James Pace
IT Infrastructure Expert in Regulated Industries
PERSONAL INFO
Location
8633 Wolfhausen ZH, Switzerland
💬Languages
🇬🇧English — Native
🇩🇪German — Basic (A2)
🌐Citizenship
🇨🇭Switzerland
PROFILE
As a seasoned IT infrastructure expert with 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, I bridge the critical gap between legacy systems and modern cloud solutions while ensuring strict regulatory compliance and operational resilience.
I deliver transformative results by combining deep governance and compliance expertise with hands-on experience in hybrid infrastructure, security, and automation, helping regulated enterprises modernize their technology landscape while maintaining the stability and risk controls their sensitive operations demand.
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
My leadership approach emphasizes creating collaborative environments where technical excellence meets human connection. I focus on fostering open communication, uniting diverse perspectives, and building lasting relationships. This people-first mindset, combined with clear strategic direction, has consistently driven successful transformations and earned trust from both teams and leadership.
STRENGTHS
- Clear and persuasive communication
- Strategic problem analysis
- Client relationship building
- Quick learning and intellectual curiosity
- Pragmatic solution design
- Strong organizational skills
- Independent initiative taking
- Cross-linked analytical thinking
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
TECHNOLOGIES
Public & Private Cloud
- Server, Storage, Networking, Backup
- Database, OS, Middleware
- IaaC, IaaS, PaaS
- Containerization, Virtualization
- Windows, Linux
- AD, IAM
SKILLS
Cloud & Modern Infrastructure
Security & Compliance
IT Service Management
Digital Transformation & Strategy
Leadership & Governance
Legend:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
HEAD OF ENGINEERING - GLOBAL DATA CENTER & CLOUD
Lonza AG · Dec 2021 - May 2024 · Basel, Switzerland
Led and managed global infrastructure engineering teams across multiple domains while driving cloud adoption and legacy technology modernization initiatives.
- Led diverse team of 10+ infrastructure engineers across EMEA, APAC, and US regions
- Managed multiple infrastructure domains including servers, virtualization, public cloud, storage, and backup
- Contributed to the establishment of the cloud governance framework
- Encouraged and fostered modern IT practices including Agile, DevOps, and automation
- Promoted from role of Cloud Solution Architect to Global Head within 4 months
- Oversaw professional development and team growth across global locations
- Performed line manager duities including writing job descriptions, conducting interviews, conducting performance reviews, and merit reviews.
CLOUD SOLUTION ARCHITECT
Mettler-Toledo · Aug 2020 - Nov 2021 · Greifensee, Switzerland
Member of an international team optimizing IT infrastructure services with focus on cloud adoption and automation.
- Implemented Azure landing zones and established initial IT Service catalog for public cloud services
- Created advanced automation platform integrating Azure and ServiceNow
- Developed automated VMware Snapshot Service, resulting in customer request to fulfillment completion time to under 2 minutes
- Supported digitalization initiatives for internal business teams related to cloud for software development and IoT devices
DATACENTER TECHNICAL EXPERT
Alcon · Jan 2019 - Mar 2020 · Switzerland
Led technical aspects of Alcon's data center infrastructure during critical divestiture from Novartis.
- Successfully managed rollouts of regional data centers during company divestiture
- Led technical project management for hardware deployment in Frankfurt and Tokyo
- Established datacenter hub supporting regional business and manufacturing sites
- Coordinated with technical engineering experts across EMEA and USA
- Planned and deployed 150+ network and security appliances, hosts, and servers
IT PROJECT MANAGER
Johnson & Johnson (Synthes GmbH) · Aug 2018 - Dec 2018 · Zuchwil, Switzerland
Project manager for ongoing global IT infrastructure lifecycle management program for critical business applications.
- Coordinated server and database upgrades with buisiness and system owners across multiple time zones
- Presented monthly progress reports to leadership
- Identified and mitigated risks in complex matrix organization
- Drove system managers to meet program timelines and objectives
INFORMATION SECURITY COMPLIANCE & RISK EXPERT
Novartis · Jun 2012 - Mar 2018 · Basel, Switzerland
Subject matter expert for IT global corporate quality, security and compliance framework interpretation and adhereance for global IT infrastructure services and platforms
- Led compliance strategy for public cloud adoption with AWS, establishing GxP compliance frameworks
- Managed quality and regulatory compliance for global infrastructure services
- Led teams of up to 4 Quality Managers across multiple complex projects
- Provided expert consultation on virtualization and cloud projects
- Successfully managed SOX audits in various roles (IT Auditor and Audit Lead) and led remediation efforts
- Guided multi-year IT programs as Project Quality Manager
SOLUTION ARCHITECT & ENGINEER
Alcon · Jan 1996 - Jun 2012 · Fort Worth, TX, USA
Progressed through multiple roles, culminating in leading global data center strategy and operations.
- Contributed to the development of the 10-year global data center strategy and implementation plans
- Head infrastructure engineer for more than a dozen GxP regulated systems, including the global document management system
- Managed international data center build and relocation projects
- Engineered, installed and supported diverse IT infrastructures globally (Plan, Build and Run)
- Led team of data center operators ensuring stable hosting services at headquarters global data center facilities
- Progressed from Client Systems Specialist, so Server Administrator, to Infrastructure Engineer, to Data Center Engineer and Lead
- Server administrator for more than 1000 Windows servers
- Participated in the multi-year journey of physical to virtual server migration (P2V)
- Performed on-call support for critical systems
- Performed system migrations and upgrades
- Responsible for backups and disaster recovery testing and readiness
- Created and maintained extensive technical documentation for IT infrastructure
- Worked in highly regulated laboratory environments, adhering to GxP standards
- Responsible for all manner of IT infastrucure system lifecycle from install, manage, performance, upgrade, migration, and retirement
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Business Studies
Dallas Baptist University · 2007
Professional Certifications
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (2021)
- Study Underway: Azure Administrator Associate (2025)
- ITIL® Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (2020-2023)
ROLE-SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
Engineering Leadership
Team & Project Leadership
- Led global infrastructure engineering teams across EMEA, APAC, and US
- Managed multi-domain infrastructure operations and strategy
- Established global infrastructure standards and procedures
- Mentored and developed engineering teams across organizations
Strategic Initiatives
- Fostered cloud adoption and modernization initiatives
- Fostered modern IT practices (Agile, DevOps, Automation)
- Contributed to cloud governance frameworks and operating models
Solution Architecture
Cloud Architecture
- Designed and implemented Azure cloud solutions
- Created cloud landing zones and service catalogs
- Engineered IaaS and PaaS solutions
- Developed automation and integration platforms
Infrastructure Architecture
- Designed global data center infrastructures
- Particpated in infrastructure separation/integration projects
- Established infrastructure standards and patterns
- Architected disaster recovery solutions
Information Security & Compliance
Compliance Management
- Led GxP compliance for cloud adoption
- Managed SOX compliance and controls
- Implemented compliance frameworks (GxP, ISO, etc.)
- Developed compliance strategies for hybrid environments
Quality & Risk Management
- Performed and led IT audits
- Managed audit finding remediation
- Conducted risk assessments and analysis
- Established security policies and procedures
Infrastructure Engineering and Operations
Systems Engineering
- Engineered Windows environments
- Implemented virtualization platforms (VMware)
- Managed enterpise infrastructure solutions
- Designed and deployed high-availability solutions
Operations & Support
- Provided 24/7 critical systems support
- Managed system lifecycle and upgrades
- Performed advanced performance tuning
- Performed capacity planning and optimization
Data Center Facility Operations
Infrastructure Management
- Managed data center power and cooling systems
- Oversaw physical security and access controls
- Coordinated facility maintenance and upgrades
- Implemented environmental monitoring systems
Operational Excellence
- Developed facility operation procedures
- Led emergency response and recovery planning
- Optimized space and resource utilization
- Managed vendor and maintenance contracts
Project Management
Project Leadership
- Led domestic and international data center relocation projects
- Managed global infrastructure lifecycle programs
- Coordinated cross-functional implementation teams
- Directed vendor and stakeholder relationships
Project Delivery
- Managed project budgets and timelines
- Developed project documentation and reports
- Implemented risk management strategies
- Ensured quality and compliance standards