Head of IT Infrastructure (Daskalos)

Head of IT Infrastructure — Daskalos (Multi-Campus, India)

Role Summary

Daskalos is launching and operating multiple higher-education campuses across India in collaboration with international partner institutions. We’re seeking a Head of IT Infrastructure to architect, build, and operate a world-class, scalable campus technology foundation—end-to-end. The ideal leader has stood up greenfield college campuses (or equivalent large, multi-site environments), makes strong solutioning decisions, and drives disciplined execution across vendors and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Architecture

Define the multi-campus IT infrastructure blueprint (LAN / WAN / SD-WAN, Wi-Fi 6 / 6E, data center / edge, cloud, identity / SSO, endpoint management, collaboration, AV / classroom tech, security & surveillance integrations).

Create a multi-year roadmap for scalability, resilience, and cost optimization (capex / opex, lifecycle, refresh cycles).

Establish reference architectures and standards (network segmentation, zero-trust principles, cabling, power / UPS, redundancy).

Campus Build-Outs & Solutioning

Lead site surveys, BoQs, and high-level / low-level designs ; own RFPs, vendor tech evaluations, and final solution selections.

Oversee installation and commissioning of network, servers / edge, Wi-Fi, classroom AV, access control / CCTV , and service rooms.

Integrate academic systems ( LMS , SIS / ERP , library systems) with identity, networking, and security controls.

Operations & Service Management

Stand up an ITIL-aligned run model (incident, change, problem, asset / CMDB, capacity, DR / BCP).

Define and track SLAs , uptime, MTTR, and performance metrics; run NOC / SOC collaboration as needed.

Implement observability (NMS, log mgmt, SIEM) and backup / DR for on-prem and cloud workloads.

Security, Compliance & Quality

Drive security by design (network segmentation, MFA, MDM, endpoint hardening).

Ensure compliance with applicable data protection and education regulations (e.g., DPDP Act, GDPR where relevant) and standards (e.g., ISO 27001 practices).

Run quality governance : design reviews, acceptance tests, audits, and continuous improvement.

Vendor & Partner Management

Source and manage OEMs, system integrators, ISPs / telcos, AV partners , and managed service providers.

Own contracts, RFP / RFQ , commercials, SOWs, SLAs, and quarterly business reviews; enforce penalties / earn-backs where applicable.

Coordinate with international partner universities and domestic stakeholders to align requirements and approvals.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Build and lead a high-performing infra & operations team (central + campus IT).

Collaborate with Academics, Student Services, Facilities, and Finance for integrated delivery (e.g., power / UPS, racks, cooling, access control).

Communicate clearly with executive leadership; convert business needs into deliverable technical plans .

Key Outcomes (12–18 months)

Launch-ready campuses : Complete IT build-outs for several campuses on time and within budget; day-one readiness validated by cutover tests.

Always-on operations : ≥99.9% uptime for critical services (network, identity, LMS / SIS integrations, AV in classrooms, security systems).

Coverage & performance : 100% classroom and common-area Wi-Fi coverage with defined throughput targets; Governance & quality : SLAs / OLAs in place; monthly service reviews; audit readiness for security, privacy, and compliance.

Stakeholder satisfaction : Faculty / Student IT CSAT ≥4.5 / 5; partner university IT sign-offs completed per MoU.

Required Experience & Qualifications

12–18+ years in IT infrastructure with 5+ years leading multi-site or campus build-outs; demonstrable greenfield campus experience is a must.

Proven delivery of at least two end-to-end campus (or large corporate campus) setups in India (from design to go-live and steady state).

Deep hands-on and architectural knowledge across :

Networking : routing / switching, SD-WAN , Wi-Fi design, network security, QoS.

Identity & Access : Microsoft Entra ID / Azure AD (or equivalent), SSO / SAML / OIDC, RBAC.

Endpoints & Collaboration : MDM / UEM (e.g., Intune), Office 365 / Google Workspace, meeting / classroom AV.

Compute / Storage / Cloud : virtualization, edge compute, backups / DR, hybrid cloud.

Security & Observability : firewalls, NAC, SIEM, NMS, logging / monitoring.

Strong vendor management and procurement chops : RFPs, BoQs, commercials, SLAs, acceptance testing.

Process orientation (ITIL), project / program management (PMP / Prince2 or equivalent mindset), and governance rigor .

Excellent communication , stakeholder management (international & domestic), and cross-cultural collaboration skills.

Bachelor’s in Engineering / CS or equivalent; Master’s preferred. Relevant certifications (ITIL, CCNP / Enterprise, Azure / AWS, PMP) are a plus.

Competencies

Solutioning & Decision Quality : balances standards with pragmatic delivery; documented trade-offs.

Execution Excellence : plans → builds → tests → operates with discipline; hits dates and budgets.

Forward Thinking : designs for scale, reuse, and lifecycle; proactive risk management.

Negotiation & Influence : gets the best from partners; escalates and resolves fast.

People Leadership : hires, coaches, and retains strong talent; fosters accountability.

Practical Details

Location : India (with frequent travel across campuses; ~40–60% travel).

Employment Type : Full-time.

Reports To : COO / Head of Operations (or CTO), with dotted line to Academic Partnerships.