Program Director

Programme Director – Infrastructure Engineering & Cloud AutomationRole Summary - Freelance (12month) remote from EU The Programme Director is accountable for the strategic leadership, governance, and successful delivery of large-scale infrastructure transformation programmes, with a strong emphasis on cloud adoption, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), platform engineering, and automation. The role leads multidisciplinary teams to modernise enterprise infrastructure through standardised, secure, and scalable deployment practices using technologies such as Azure, Bicep, Terraform, CI/CD pipelines, and DevSecOps methodologies. Key ResponsibilitiesDefine and lead the infrastructure transformation strategy across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments.Establish and govern enterprise Infrastructure as Code (IaC) standards using Azure Bicep, ARM templates, Terraform, and related automation frameworks.Direct multiple concurrent programmes focused on cloud migration, infrastructure modernisation, platform engineering, and operational resilience.Drive the adoption of engineering-led delivery models, DevOps culture, CI/CD pipelines, and automated infrastructure provisioning.Develop target operating models that increase agility, security, compliance, and scalability across infrastructure services.Lead senior engineering managers, architects, product owners, and delivery teams to achieve programme outcomes.Ensure alignment between business objectives, technology strategy, cybersecurity requirements, and operational support models.Establish programme governance, risk management, financial control, and executive reporting mechanisms.Champion cloud-native architectures, reusable infrastructure modules, and standardised deployment patterns.Manage third-party suppliers, systems integrators, and strategic technology partners.Oversee technical assurance, architecture governance, and compliance with enterprise standards and regulatory requirements.Drive measurable improvements in deployment speed, infrastructure reliability, operational efficiency, and cost optimisation. Key DeliverablesEnterprise Infrastructure as Code framework and governance model.Reusable Azure Bicep module library and deployment standards.Cloud landing zones and platform engineering capabilities.Automated CI/CD infrastructure delivery pipelines.Infrastructure modernisation and migration roadmap.Security-by-design and policy-based deployment controls.Cost optimisation and cloud financial management initiatives.Infrastructure service performance and transformation KPIs. Required ExperienceProven experience leading complex infrastructure and cloud transformation programmes exceeding £10m+ budgets.Extensive experience delivering Infrastructure as Code solutions using Azure Bicep, Terraform, ARM Templates, or equivalent technologies.Strong leadership background in enterprise-scale Microsoft Azure environments.Demonstrable experience establishing DevOps, Platform Engineering, and automation capabilities.Experience managing large technical teams, senior stakeholders, and executive governance boards.Deep understanding of cloud architecture, networking, security, identity, and infrastructure operations.Track record of successfully delivering large-scale cloud migration and infrastructure modernisation programmes.Experience implementing governance frameworks, risk controls, and regulatory compliance requirements. Technical ExpertiseMicrosoft AzureAzure BicepInfrastructure as Code (IaC)TerraformARM TemplatesAzure DevOpsGitHub ActionsCI/CD PipelinesDevSecOpsPlatform EngineeringKubernetes / AKSAzure Landing ZonesEnterprise ArchitectureCloud GovernanceSecurity & ComplianceFinOps Leadership CompetenciesExecutive stakeholder managementStrategic planning and transformation leadershipFinancial and commercial managementGovernance and risk managementTeam development and coachingVendor and partner managementChange leadershipOutcome-driven delivery Led a £50m enterprise infrastructure transformation programme, establishing Infrastructure as Code standards using Azure Bicep and Azure DevOps pipelines, reducing deployment times by 80%, improving platform consistency, and enabling fully automated, policy-compliant cloud provisioning across multiple business units.