Kruger is seeking a hands-on Team Lead, Infrastructure & Systems Administrator to oversee, maintain, and modernize its critical IT/OT infrastructure. This role combines technical leadership with day-to-day operational responsibilities, ensuring corporate systems and manufacturing environments remain highly available, secure, and scalable across a 24/7 production environment. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in virtualization (VMware) and Windows Server environments, as well as strong knowledge of hybrid cloud integration and an automation-first mindset focused on eliminating manual tasks and building a resilient, self-healing infrastructure.
This role requires balancing operational support, project delivery, and strategic improvements, while ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities. The incumbent supports multiple sites, contributes to enterprise-wide initiatives, and may supervise junior or intermediate systems administrators.
The Team Lead, Infrastructure & Systems Administrator reports to a Senior Manager and transitions seamlessly between daily operations and priority initiatives.
1. Team Leadership and Project Delivery
- Lead, mentor, and coordinate daily activities of the Infrastructure Team, acting as the primary technical escalation point.
- Manage infrastructure projects, including migrations, upgrades, and deployments.
- Promote collaboration across IT teams and maintain a productive working environment.
- Communicate proactively on project status, risks, roadblocks, and achievements.
- Lead by example, ensuring adherence to Company policies, processes, and time management practices.
- Mentor and support junior and intermediate systems administrators and guide cross-functional teams on complex initiatives.
2. Infrastructure and Systems Administration
Responsible for the availability, integrity, security, and performance of infrastructure components, including:
- Windows Server environments, Active Directory (DNS, GPOs, users, replication, security)
- Virtualization platforms, storage, backup and recovery systems
- Applications, databases, security tools, and enterprise services
Key activities include:
- Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade physical and virtual servers in line with standards.
- Perform system monitoring, log review, and performance optimization.
- Administer backup solutions, ensure successful recovery processes, and maintain media/storage.
- Manage storage capacity, file systems, replication, and infrastructure inventories.
- Maintain and track activities through service desk and change management processes.
- Produce KPI reports and ensure documentation of systems and procedures.
Act as a key resource for deployments and upgrades by:
- Preparing, testing, and supporting implementations (patches, upgrades, new systems);
- Ensuring secure access (users, inter-system communication);
- Providing after-hours support when required.
Additional responsibilities:
- Manage enterprise services such as Exchange, terminal servers, web services, and business applications.
- Ensure interoperability with outsourced or managed services providers.
- Identify opportunities to improve systems and eliminate obsolete processes.
- Support definition of technical requirements for new solutions, in collaboration with IT and architecture teams.
- Maintain deep understanding of multi-site environments and operational processes.
3. Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure
- Manage and optimize cloud environments (AWS/Azure), including hybrid integrations.
- Oversee provisioning, performance, cost optimization, and cloud backup strategies.
- Implement Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform) and automation practices.
- Contribute to CI/CD processes and version-controlled environments (GitHub).
4. Virtualization (Core Expertise – VMware)
- Design, implement, and maintain highly available virtual environments (vSphere, ESXi).
- Perform diagnostics, upgrades, and performance optimization.
- Enforce security controls and disaster recovery procedures.
- Provide technical guidance and expertise to stakeholders and team members.
5. Operational Excellence and Strategic Contribution
- Operate infrastructure in a managed services model, ensuring service continuity and quality.
- Manage incidents, service requests, and ongoing operations for multiple sites.
- Support deployment of new systems and technologies across environments.
- Ensure compliance with software licensing and maintenance agreements.
- Lead or contribute to complex, multi-stakeholder projects across departments.
- Drive continuous improvement and align infrastructure capabilities with business needs.
The role operates within a large-scale, multi-site infrastructure, including:
- Corporate and disaster recovery data centers
- 400+ virtual servers across 20+ hosts
- High-speed data networks (10/40 Gbps), Fibre Channel networks
- Wide Area Network supporting 30+ locations
- High-availability firewalls and distributed infrastructure
- 100+ TB of replicated storage environments
College (CEGEP) diploma or equivalent experience- Strong customer focus, problem-solving mindset, and adaptability
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Commitment to continuous learning and process improvement
VMware (vSphere, ESXi) and virtualization architecture- Windows Server environments (2008+), Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, GPO
- Storage (SAN, HPE 3PAR), backup solutions (Veeam), and data center operations
- Enterprise systems (SCCM, SNOW, Exchange, Citrix, monitoring tools)
- Disaster Recovery planning and operations
- Scripting and automation (PowerShell or equivalent)
- Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) with hybrid infrastructure experience
- Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) and CI/CD tools (GitHub)
7-10 years in infrastructure/systems administration within complex, multi-site environments- 5+ years managing virtualization and server environments
- Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments (asset)
- Experience supporting ERP infrastructure (asset)
- Proven experience leading projects and mentoring team members
VMware (VCP-DCV / VVF / VCF)- Microsoft or Cloud certifications
- ITIL framework certification
Bilingual (French/English), with strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Knowledge of English is required for this specific position as Kruger deals with partners across North America and the successful candidate will be required to communicate frequently with them. Kruger has taken all reasonable steps to avoid imposing English language requirements, including assessing the actual language needs associated with the duties to be performed, ensuring that the language skills already required of other employees were insufficient for the performance of those duties, and limiting as much as possible the number of positions with duties requiring English language skills.
