Director, IT Operations

DIRECTOR, IT OPERATIONS

Information Technology

Victoria or Vancouver Lower Mainland

BC Ferries is embarking on a bold, multi-year transformation of our technology and the way we work. This evolution is focused on strengthening the experience for both our customers and employees; while ensuring we continue to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable service—now and into the future.

As our vessels and terminals become increasingly connected, and we adopt modern platforms powered by advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, we're looking for forward-thinking leaders who are excited by what's possible. Leaders who not only embrace innovation, but who also know how to build, inspire, and empower teams to turn vision into reality.

If you thrive in complex, large-scale environments, enjoy driving enterprise-wide transformation, and are comfortable operating at the intersection of business strategy and technology delivery, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for. Join us and play a meaningful role in shaping the future of coastal transportation—where the challenge is significant and the impact is lasting.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Director, IT Operations to lead the core infrastructure and front-line technology services that power one of the largest and most complex marine transportation networks in the world.

This is a critical leadership role providing oversight of enterprise infrastructure, cloud operations, and end-user support — ensuring stability today while advancing modernization for tomorrow.

As a Director, IT Operations, you provide strategic leadership for the reliability, resilience, and continuous evolution of BC Ferries' core IT services.

The portfolio includes:

• On-premise data centres and server environments (Windows, Linux/UNIX)
• Enterprise storage, backup, disaster recovery, and virtualization platforms
• Microsoft 365 and Azure tenants
• Monitoring, automation, and cloud governance platforms
• Field Technology Services (Tier 2)
• IT Helpdesk operations (Tier 1, 24x7 support model)

The Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Technology Services, you contribute value through key areas of oversight such as:

• Developing and executing the IT Operations strategy aligned with enterprise technology and business priorities;
• Overseeing operational governance across availability, capacity, service levels, incident response, vendor performance, and cost optimization;
• Establishing policies, standards, and operating models for infrastructure, cloud, and end-user support services;
• Providing leadership in multi-year roadmap planning, including data centre lifecycle management, compute refresh, Microsoft 365 and Azure modernization, and monitoring platform evolution;
• Leading teams supporting Cloud Operations, Windows Server, Linux/UNIX, virtualization platforms, enterprise storage, backup and disaster recovery, and compute automation;
• Ensuring secure and resilient configuration, patching, monitoring, and lifecycle management of server environments;
• Overseeing system performance, capacity planning, and enterprise infrastructure reliability initiatives;
• Driving modernization toward cloud-based services where appropriate;
• Ensuring the operation, lifecycle management, compliance, and physical security of corporate data centres and server rooms;
• Overseeing power, cooling, rack infrastructure, networking handoffs, and site resiliency across shore locations and onboard vessels;
• Ensuring disaster recovery readiness, backup integrity, and high availability architecture;
• Managing vendor contracts related to colocation, hardware maintenance, and physical infrastructure services;
• Providing leadership for Microsoft 365 workload administration, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Teams, Intune, Defender, and identity security;
• Overseeing configuration governance, licensing strategy, and operational standards across collaboration and cloud platforms;
• Partnering with IT Security to strengthening compliance, data governance, DLP, retention, and secure collaboration practices;
• Overseeing Azure tenant management and adoption, including landing zone governance, cloud provisioning, monitoring, and cost management;
• Implementing and maintaining cloud architecture standards across identity, network topology, automation, and security baselines;
• Leading workload transitions to Azure while ensuring seamless hybrid interoperability;
• Leading field technology and IT Helpdesk teams, strengthening incident intake, triage, request fulfillment, first-contact resolution, and 24x7 service delivery;
• Championing automation, self-service capabilities, proactive monitoring, and problem management;
• Embedding ITSM processes across incident, problem, change, request, and knowledge management disciplines;
• Leveraging KPIs and service reporting to drive transparency, informed decision-making, and operational efficiency;
• Leading, mentoring, and developing a multi-disciplinary team of managers, specialists, analysts, and technicians;
• Building a performance-driven culture grounded in accountability, service excellence, and professional growth;
• Managing operational budgets across compute, cloud services, data centres, and support functions;
• Overseeing strategic vendor relationships, including hardware OEMs, MSPs, cloud providers, and licensing partners;
• Ensuring contract compliance, performance monitoring, and procurement alignment with corporate policy;

What you bring to the team

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, or IT related field
• ITIL certification strongly preferred
• Cloud and infrastructure certifications (Azure, M365, VMware, RedHat) considered an asset
• 10+ years of IT operations leadership, including managing leaders and multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of ITSM practices, automation, monitoring, and operational governance
• Demonstrated experience with hybrid infrastructure (on-prem + Azure cloud) and O365 enterprise operations
• Experience leading large-scale service desk/support operations (Tier 1 and Tier 2)

Join us

If this sounds like your next great career move, please submit your resume and cover letter online.

This posting will remain open until the position is filled. We anticipate conducting interviews in early April.

Additional Information

The target salary range: $159,800 - $199,700 per annum. The starting salary is determined based on the successful candidate's knowledge and experience, and on internal equity.

"We connect communities and customers to people and places important in their lives."

At BC Ferries, our employees are our most important assets in delivering our commitment to customer safety, service, and satisfaction. We support employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and we encourage applications from all qualified individuals including women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (LGBTQ2S+), and others who reflect our ever-changing workplace.

We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.