Directs the operations strategy, organisation and service portfolio at executive level.
Entry
Expert
Coding
Low
Key skills
Career overview
The Head of IT Operations defines the multi-year operations strategy: sourcing, tooling, automation, reliability targets and the operating model. They report to the CIO/CTO and represent operations at the executive committee.
Main responsibilities
- Define strategy and steer long-term direction
- Align stakeholders and report progress
- Manage budget, scope and risks
- Run steering committees and project rituals
- Mentor junior team members and review their work
- Own the IT service management strategy
- Prepare and execute change requests in production
- Keep technical documentation up to date
- Produce operations reporting and KPIs
- Coordinate operations across teams and geographies
Technical skills
Technologies
Education level
Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.
High School / Bac
Less common
Bac+2 (2-year degree)
Less common
Bac+3 (Bachelor)
Less common
Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)
Common entry point
Experience & coding level
Experience level
Coding level
Useful certifications
Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.
- ITIL 4 Strategic Leader
- TOGAF
- PMP
Where can this career take you?
Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.
Direct progression
Possible branches
Where can you go next?
Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.
Where can you go from here?
A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.
Soft skills
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership
- Decisiveness
- Negotiation
- Big-picture thinking
- Clear communication
Common previous careers
Roles that frequently lead into this career.
Overlap: 56% · Difficulty: Hard
Skills to learn: Executive leadership, Operations, Sourcing
View roadmapRelated resources
- Career GuidesHow to Become a Monitoring Specialist
- Interview PreparationMonitoring Specialist Interview Questions & Answers
- Interview PreparationNOC Analyst Interview Questions & Preparation Guide
- Technical SkillsEssential Linux Skills for IT Operations
- Career GuidesIT Support vs NOC vs IT Operations: Which Career Path Is Right for You?
- CertificationsBest Certifications for IT Operations Careers
- Career GuidesNOC Analyst Career Guide: Skills, Tools & Career Path
- Career GuidesIT Operations Analyst Career Guide: Skills, Tools & Progression
- Career GuidesNOC vs IT Operations: Roles, Skills & Career Paths
- Technical SkillsMonitoring Tools for NOC & IT Operations Careers
- Career GuidesFrom IT Operations to SRE: Skills You Need to Build
Explore your career path
See how IT careers connect and where this role can lead.
Keep exploring
Compare this role with others, or check which career fits you best.