director autonomous it operations.

Our client operates a captive IT center in Hungary as a core component of its global technology framework for a leading international retail group. Globally, the organization employs over 200,000 people and maintains an extensive retail network of more than 7,500 stores across 11 countries.

The Hungarian captive IT center is responsible for delivering end-to-end global IT services for the entire group. To support business demands, the center is currently undergoing a major expansion, scaling its workforce from approximately 500 to 1,500 employees.

This entity works in close integration with corporate IT at the client's headquarters in Germany. Its service portfolio currently encompasses Software Engineering, Infrastructure, and Global Service Desk operations, with plans to establish and expand global Data & AI services in the near future.

Operations are delivered out of three key strategic locations in Hungary, with the main site in Budapest alongside regional centers in Pécs and Debrecen.

As Director Autonomous IT Operations, you will build, lead, and expand the Autonomous IT Operations function within our client’s captive center, reporting directly to the Head of IT Captive Center.

In this strategic leadership position, you will drive the shift from reactive to proactive IT operations by embedding Generative AI, machine learning, and advanced automation directly into IT Service Management (ITSM). Working closely with peer Directors across other delivery towers, you will define and scale autonomous operational practices across Application Operations, Security, Infrastructure, and Service Desk functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build & Scale Autonomous Operations Capabilities
  • Define and execute the roadmap for Autonomous Operations, establishing necessary capabilities, governance, tooling alignment, and operating model integration across all delivery towers and Hungarian sites.
  • Establish a scalable operational foundation that supports enterprise growth without adding manual effort, complexity, or service exposure.
• Operational Excellence & Advanced Service Delivery
  • Ensure the safe, reliable, and secure deployment of AI and automation across Infrastructure, Operations, and Global IT Support.
  • Manage operational performance by steering key metrics (e.g., MTTR, automation coverage, and quantifiable cost savings).
  • Accelerate the center’s maturity journey toward industry-leading benchmarks by embedding automated workflows into daily service delivery.
  • Take end-to-end accountability for observability, event correlation, predictive incident prevention, self-healing systems, and the elimination of manual toil.
• Financial Ownership & Cost Optimization
  • Oversee full budget management for your operational area.
  • Guarantee that all technology investments are outcome-driven, supported by rigorous cost-benefit analyses and clear operational readiness.
  • Leverage autonomous capabilities as a strategic driver to boost productivity, fortify system resilience, and lower the overall cost-to-serve while elevating quality.
• Senior Leadership & Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Collaborate closely with the Head of IT Captive Center, fellow Directors, and our client's corporate IT leadership in Germany to ensure strategic alignment on execution and maturity milestones.
  • Deliver clear, executive-level reporting on program status, risks, and ROI to steering committees and internal stakeholders.
  • Drive cross-tower collaboration and ensure standardized execution across all delivery locations in Hungary.
  • Serve as the primary subject matter expert and ambassador for Autonomous Operations internally and externally.

Your Profile:

• Autonomous Operations Expertise: In-depth understanding of AIOps, observability, enterprise automation, and AI-driven service management, with a proven ability to translate vision into structured operating models and measurable business outcomes.
• Executive IT Leadership: Demonstrated senior leadership experience managing large-scale IT service delivery, tech operations, or enterprise transformation.
• Multi-Domain Mastery: Broad expertise across key IT domains (Software Engineering, Infrastructure, Service Desk) with the strategic capability to integrate and scale emerging domains (such as Data & AI).
• Organizational Scaling & Maturity: Proven track record of expanding and maturing IT organizations, including establishing operating frameworks, robust governance, and elevated delivery standards.
• Operational Steering: Strong background in operational performance management, systematically enhancing service stability, system resilience, and overall quality.
• Commercial & Financial Acumen: Sharp business mindset with demonstrated competence in budget management, cost-to-serve optimization, and ROI-focused resource allocation.
• Language Skills: Professional fluency in both English and Hungarian.

What We Offer:

• Strategic Impact: The opportunity to lead a critical captive IT center during a pivotal scaling and growth phase.
• Executive Scope: A high-visibility leadership role directly influencing operational performance, service maturity, and transformation.
• Global Exposure: A modern, international IT environment with significant exposure to our client's global leadership team.
• Collaborative Culture: A supportive working environment alongside peers who value innovation, agility, and teamwork.
• Executive Reward: A highly competitive compensation package tailored to an executive-level position.

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