IT Operations Manager

Motion Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Motion Recruitment in Sydney is seeking an experienced IT Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day ICT services. You will work closely with the Head of ICT to ensure service excellence, robust planning, and governance compliance across government frameworks.

The role requires strong leadership, vendor management, and the ability to navigate whole-of-government arrangements while driving continuous improvement and cost-effective delivery of ICT services.

Qualifications

• Leadership and people management experience in large-scale ICT environments.
• Knowledge of government governance, risk, and compliance.
• Experience with service delivery and operational management.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day ICT operations to ensure high availability and reliability.
• Lead planning, prioritization, and resource allocation for the ICT unit.
• Manage vendor relationships and procurement in line with government guidelines.
• Monitor KPIs, budgets, and financial reporting for the ICT function.
• Provide coaching and development discussions for the operational team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Risk management

Team coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or related field

Tools

ITIL

Public sector governance

Job description

Primary Role Purpose

The IT Operations Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the day-to-day operational functions of the ICT unit. Working closely around the Head of ICT, this role ensures seamless service delivery, robust operational planning, efficient team coordination, vendor management, and strict adherence to public sector governance, risk, and compliance frameworks. This is a senior operational leadership position requiring a thorough understanding of government business practices, whole-of-government arrangements, and public accountability.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

1. Service Delivery & Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day ICT operations and service management to ensure high availability, reliability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive work planning, resource allocation, and task prioritization across the ICT operational function.
• Establish clear operational metrics, KPIs, and service standards aligned with organizational goals.
• Ensure all ICT activities comply with government assurance processes, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate operational ICT risks; maintain risk registers and incident response protocols.
• Support audit processes and ensure public-sector accountability standards are consistently met.
• Manage relationships with external ICT vendors, contractors, and shared-service providers to guarantee value for money and contract performance.
• Oversee procurement activities in compliance with government procurement guidelines and whole-of-government frameworks.
• Assist the Head of ICT with budget planning, allocation, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and ensure strict financial governance.

5. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coordinate, and coach the operational ICT team; foster a culture of service excellence and accountability.
• Conduct staff performance and development discussions, providing formal recommendations to the Head of ICT regarding staff matters.
• Build positive, collaborative working relationships with key internal stakeholders and whole-of-government partners.
• Balancing day-to-day competing operational priorities while maintaining strict public-sector compliance and governance standards.
• Navigating complex whole-of-government arrangements and decision-making processes to deliver agile ICT services.
• Government Experience: Proven track record working within NSW Government or Australian Commonwealth/State Government environments, with a deep understanding of public sector accountability, assurance, and decision-making frameworks.
• Operational ICT Leadership: Demonstrated success in an ICT Operations Manager, Service Delivery Manager, or equivalent operational leadership role managing cross-functional ICT environments.
• Vendor & Procurement Expertise: Strong experience managing external vendors, service providers, contracts, and public sector procurement processes.
• Governance & Risk Management: Solid understanding of ICT risk management, audit processes, budget oversight, and compliance frameworks.
• Stakeholder & People Management: Excellent interpersonal, communication, and coaching skills, with a track record of coordinating teams and engaging key stakeholders across complex organizations.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Information Technology, Business Administration, or equivalent industry experience.
• Industry certifications in service management (e.g., ITIL v3/v4), project management, or public sector governance.