Data Center Manager

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

4h•Onsite

About The Position

The Data Center Manager leads delivery, performance, and continuous improvement of Vanderbilt’s Data Centers, ensuring reliable, secure, and efficient operation of critical computing infrastructure. The position manages technical staff, coordinates cross-functional operational activities, and oversees service delivery processes that support institutional research, academic, and administrative technology services. Working with high autonomy within established departmental strategies and objectives, the manager translates organizational priorities into team execution plans, manages operational risk, and ensures service continuity, compliance, and customer satisfaction. The role oversees data center operations and service delivery, including infrastructure installations, relocations, and decommissioning; asset and operational documentation; customer requests and vendor work; service metrics; physical security; and governance. It provides leadership for monitoring, incident response, change management, risk mitigation, and operational controls. The manager coordinates across VUIT leadership, facilities personnel, vendors, contractors, customers, and technical teams, and leads projects involving capacity, infrastructure utilization, environmental management, and service performance. As a player-coach, the manager supervises and develops a team of approximately nine technicians and specialists, contributes to day-to-day work, plans team objectives, manages resources and budgets, and fosters an inclusive and collaborative work environment. The position works primarily on campus during scheduled work hours. It has no set on-call responsibilities, but occasional after-hours support requires flexibility. A valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record are required. The position reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Data Center Services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
5–7 years of progressive experience working in and managing data center operations, critical infrastructure environments, or technology operations functions.
At least 3 years of experience leading technical operations teams, including staffing, performance management, workforce development, and service delivery.
Experience leading operational projects and coordinating activities across multiple technical teams and stakeholders.
Ability to manage incident response, operational risk, escalation processes, and service continuity activities.
Advanced knowledge of data center infrastructure, facilities operations, asset governance, and operational controls.
Ability to analyze operational metrics, performance trends, and service data to drive continuous improvement.
Strong leadership, communication, and organizational decision-making skills in a complex operational environment.
Demonstrated commitment to VUIT’s Guiding Principles.
Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
Primarily on-campus work during scheduled hours, with flexibility for occasional after-hours support.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
ITIL Foundation, CDCMP, CDCP, Cisco CCENT, or equivalent infrastructure operations certifications.
Project management, leadership, or operational governance certifications.

Responsibilities

Oversee delivery of data center activities, including infrastructure installations, relocations, and decommissioning, in accordance with standards and service commitments.
Maintain accurate asset inventories, infrastructure documentation, consumable tracking, and operational records.
Prioritize and coordinate customer requests, operational work queues, and vendor activities to maintain service quality and customer satisfaction.
Monitor service performance indicators and operational metrics and implement improvements to efficiency, reliability, and service effectiveness.
Maintain physical security, operational controls, and governance requirements across supported facilities.
Lead monitoring, escalation, and response activities to maintain availability of critical data center infrastructure and services.
Coordinate major incident response, communication, collaboration, and resolution of operational disruptions.
Implement and reinforce change management, risk mitigation, and operational control practices.
Ensure incidents, corrective actions, and operational events are documented and use recurring challenges to improve resilience and service continuity.
Maintain effective working relationships with VUIT leadership, facilities personnel, vendors, contractors, and customers.
Serve as a subject matter resource for data center processes, procedures, and operational standards.
Coordinate infrastructure changes and service requests across teams and stakeholders with minimal disruption.
Develop, maintain, and improve operational procedures and support reporting and analysis for planning and service improvements.
Lead operational projects that improve capacity, infrastructure utilization, environmental management, and service performance.
Oversee facilities monitoring, asset management, inventory, and capacity planning systems.
Use forecasting, modeling, and performance data to optimize infrastructure placement, power utilization, space allocation, and environmental efficiency.
Coordinate project activities among technical teams, facilities organizations, vendors, and contractors, ensuring operational readiness and alignment with priorities and quality standards.
Recruit, onboard, develop, and manage the performance of a team of approximately nine technicians and specialists.
Contribute to day-to-day work while mentoring team members, modeling best practices, and removing obstacles.
Set team plans, objectives, and initiatives aligned with organizational goals, and track and adjust progress.
Allocate financial and human resources, manage within budget, and maximize efficiency and service delivery.
Provide timely performance feedback, coaching, and corrective guidance.
Promote an inclusive work environment, collaboration, communication, employee engagement, morale, and retention.
Ensure compliance with Vanderbilt policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with internal partners, resolve issues, and support cross-functional priorities.
Use data, metrics, and operational insights to identify trends and implement improvements.