in the Boston, Chicago, College Station, New York, Oakland, and Washington, DC offices domestically, as well as London and Munich offices internationally.

Position Overview

The Director of Global IT Infrastructure, Cloud Services, and Network is responsible for overseeing and shaping the future of our infrastructure landscape.

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Director of Global IT Infrastructure, Cloud Services, and Network will lead the organization’s IT infrastructure and will oversee setup, automation, and monitoring while ensuring compliance with performance standards, security, and scalability.

The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in the field of infrastructure, cloud, and network solutions and will possess a strategic mindset with strong leadership abilities.

• Oversee the strategic planning, installation, configuration, maintenance, and support of global infrastructure and systems across multiple datacenters;
• Lead the development and management of cloud-based infrastructure strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals;
• Ensure the integrity and reliability of data backup and archive processes, implementing best practices and continuous improvement initiatives;
• Provide executive oversight for production support, ensuring timely and effective resolution of critical issues;
• Establish and enforce security and integrity protocols for production and development environments, in compliance with corporate security policies;
• Develop, implement, and regularly test comprehensive disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity;
• Direct the maintenance and support of cloud-based infrastructure, with a strategic focus on AWS and/or GCP, ensuring optimal performance and scalability;
• Formulate and enforce security protocols and policies, ensuring they meet or exceed industry standards and regulatory requirements;
• Stay abreast of industry standards and emerging technologies, integrating relevant advancements into the organization's infrastructure strategy;
• Manage and cultivate expertise in cloud platforms, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation;
• Design, implement, and oversee the administration and troubleshooting of advanced cloud solutions and tools, ensuring they meet organizational needs;
• Provide strategic project engineering support, guiding teams to successful project completion and alignment with business objectives.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree in a related technical, audit, law, or security field preferred;
• 10+ years of experience in evolving information security and IT roles, including 5 years’ leadership/management-level experience with enterprise-level infrastructure and cloud programs, policy, and administration;
• Deep knowledge of network architectures, including cloud security, wireless networks, firewalls, and intrusion detection/prevention systems;
• Deep understanding of Cloud platforms, such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and protecting data stored within such environments;
• Deep understanding of Virtualization (VMWare) infrastructure
• Strong architecture background with experience automation, building and driving a strategy and framework;
• Proficient with core technologies that include Office 365 (inc. exchange online), Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, etc;
• Ability to document technical artifacts related to design and architecture;
• Hands on experience with technologies like Kubernetes, BigQuery, Databricks, Redshift, RDS, EMR, GuardRails, and/or Snowflake is highly preferred;
• Strong understanding of information security principles, practices, and technologies, including network security, application security, cloud security and endpoint security;

• Managing/ enforcing - Change management, standards operating procedures, standard system builds

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to adapt your communication style across various audiences – technical, executive, user;
• Strong leadership skills, both within the information technology business unit and as a collaborator with other business units and stakeholders;
• Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing teams in dynamic environments;
• Strong sense of urgency, personal responsibility, accountability; self-motivated, efficient, and effective;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, able to initiate, organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple & complex projects.

Work Location Flexibility

CRA creates a work environment that enables our colleagues to benefit from being together in the office to best deliver on our promise of career growth, mentorship and inclusivity. At the same time, we recognize that individuals realize a range of benefits when working from home periodically. We currently ask that individuals spend 3 to 4 days a week on average working in the office (which may include traveling to another CRA office), with specific days determined in coordination with your team. At certain times of the year (e.g. holiday periods), additional remote work options are offered to those whose work commitments permit it, although our offices remain open for those who choose or need to be there.

Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River Associates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.