Head of Platform Operations

Head Of Platform Operations

Vanguard Charitable (VC) is seeking a senior technology operations leader to own the reliability, security, and operational excellence of its technology environment. This role is accountable for infrastructure and cloud operations, cybersecurity operations, end-user services, vendor-managed services, and release management across a mission-critical environment. The Head of Platform Operations partners closely with Architecture, Digital Experience, Engineering, Workforce Enablement, and business leaders to ensure technology enables growth, efficiency, and trust. The role reports directly to the CIO and leads internal staff, managed service providers, and offshore teams.

Essential Job Functions

Technology Operations Strategy & Leadership (30%)

• Drive the strategy, vision, and execution for Technology Services in alignment with enterprise IT priorities, business objectives, and regulatory expectations.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing, diverse team; provide coaching and accountability during steady-state operations and high-pressure events.
• Own operational readiness for major initiatives and peak volume periods (e.g., Giving Season), including incident response, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

Infrastructure, Cloud, and Cybersecurity Operations (30%)

• Lead infrastructure, cloud operations, cybersecurity operations, service desk, and release management to ensure availability, resilience, and secure-by-design controls.
• Oversee application and infrastructure security operations, including vulnerability management, disaster recovery, business continuity, access controls, audits, and compliance activities.
• Partner with enterprise security teams to align with information security standards, risk frameworks, and incident response expectations.

Automation, AI & Continuous Improvement (20%)

• Advance automation and AI-enabled operations (AIOps), including monitoring, incident triage, release validation, service desk deflection, and operational reporting.

Release, Change & Operational Excellence (10%)

• Serve as owner and approver of change, release, and deployment activities, balancing speed, quality, and risk.
• Lead production support, monitoring, and operational reporting; direct prioritization, issue resolution, and escalation across internal teams and vendors.
• Improve operational discipline through standardized processes, metrics, and governance.

Vendor & Partner Management (10%)

• Manage relationships with managed service providers (MSPs), security operations partners (SOCs), cloud vendors, and strategic suppliers; ensure performance, transparency, and value realization.
• Act as a primary interface to Vanguard technology teams and third-party vendors on infrastructure, cybersecurity, and operational matters.
• Guide the evaluation and adoption of new technologies, tools, and automation solutions aligned with enterprise standards and long-term architectural direction.

Qualifications

Education & Training

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field preferred.

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability

• Knowledge of infrastructure, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), and enterprise SaaS environments (e.g., Salesforce).
• Knowledge of cybersecurity fundamentals, risk management, audit requirements, and regulatory compliance.
• Skilled in release management, incident management, disaster recovery, and operational resilience.
• Skilled in leveraging automation, scripting, AI-assisted tools, or AIOps to improve operational efficiency.
• Able to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to executive and non-technical audiences.
• Able to manage multiple priorities, lead through ambiguity, and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
• Ability to travel up to 10-20% as needed.

Experience

• Minimum of eight years of experience in technology leadership with direct accountability for infrastructure, operations, and cybersecurity in a regulated environment.
• Experience operating and scaling cloud-based platforms in high-availability, high-risk settings.
• Experience managing managed service providers, security operations partners, and offshore teams with clear performance metrics and accountability