At NEXT, not only are we one of the UK’s largest fashion retailers, but we’re also one of the largest listed companies, full-stop. Selling our products and thousands of world-famous brands, both in-store and online. What’s more, we’re growing. Fast. And it’s the kind of growth and investment that is exciting for everyone in our business. 

 

Infrastructure & Cloud Services are at the forefront of everything from Cloud to Networking, Data Centres to virtual servers/servers (Windows and Linux) as well as desktops, Licensing and mobile phones! Every piece of infrastructure at Head office, in the stores, the warehouses, for the website or the contact centre are supported by this area. Central services such as Microsoft Azure, GSuite and GCP, file services, Citrix, Active Directory (and much more) are all provided and supported by this area. 

About the role

The Operations Manager – Infrastructure and Cloud Services is a senior management role dedicated to ensuring the seamless operation, scalability, and continuous improvement of infrastructure and cloud services provided by Next Technology Sri Lanka. Reporting to the Country Manager, with a dotted line to Domain Managers within the Infrastructure vertical, this role oversees critical teams, including IT Service Management, DevOps, Observability and Monitoring, and Cloud Services.

 

This role operates in a fast-paced and ever-evolving technical environment, requiring adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. The position also involves working closely with cross-functional teams, including managing remote or distributed teams when needed.

 

Day-to-day, your responsibilities will include (but is not limited to):

Oversee the operational efficiency of all infrastructure and cloud teams, including IT Service Management, DevOps, Observability and Monitoring, and Cloud Services Develop and implement long-term strategies to enhance the scalability, efficiency, and reliability of infrastructure and cloud services Establish clear goals and KPIs for teams, regularly reviewing performance and identifying areas for improvement Build a high-performing, motivated, and collaborative team culture that promotes innovation and accountability Spearhead initiatives to optimise service delivery through AI and automation across all operations and services delivered from Next Technology Sri Lanka Act as the primary liaison between Sri Lanka-based teams and global stakeholders, ensuring alignment on goals, priorities, and strategies Deliver actionable insights to senior leadership through regular reports and presentations Ensure all infrastructure and cloud activities meet regulatory and organisational compliance standards Identify and mitigate operational risks to maintain service integrity and reliability

 

About you

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field or a relevant Master’s degree  Industry certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMP, Azure Certified Solutions Architect) are advantageous Extensive experience in IT infrastructure and cloud services management, with a track record of leadership roles Proven experience in managing diverse teams and operational areas, including DevOps, IT Service Management, and cloud environments Strong expertise in implementing operational improvements using AI and automation technologies Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of cloud platforms (preferably Azure), infrastructure technologies, DevOps methodologies, AI/ML, Automation, IT service management, and monitoring tools Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively in a globally distributed team Availability during Sri Lankan business hours. Willingness to work during UK business hours when needed

 

In addition, we’re looking for you to be:  

Able to speak, read and write English at a level that enables you to complete your role, for example, to understand instructions and communicate effectively with stakeholders and/or other team members Experienced in effectively working in a collaborative manner in a large scale, fast paced environment within a multifunctional technical team 

 

So if you’ve got solid credentials gained in a technical environment, great team management skills, and experience handling stakeholder needs, requests and relationships, this is the place for you – and your career.