VP, Cloud

As the VP of Cloud at Zuora, you will be responsible for leading and mentoring the cloud operations team, defining and executing the cloud strategy, optimizing AWS environments for performance and cost-efficiency, and driving a resilient, self-healing cloud infrastructure. Additionally, you'll enhance incident management processes, define best practices for release management, and collaborate with engineering teams for seamless software delivery.

To be considered for the VP of Cloud role at Zuora, candidates should possess over 15 years of experience in cloud operations or a related field. A proven track record of successfully leading high-performing cloud engineering teams, expertise in AWS, and experience with CI/CD pipelines and incident management are essential. Strong leadership and executive-level communication skills are also crucial.

At Zuora, the work culture is centered around collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. As the VP of Cloud, you'll be part of a dynamic team focused on empowering growth and fostering accountability among colleagues. The company promotes a flexible remote working environment, allowing you to balance personal and professional responsibilities while contributing to the overall mission of building sustainable business models.

Zuora actively supports professional development for the VP of Cloud through various initiatives, including learning and development stipends, opportunities to engage in charitable activities, events, and trainings, as well as a competitive compensation package that includes bonuses and retirement programs. We believe in empowering our employees to grow and thrive in their careers.

The VP of Cloud plays a pivotal role in Zuora’s operations by ensuring operational excellence and driving automation-first approaches within our AWS ecosystem. This position not only enhances the reliability, scalability, and security of our platforms but also influences the quality of service our customers experience, allowing Zuora to continuously adapt and thrive in the Subscription Economy.

In answering this question, be sure to highlight specific examples of your past roles in managing cloud infrastructures, including technologies you've worked with, challenges you faced, and successes you've achieved that align with Zuora's AWS infrastructure.

Discuss your approach to incident management, including your experience with escalation processes, root cause analysis, and implementing preventive measures. Providing metrics or outcomes from previous incidents would strengthen your response.

Share concrete examples of how you have implemented automation in previous roles, including the automation tools or methodologies used. Show your understanding of how automation improves efficiency and reliability within a cloud operations framework.

When responding, emphasize your strategic planning and execution skills. Describe steps you've taken in past roles to define, implement, and measure the success of a cloud strategy while balancing cost and performance.

Outline your leadership philosophy, focusing on your methods for fostering collaboration and accountability in a remote environment. Provide an example demonstrating how you've successfully built trust and performed team cohesion.

Discuss your strategies for cost optimization without sacrificing performance, including monitoring tools or methodologies you've utilized in previous positions to gain insights and implement changes.

Explain your experience with release management processes, detailing your best practices that ensure successful, low-risk software releases, along with tools and techniques you've successfully implemented.

In your response, clarify your role in configuring, maintaining, or improving CI/CD pipelines. Highlight your familiarity with specific tools, challenges you've encountered, and how you've handled them.

Talk about the metrics and monitoring tools you leverage to evaluate system reliability effectively. Discuss how you utilize this information to identify areas for improvement and implement changes.

Demonstrate your passion for continuous learning by mentioning relevant resources you utilize, such as industry blogs, conferences, professional groups, or certifications that help you stay informed and ahead in the field.