Cloud and Data Enablement Lead

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Cloud and Data Enablement Lead with strong Cloud and Data Operations experience who can help mature, modernize, and automate critical technology operations functions. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on operational leader who can immediately contribute to improving Enterprise Data Infrastructure Platforms, Cloud Infrastructure Operations, Enterprise Observability, Resiliency, Vulnerability Remediation, Production Readiness, and Operational Governance.

This individual should bring the technical credibility to work directly with Infrastructure Operations, including Data Operations, Cloud Infrastructure, Security, Application Development, Architecture, and ITSM teams, while also having the leadership capability to influence standards, improve execution discipline, and advance team maturity. The candidate should have sound experience operating in a regulated enterprise environment where reliability, risk management, documentation, audit readiness, and production stability are essential.

While the role may initially function as a senior contributor or enablement lead, the successful candidate should demonstrate the potential to assume broader management responsibility after a brief period. This person must be able to improve day-to-day operations while also helping build the next level of operational maturity through automation, observability, engineering readiness, vulnerability remediation support, and team upskill.

Job Description

The Cloud and Data Enablement Lead, is a senior technology operations role responsible for improving, advancing, maturing, and automating the organization's Cloud Operations and Data Operations capabilities. This role will report to the Director of Technology Operations and will serve as a key contributor to the modernization of operational practices across cloud infrastructure, enterprise data platforms, observability, automation, engineering readiness, resiliency, and production support.

This position is intended for a strong operational and technical leader who can immediately contribute as a senior hands-on enablement lead, while also demonstrating the potential to assume broader management responsibility for advancing Cloud and Data technologies and operations based on performance, organizational need, and readiness. The role requires someone who can operate at both strategic and tactical levels, helping teams improve day-to-day execution while also building the maturity needed to support long-term operational scale.

This role will help drive operational excellence across hybrid and cloud environments by improving automation, strengthening monitoring and observability, reducing manual support dependency, advancing production readiness standards, supporting vulnerability remediation efforts, improving engineering, transitioning to operations practices, and developing the skills and operating discipline of the Cloud and Data Operational teams.

This position will be closely partnered with Architecture, Application Development, Information Security, ITSM, Infrastructure, Data Engineering, and business stakeholders to ensure cloud and data services are secure, resilient, supportable, cost-effective, and operationally ready before transitioning into production support.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Cloud & Data Operations Technical Leadership:
• Leads and influences the strategic improvements operations of Cloud Infrastructure and Enterprise Data Platforms, including cloud-native services, databases, data transfer, automation, backup, and disaster recovery.
• Oversees transformation of production operations including monitoring, incident response, problem management, change management, capacity planning, and availability management.
• Ensure 24x7 operational support models and Tier 2 / Tier 3 escalation coverage for critical cloud and data services are keeping up with business and resiliency requirements.
• Influence and steer Capex/Opex budgets for Cloud and Data Operations to identify efficiency, cost control, and prepare budgetary based planning to transform technology debt
• Operational Readiness & Transformation:
• Drives operational readiness for new platforms, services, and technologies by defining support models, runbooks, SLAs, monitoring, and resiliency patterns.
• Leads transformation initiatives focused on automation, standardization, cloud-native adoption, and operational efficiency.
• Promotes a culture of continuous improvement, proactively identifying opportunities to reduce manual effort, improve reliability, and optimize cost.
• Acts as a change agent to break down silos between infrastructure, data, security, and application teams.
• Strategy, Architecture & Standards:
• Contributes to and execute the Enterprise Cloud and Data Operations Strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technology roadmaps
• Defines, implements, and enforces operational standards, best practices, and patterns for cloud infrastructure, databases, data pipelines, and automation platforms.
• Drives Transition to Operations (TTO) patterns that emphasize security, resiliency, scalability, performance, and cost optimization.
• Stays current on industry trends and emerging technologies, advising leadership on their operational impact and adoption readiness, and suggesting strategic direction for improvement of Technology Infrastructure
• Security, Risk & Compliance:
• Partners with Information Security, CISO, and Risk teams to ensure data protection, encryption, access controls, retention, and regulatory compliance (e.g., FFIEC, GLBA, PCI).
• Ensures disaster recovery and business continuity plans are developed, maintained, and periodically tested.
• Supports audits, risk assessments, and control testing related to cloud and data operations.
• Ensures operational controls and monitoring are in place to support regulatory and internal policy requirements.
• Financial & Vendor Management:
• Oversees operational budgets, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives for cloud and data platforms, to ensure adherence to budget
• Reviews vendor relationships, contracts, and performance for cloud service providers and third-party platforms as needed
• Participates in RFPs, RFIs, and vendor evaluations to ensure solutions meet operational, security, and financial requirements.
• People Leadership:
• Mentors and develops the technical direction of cloud operations, database operations, and data automation teams.
• Establishes clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans aligned with transformation objectives.
• Fosters a collaborative, high-performing, and customer-focused culture.
• Ensure effective knowledge sharing, documentation, and succession planning within the teams.
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Ability to direct managers, technical leads, and individual contributors as applicable and if necessary
• Contributes to hiring decisions, coaching, performance management, and career development.
• Advises on team structures and resource allocation to support operational and strategic priorities.
• Adheres to and complies with applicable, federal and state laws, regulations and guidance, including those related to anti-money laundering (i.e. Bank Secrecy Act, US PATRIOT Act, etc.).
• Adheres to Bank policies and procedures and completes required training
• Identifies and reports suspicious activity.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises function, projects or services and/or one or more managers/employees, as applicable.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance coaching; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Provide senior operational leadership and technical direction across Cloud and Data Technology Operations, including cloud infrastructure, enterprise databases, data platforms, automation services, backup, recovery, monitoring, and production support processes.
• Help mature the operating model for cloud infrastructure and enterprise data platforms, by seeking opportunities for automation and maturity and driving effort.
• Ensure Tier 2 and Tier 3 support models for critical cloud and data services are clearly defined, documented, tested, and aligned to business and resiliency expectations.
• Support Capex and Operational budget planning and execution for Cloud based infrastructure operations by identifying cost optimization opportunities, technology debt, automation investments, and operational resilience needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Certifications in AWS Architecture and Engineering, Security and Risk Management, ITIL, Oracle, Snowflake or comparable experience

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Information Technology, with significant focus on Cloud Operations, Infrastructure Operations, and/or Data Operations.
• 5+ years in a leadership or senior management role overseeing enterprise-scale platforms.
• Demonstrated experience modernizing legacy operations into cloud-native, automated operating models.
• Experience with monitoring, incident management, DR/BCP, backup/recovery, and capacity planning.
• Experience with adopting and steering SRE (Site Recovery Engineering) best practices
• Working knowledge of security, encryption, identity, and data protection best practices.
• Demonstrated experience improving operational maturity, automation, resiliency, observability, and production support practices.
• Experience leading or influencing technical teams in a complex enterprise environment.
• Experience working in regulated environments such as financial services, banking, insurance, healthcare, or other audit-focused industries is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to transition from hands-on contribution to broader team leadership responsibilities.

Licenses and Certifications

• CISSP, CCSP, or equivalent security certifications awareness preferred
• Cloud certifications (eg, AWS, Azure) strongly preferred including Data platforms, networking, cluster,
• Information Technology practice ITIL/ITSM certification or deep knowledge

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Very strong understanding of cloud platforms and services (AWS IaaS, PaaS, managed databases, automation).
• Deep knowledge of enterprise database technologies (e.g., SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Informatica, DBT) and cloud-native data services.
• Familiarity with ITSM, change management, and operational governance frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on operational leadership.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong vendor and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Typical office environment with occasional after-hours or On-Call responsibilities.
• Ability to support critical incidents and major transformation initiatives as required.
• Travel may be required on a limited basis.

Additional Information

• Candidates residing in locations within BankUnited's footprint may be given preference.