Director IT, Infrastructure Services

Job Summary:The Infrastructure Services Director will ensure a high performance, flexible, and cost effective IT Infrastructure that meets Asset Management business requirements. This role includes the following responsibilities:?Manage the relationship between Asset Management and IT Infrastructure technology and outsourced vendors to continually improve processes and service quality. Take positive steps to establish and maintain effective relationships with business clients, IT peers and vendors.?Manage outsourced vendor contracts, monitoring and reporting on vendor performance.?Manage effective communications in a multi-company matrixed environment. Handle and resolve difficult communications. Take a leadership role in ensuring all parties are engaged, expectations understood, and drive toward deliverables and timeframes.?Ensure Asset Management understands and is effectively participating in IT infrastructure processes. Oversee processes, address issues and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement. Monitor and validate that processes meet documented security and controls requirements.?Provide Infrastructure solutions that meet Phoenix business requirements. Solutions will leverage standard technologies, be cost effective and have flexibility to meet new needs.?Participate in the creation of IT Infrastructure annual plans and budgets.Duties and Responsibilities:?Successfully interpret application or business requirements into infrastructure requirements?Collaborate with IT Architecture and Infrastructure vendors to develop standards, architecture and strategic plans?Participate in the analysis of new technology to support solving business problems?Promote the use of project life cycle methodology.?Participate in design review and technology selection as it pertains to IT infrastructure?Monitor customer satisfaction to insure business requirements are being met. Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for process and service improvement.?Define, audit and negotiate ongoing process improvements?Consult with the business areas and IT to communicate technical Infrastructure capabilities, potential enhancements or optimization opportunities.?Collaborate with Infrastructure vendors to ensure appropriate training and communications are provided to the Phoenix Applications teams on both tools and processes. Monitor for effective use.?Monitor working relationships and insure Asset Management's Applications teams are integrating with Infrastructure vendor processes. ?Provide Infrastructure vendor contract clarification. Assist Asset Management with understanding of terms. Work with vendor to modify where appropriate for clarification or to address changing Asset Management requirements. ?Develop annual technology and financial plan. Monitor and forecast infrastructure resource utilization incorporating knowledge of Phoenix requirements. ?Manage expenses and pursue efficiency opportunities. ?Monitor vendor performance.Skills, Knowledge and/or Experience:?Broad/Technical knowledge across multiple technical platforms?Demonstrated technical capability in developing solutions utilizing at least 2 platforms and/or demonstrated capability in developing process solutions in a complex technical and matrixed support environment.?Experience with managing complex vendor relationships, e.g. outsourcing relationships.?Demonstrated capability for successfully leading teams in a matrixed environment?Ability to accurately analyze a business issue and convey a technical solution in a clear, concise manner that the customer can understand. Strong written and verbal communication skills. ?Demonstrated initiative to identify opportunities and drive for continuous service improvement.?Knowledge of Asset Management Infrastructure platforms?Understanding of Asset Management applications and their use of Infrastructure environment?Understanding of Business functions to integrate vendor processes?Ability to understand business drivers and anticipate changes in Infrastructure service requirements.Special Working Conditions: ?Ability to work under time constraints?Matrixed, outsourced environment?Off hour on-call responsibilities This position supports the Asset Management subsidiary of The Phoenix Companies, which will spin off into a separate business in 2008. Phoenix is committed to ensuring a safe, healthy, product and efficient work environment for our employees. Pre-employment drug testing and our substance abuse policy for applicants are integral components of our efforts to ensure such a safe working environment. Commencing on or about January 1, 2008, for jobs posted on or after January 1, 2008, Phoenix requires all prospective employees to whom Phoenix has given a conditional offer of employment to submit to a pre-employment urinalysis drug test. All prospective employees must receive a negative result as a condition of employment. https://recruiter.kenexa.com/phoenix/cc/CCJobDetailAction.ss?command=CCViewDetail&ccid=bupJEdUjsTs%3D&job_REQUISITION_NUMBER=24740