Pauwels Consulting
EN
Infrastructure Operations Manager
Brussels-Capital
Digital - (Project) Management
Bachelor, Master
Work experience: 10+
Reference number: 91092

We’re looking for an experienced Infrastructure Operations Manager to co-lead the infrastructure department of a major public-sector organization. You’ll work alongside a non-technical co-manager to ensure the stability, modernization, and performance of critical IT systems supporting nationwide operations.

This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, combining operational responsibility, infrastructure modernization, and people management within a large-scale, high-impact environment.You role includes:

Operational Management

  • Oversee the day-to-day management of IT infrastructure (servers, networks, storage, security).
  • Monitor system performance and availability, define KPIs, and implement monitoring and alerting tools.
  • Analyze performance data, identify bottlenecks, and develop improvement plans.
  • Define and enforce incident and problem management processes; oversee ticket handling and escalation.
  • Supervise preventive and corrective maintenance plans and ensure compliance with service-level agreements (SLAs).

Infrastructure Strategy & Projects

  • Develop and execute the infrastructure roadmap aligned with organizational strategy and technology evolution.
  • Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and assess their potential for adoption.
  • Define, plan, and manage infrastructure projects, including budget oversight, resource allocation, and progress reporting.
  • Ensure innovation and continuous improvement in infrastructure and operations management.

Team Leadership & Coaching

  • Lead and motivate a team of technical experts, defining goals and monitoring outcomes.
  • Promote professional development through training, mentoring, and coaching.
  • Foster a collaborative, transparent, and solution-oriented team culture.
  • Coach and support your co-manager in gaining the necessary technical and leadership skills to manage the team independently.

Collaboration & Governance

  • Maintain close collaboration with internal teams, vendors, and service providers.
  • Negotiate service contracts and coordinate third-party interventions.
  • Communicate effectively with leadership on performance, incidents, and improvement plans.

What are we looking for?

  • 15+ years of experience in IT infrastructure roles.
  • Proven experience in team management and public-sector environments (mandatory).
  • Expertise in:
  • Systems and networks: TCP/IP, Windows, Linux, storage (SAN/NAS), virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V).
  • Monitoring & incident management: Nagios, Prometheus, ServiceNow, Jira.
  • Cloud platforms: Azure, AWS.
  • Security technologies: Firewalls, VPNs, and backup/disaster recovery processes.
  • Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
  • Ability to define objectives, delegate effectively, and manage conflicts constructively.
  • Strategic mindset with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
  • Fluent in French OR Dutch, and active knowledge of English.

    Nice to Have

    • Experience with large-scale modernization or cloud migration programs.
    • Strong background in public-sector governance and compliance standards.
  • What do we offer?

    Location: Brussels (Hybrid – minimum 2 days/week onsite)

    Contract: Freelance or Permanent 

    Duration: ASAP until December 2026 (extension possible in 2027)

    Workload: Full-time

    Kenneth Van Cleynenbreugel
    Business & Talent Consultant
    We are a Great Place to Work
    We evaluate our work environment with a survey and audit and have been allowed to call ourselves a Great Place to Work and Best Workplace for five years in a row now.
    We are a Great Place to Work