Your new company

Elementis is a global specialty chemicals company, with over 1,300 employees working at 23 locations across the globe. They create high-value specialty additives that enhance the performance of their customers’ products and make a positive change in the world.

Elementis is establishing a new office and modern laboratory in Porto, Portugal. They offer exciting roles in Research & Development, Human Resources, Finance, Logistics, Customer Service, Regulatory/Product Stewardship, Sales & Marketing, providing a diverse range of opportunities to grow and make an impact. Most of the roles are regional or global.

The Senior Infrastructure Specialist leads and drives the development, operation and maintenance of infrastructure for Elementis in all Elementis’ global operations including the US, UK, EU, Brazil, Taiwan and China. The infrastructure comprises network, server infrastructure, data centres and security protocols. The role is responsible for the roadmap planning of IT infrastructure so it is maintained and developing in line with Elementis business strategy. Elementis is adapating its current managed service for its Infrastructure to start in early 2024 coinciding with the recruitment of this role. This expandedservice will evolve the responsibility of the Senior Infrastructure Specialist to be working in partnership and supervision of the managed service provider to ensure they deploy their services effectively and to contract, in addition to being hands on with the technology

Your new role

Technical vision & Infrastructure Policies

• Develop roadmap plans for existing infrastructure and take-on of new infrastructure components to ensure that it matches the requirements of Elementis business operations.
• Plan, in conjunction with managed service provider, for renewal, upgrade, licensing periods, endof-life and contractual events and for the developing services of the provider.
• Ensure IT infrastructure is aligned with current and future system and business requirements and goals.

Infrastructure service management:

• The Senior Infrastructure Specialist is responsible for ensuring that appropriate service is provided to the business. This will be done in conjunction with the managed service provider delivering via an outsourced services contract that supplements the incumbent’s capabilities
• Managing the relationship between Elementis and the managed service provider and ensuring the combination of internal skill and services provides appropriate coverage and service levels.
• Monitor the performance of the service provider, ensuring that they meet the agreed-upon service levels and deliver in compliance with the contract
• Identifying and resolving any issues that may arise with the service provider and partnering to understand direction of travel for infrastructure to enable creation of effective roadmaps
• Collaborating with the service provider to continuously improve the quality of the services being delivered.
• Communicating with internal stakeholders to ensure that their needs are being met. Monitor daily operations of networks and infrastructure through the operating controls, partially delivered via a service provider.
• You set-up, configure and manage the elements of infrastructure managed in-house
• You identify and ensure that issues are resolved that may affect the delivery or quality of infrastructure service, such as troubleshooting, support, maintenance or security incidents.

Managing external services and parties:

• Assess and make recommendations regarding the purchase of new and replacement hardware.
• Manage and optimise contracts with vendors, service providers and licenses.
• Establish and monitor service level agreements, key performance indicators (KPIs), and metrics to measure and improve the performance and quality of IT infrastructure services.

Risk and controls:

• Evaluate infrastructure risks and mitigations.
• Ensure that recovery, backup and disaster recovery processes and plans (including testing these plans) are performed.
• Ensure security of the network, data and storage and communication systems.

Best practice

• Keep up to date with the latest IT trends, developments, and best practices, and ensure that the IT infrastructure is aligned with Elementis goals and strategies.
• Maintain logs, documentation and reports of activity (bugs, repairs, upgrades and other changes).
• Closely collaborate with security on infrastructure design and management

What you'll need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer science, Information Systems or similar degree or professional qualification would be an advantage .
• 5+ Years of experience in IT Infrastructure Management or similar managerial role with demonstrable experience on IT infrastructure.
• Extensive competence in standard corporate infrastructure. Elementis’s core systems that run on the infrastructure are Microsoft, JD Edwards, ServiceNow and Workday
• Verbal and written fluency in English.

This position will have a hybrid regime with a minimum of 3 days in the office. Whilst this role will be based at the Porto Hub, there will be occasions where you may be required to travel to other Elementis sites.