Vice President of Infrastructure

At Appfire, we believe that great work happens when people get to choose how they work. After 20 years of creating software that empowers teams to break silos and collaborate seamlessly, we've learned that one size does not fit all. That’s why at Appfire, you choose. 

Choose to work where you thrive: Whether from home, in one of our offices, or while exploring the world, you decide where you’re most productive. From hardware and software to access to two decades of collective wisdom on working effectively in a remote-first company, we’ve got you covered.

Choose to balance your life without compromise: Plan your workday around your needs and what matters most to you. Enjoy flexible time off without the hassle of complicated approvals. From day one, we trust you to deliver quality work without sacrificing your personal life, hobbies, loved ones, and well-being.

Choose to grow on your terms: Take charge of your professional growth with access to online learning platforms, facilitated training, leadership programs, and internal hackathons. Collaborate with a global team to gain fresh perspectives. When you're ready for a new challenge, our internal mobility program is here to support your journey.

No one knows you better than you do. So join us and customize your experience. Choose how you want to work. Choose Appfire.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure to lead and manage our strategy and operations in that area. The VP of Cloud Infrastructure will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling our cloud architecture, ensuring the reliability, performance,cost effectiveness, and security of our cloud-based systems while supporting the growth of our SaaS software platforms.

Your everyday tasks will include:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive cloud infrastructure strategy that aligns with the company’s goals and growth objectives. Provide strategic direction and leadership for all cloud-related initiatives.
• Cloud Infrastructure Management: Oversee the design, implementation, and management of the company’s array of cloud environments, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and other relevant cloud services. Ensure optimal performance, scalability, and security across all platforms.
• SaaS Platform Scaling: Drive the scaling of our SaaS software platforms to support rapid growth. Develop and implement strategies to enhance the scalability, performance, and reliability of our SaaS offerings.
• Infrastructure as Code: Champion the use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles to automate and streamline cloud infrastructure management. Implement IaC tools and frameworks to enhance consistency, efficiency, and scalability.
• Security Mindset: Embed a strong security mindset into all aspects of cloud infrastructure management. Implement and enforce best practices for cloud security, including access controls, encryption, and compliance with industry standards.
• Global Experience: Leverage global experience to manage and optimize cloud infrastructure across multiple regions and data centers. Ensure high availability and compliance with local regulations and standards in various international markets.
• Time Zone Management: Effectively coordinate and collaborate with global teams across multiple time zones. Implement processes and tools to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among distributed team members.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Product Officer (CPO), and other senior executives to align cloud infrastructure strategies with overall business objectives.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of cloud infrastructure professionals. Foster a collaborative environment, promote professional development, and drive performance excellence.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the cloud infrastructure budget. Optimize resource allocation, manage cloud costs, and identify cost-saving opportunities while ensuring the delivery of high-quality services.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks to cloud infrastructure stability and security. Implement robust risk management strategies, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and manage disaster recovery plans.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with cloud service providers and other key vendors. Negotiate contracts, evaluate service levels, and ensure alignment with company requirements.
• Innovation and Improvement: Stay abreast of emerging cloud technologies and industry trends. Drive innovation and continuous improvement in cloud infrastructure processes and systems.
• Future Planning: Plan for future scale by anticipating growth and evolving needs. Develop strategies and infrastructure to support long-term business objectives and ensure the ability to scale efficiently and effectively.
• Incident Management: Lead the response to critical incidents affecting cloud infrastructure. Implement proactive measures to prevent recurrence and improve incident management processes.

Skills and experience you'll need to succeed:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in cloud infrastructure management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. Proven track record in managing and scaling SaaS software platforms and leading teams in fast-growing companies.
• Technical Expertise: Extensive experience with major cloud platforms including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Deep understanding of cloud architecture, services, and security. Familiarity with cloud frameworks such as ITIL and DevOps practices.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop and implement long-term cloud strategies that align with business goals. Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Financial Acumen: Proven experience in managing cloud budgets and financial planning. Ability to make data-driven financial decisions and optimize cloud spending.
• Certifications: Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Professional Cloud Architect) are highly desirable.

Beyond the resume skills that match our culture and this role:

• You are dedicated to elevating client and co-worker experiences, knowing that exceptional work centers on serving others.
• You adapt swiftly to new business demands, understanding that change fuels collective and individual growth.
• You excel in communication, effectively connecting in remote/hybrid environments using tools like Slack, Zoom, and G Suite and through occasional in-person events.
• You have exceptional coaching, mentoring, and people development skills.

About Appfire

A people-first approach to business

Since its inception, Appfire has been a remote-first company. With 800+ employees (who we call fireflies) across 27 countries, we foster an environment where everyone is respected. We invest in team members by ensuring they grow professionally and personally.

Watch Appfire's Co-founder and CEO Randall Ward talk about his people-first leadership philosophy: https://youtu.be/GXuChQzzowI

Making an impact

At Appfire, corporate social responsibility is driven by team members, family, friends, customers, and partners through Appfire Town. This program brings people together to generate a strong social impact in our local and global communities.

Our CEO believes being philanthropic is integral to operating our business and is not merely the result of our success. In 2015, Appfire joined the Pledge 1% network of organizations committed to philanthropy. Appfire has since grown our Pledge 1% program to include all four pledge types — product, profit, equity, and employee time. We were among the first to do this, and we’re proud that Pledge 1% is part of our evolution.

Our business

Appfire has been profitable since its inception, with best-in-class free cash flow margins relative to the broader SaaS universe. The company's mission to equip and connect every team so they can plan and deliver their best work has proven successful, producing consistent year-over-year (YoY) growth – with Appfire growing from $10M ARR in 2019 to $200M ARR in 2023. 

What’s our secret sauce?

1. We follow teams. We do our research and build software that solves real-life collaboration challenges while being easy to implement and a joy to use. We’re proud to support over 20,000 customers and growing, including 55% of the Fortune 500. From the entertainment delivered by Netflix to the devices crafted by Samsung, and Dell Technologies and the financial transactions handled by Visa, Edward Jones, and US Bank, Appfire’s technology is indispensable. Our products also play a pivotal role in streamlining operations and fostering innovation at companies like Tesla and significant institutions such as NASA, Boeing, and many more. 
2. We enhance. We don’t compete. Our software is designed to give developers, knowledge workers, and teams the ability to extend and get greater value from the platforms they’ve invested in and enjoy. So far, our solutions extend and enhance the capabilities offered by Atlassian, Microsoft, monday.com, and Salesforce. 
3. We build bridges and invest in our partners. Appfire's success is underscored by the fact that the company has no direct sales team and instead leverages its channel program as its primary path to market. Today, Appfire has a dedicated Channel team supporting 700+ channel partners.
4. We make security and privacy a priority, but we also keep it simple for our customers. We’ve achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001 and ISO 27017 and System and Organization Controls (SOC) SOC 2, Type I and SOC 2, Type II certifications. In 2022, we launched our award-winning Appfire Trust Center, offering our customers, partners, and prospects the latest security, privacy, and compliance information, including pre-completed questionnaires (CAIQ, SIG, and VSA) with an accelerated NDA process and just one EULA to cover it all.

Market recognition

Appfire has been consistently recognized for company growth, culture, corporate social responsibility, and product excellence and has been included among the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, Inc. Best Workplaces, BuiltIn Best Places to Work, and Inc. 5000. Learn more about our accomplishments, which would not be possible without our team members, partners, and customers: https://appfire.com/awards.

Read about Appfire's continuous growth and mission to equip and connect every team so they can plan and deliver their best work: https://appfire.com/newsroom/Appfire-Exceeds-200M-in-ARR-Signaling-Growing-Demand