Cloud & Network Services Manager

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is seeking a Cloud & Network Services Manager to join our Information Technology department.

The Cloud & Network Services Manager will lead and continuously improve WFAA’s cloud and network infrastructure, day-to-day operations, engineering practices, and service performance. This role plays a key part in advancing the organization’s cloud and network strategy while driving operational excellence, automation, and AI-enabled improvements across cloud and network operations.

This position provides direct people leadership and technical oversight across cloud infrastructure, including AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365, and VMware; enterprise networking, including LAN, WAN, and WLAN; and the systems and endpoint functions that support these environments. The Cloud & Network Services Manager partners closely with the Sr. Managing Director, Infrastructure & Security to translate organizational priorities into actionable project roadmaps, maintain a consistent security posture, and develop the engineers and administrators within the group.

The ideal candidate will bring strong technical credibility across cloud and network domains, proven people leadership experience, sound judgment under pressure, and the ability to communicate infrastructure strategy effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. This is a hybrid position that will require you to work on-site in our Madison, WI office location at least two days weekly. 

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.  

Operational Optimization, Automation & AI Enablement 

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of both the Cloud Services and Network Services teams, ensuring reliable, secure, and high-performing infrastructure across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365, VMware) and network environments (LAN, WAN, WLAN).
• Ensure timely triage, escalation, and resolution of cloud and network incidents, acting as an escalation point for complex or high-impact issues.
• Review and approve cloud and network changes, ensuring adherence to change management practices and minimizing operational risk.
• Oversee root cause analysis, post-incident reviews, and remediation planning for significant cloud and network outages or degradations.
• Ensure disaster recovery plans, failover mechanisms, and business continuity procedures are maintained and regularly tested across cloud and network environments.
• Champion automation, scripting, Infrastructure-as-Code, and AI-enabled tooling to reduce manual effort and improve operational efficiency across both teams.
• Maintain oversight of technical documentation, configuration standards, and monitoring/alerting baselines for cloud and network systems.
• Manage and prioritize the cloud and network project portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business needs.
• Work cross-functionally within the Infrastructure & Security team to identify and assist with operational optimization for other teams.

Strategic Direction & Stakeholder Management 

• Partner with the Sr. Managing Director, Infrastructure & Security, and other leaders to define and execute the strategic roadmap for cloud and network infrastructure.
• Translate organizational and business priorities into actionable project plans, resourcing decisions, and operational standards for both teams.
• Provide architectural and operational oversight for cloud and network initiatives, ensuring alignment with infrastructure standards, security policies, and scalability requirements.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of policy and procedure covering IT services provided by WFAA.
• Serve as an escalation point and primary liaison with external cloud and network vendors, MSPs, and service providers, overseeing service delivery, performance, and SLA compliance.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and vendor roadmaps to inform cloud and network strategy, tooling, and investment decisions.
• Report on team performance, project status, capacity, and risk to the Sr. Managing Director and other stakeholders, including budget and resourcing recommendations.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with other Infrastructure & Security teams on infrastructure requirements and shared initiatives.

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, coach, and develop engineers and administrators across the Cloud Services and Network Services teams, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career development.
• Set team goals, workload priorities, staffing plans, schedules, on-call rotations, and after-hours coverage to support reliable cloud and network operations.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and development planning to build technical depth, bench strength, and succession readiness.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, service-oriented culture that emphasizes customer engagement, documentation, technical excellence, continuous learning, innovation, and operational ownership.
• Identify skills gaps and training needs and coordinate certifications and professional development opportunities for team members.

Security Operations & Risk Mitigation 

• Ensure consistent application of security patches, vulnerability remediation, access controls, and configuration hardening across cloud and network environments.
• Oversee Active Directory, Single Sign-On (SSO), and network authentication (RADIUS/TACACS+) architecture, integrations, and workflows.
• Partner with the Security team to address vulnerabilities, support audits, and strengthen the overall risk posture of cloud and network infrastructure.
• Ensure cloud and network teams adhere to regulatory, compliance, and internal policy requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or relevant experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, or abilities. 
• 5+ years of progressive experience in cloud and/or network infrastructure design, engineering, and support.
• 3+ years of experience directly managing or leading technical engineering or administration teams, including hiring, performance management, and staff development.
• 5 +years of experience managing cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), Microsoft 365, and enterprise security and identity management.
• 5+ years of experience with enterprise network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless technologies (Cisco environments preferred).
• Experience managing relationships with Managed Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, and other third-party vendors.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional infrastructure projects using established project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated success driving process improvement through AI adoption.
• Experience with process automation and operational optimization initiatives.
• Deep understanding of cloud and network principles, protocols, architecture, and best practices.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop technical teams across multiple disciplines.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks, compliance standards, and security best practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to present to senior leadership.
• Ability to design, document, and maintain effective procedures, processes, and automations.
• Capable of maintaining a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to WFAA and any affiliate organizations.
• Energetic, motivated, service-oriented, and able to effectively manage multiple competing priorities.
• Flexible to new situations and challenges, and an advocate for change.
• Experience implementing or managing AI-enabled IT operations (AIOps), self-service tools, or automation frameworks.
• Ability to lead cross-functional projects using lightweight project management practices.

 Other Qualifications:

• Certifications or significant experience using Azure, AWS, and Cisco technologies.
• Industry standard security certifications (e.g. CISSP, Security+).
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code, automation/scripting (PowerShell, Python), and AI-enabled operational tooling.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with experience building dashboards and using service data to drive prioritization, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits! 

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.