Head of Cloud

Location: North Ryde, NSW, Australia

We have an exciting and unique opportunity for an accomplished and strategic Head of Cloud to join Downer's Group Technology team within the Cloud & Networks function.

 

This is a senior leadership role for a visionary technology professional who thrives in complex enterprise environment and is passionate about driving cloud transformation, modern engineering practices, operational excellence, and technology innovation at scale.

 

Reporting to the General Manager, Cloud & Networks, the Head of Cloud will lead the strategy, delivery, and operational performance of Downer's cloud platforms and cloud-enabled services. The role is critical in accelerating the organisation's transition from legacy infrastructure to a modern, secure, automated, and scalable cloud operating model that enables business growth, operational resilience, and digital transformation.

 

As a key member of the Cloud & Networks leadership team, you will partner closely with Enterprise Architecture, Cyber Security, Data & AI, Finance, Procurement, Risk, and business stakeholders to ensure cloud services are secure, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned to enterprise objectives.

 

This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of Downer's cloud capability, enabling innovation and delivering long-term business value across a large and diverse organisation.

 

About the Role

 

In this role you will:

• Lead and execute Downer's enterprise cloud strategy across AWS, Azure and GCP, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and enterprise risk frameworks.

• Drive large-scale cloud migration and application modernisation initiatives, reducing legacy technology dependencies and accelerating adoption of cloud-native solutions.

• Lead the day-to-day operational management of Downer's cloud platforms, ensuring high levels of availability, resilience, performance, service reliability, and operational excellence.

• Establish and mature platform engineering, DevSecOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation and self-service capabilities across the cloud environment.

• Build and strengthen enterprise data and AI platform capabilities, enabling modern analytics, machine learning, and Generative AI solutions.

• Develop and maintain cloud governance frameworks, reference architectures, platform standards, and security controls to ensure secure-by-design delivery.

• Lead FinOps practices, driving cloud cost transparency, optimisation, forecasting, and value realisation across the organisation.

• Partner with Cyber Security and Risk teams to ensure ongoing compliance with information security, privacy, risk, and regulatory obligations.

• Lead cloud and infrastructure due diligence, integration, and separation activities associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestments.

• Manage strategic relationships with hyperscalers, managed service providers, technology vendors, and consulting partners.

• Deliver a high-performing cloud portfolio, ensuring projects and initiatives are governed effectively and deliver agreed business outcomes.

• Lead, coach, and develop a geographically distributed team of cloud engineers, architects, platform specialists, FinOps practitioners, and security professionals.

 

Our Ideal Candidate

You are known for your ability to influence stakeholders, balance strategy with execution, drive innovation, and build trusted relationships across technology, business, and executive leadership teams.

 

You bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 15+ years' experience in technology leadership roles, including significant experience leading cloud functions within large, complex organisations.

• Proven success delivering major cloud migration, application modernisation, and digital transformation programs.

• Deep expertise across at least two major hyperscaler platforms, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

• Strong experience with cloud-native architectures, Kubernetes, DevSecOps, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, automation, and platform engineering.

• Demonstrated experience embedding security-by-design principles and partnering closely with Cyber Security teams.

• Strong commercial acumen, including cloud financial management, vendor management, contract negotiations, and FinOps practices.

• Experience leading insourcing, outsourcing, or operating model transformation initiatives.

• Exposure to cloud and infrastructure aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestments, and technology integrations.

• Strong understanding of modern data, analytics, and AI platforms and their enterprise applications.

• Current cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, or GCP Professional/Specialist level) highly regarded.

• Security and FinOps certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, CCSK, or FinOps Practitioner are advantageous.

• Tertiary qualifications in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline; postgraduate qualifications (MBA, MIT) advantageous.

 

What We Can Offer You

• A rare opportunity to lead and shape the cloud strategy of a large and complex ASX-listed organisation.

• The chance to drive enterprise-wide transformation and modern technology adoption at scale.

• Exposure to innovative cloud, automation, data, AI, security, and platform engineering initiatives. 

• Grow your career with us, we are passionate about giving our people opportunities to grow through personal and professional development and continuous learning: 

  • Professional development programs 

    • Access to professional memberships and industry networks

• Be part of a team that cares, we foster a work environment built on support that is flexible around our employee’s wellbeing needs: 

  • Flexible work arrangements 

    • Parental leave

    • Employee Assistance Program

    • Programs promoting diversity and inclusion

• A range of Corporate Benefits, including:

  • Discounted services (car hires, hotels, insurance, retail stores, gyms) 

 

Why Downer?

As a trusted name in infrastructure, transport, facilities management, and construction, Downer is committed to delivering projects that create a lasting, positive legacy. We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve, and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with this role, we’d still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

 

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

An exciting leadership opportunity to shape Downer's cloud strategy, platform engineering capability, and cloud operating model.