Position Summary:
The Data Center Manager leads the delivery, performance, and continuous improvement of Vanderbilt’s Data Centers, ensuring reliable, secure, and efficient operation of critical computing infrastructure. This position manages technical staff, coordinates cross-functional operational activities, and oversees service delivery processes that support institutional research, academic, and administrative technology services. Operating with high autonomy within established departmental strategies and operational objectives, the role translates organizational priorities into team-level execution plans, manages operational risk, and ensures service continuity, compliance, and customer satisfaction. Through effective leadership, workforce development, and operational governance, the position advances VUIT's mission of delivering dependable technology services that support the university community.
About the Work Unit:
Vanderbilt University Information Technology is a human-centric organization that advances our university by delivering innovative solutions and frictionless experiences through collaboration.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Data Center Operations and Service Delivery | 30% of Time
Oversees delivery of Data Center activities, ensuring infrastructure installations, relocations, and decommissioning efforts are completed according to established standards and service commitments.
Maintains accurate asset inventories, infrastructure documentation, consumable tracking, and operational records that support effective service management and compliance requirements.
Ensures customer requests, operational work queues, and vendor activities are prioritized and executed efficiently to maintain service quality and customer satisfaction.
Monitors service performance indicators and operational metrics, implementing improvements that increase efficiency, reliability, and service effectiveness.
Ensures physical security, operational controls, and governance requirements are consistently maintained across supported facilities.
Service Reliability, Incident Management, and Risk Oversight | 20% of Time
Provides operational leadership for monitoring, escalation, and response activities that maintain availability of critical data center infrastructure and supporting services.
Coordinates major incident response efforts, ensuring timely communication, effective collaboration, and resolution of operational disruptions.
Implements and reinforces change management, risk mitigation, and operational control practices that reduce service interruptions and institutional risk.
Ensures incidents, corrective actions, and operational events are documented accurately to support accountability, trend analysis, and continuous improvement.
Evaluates recurring operational challenges and implements process improvements that strengthen resilience, reliability, and service continuity.
Cross-Functional Coordination and Operational Governance | 15% of Time
Maintains effective working relationships with VUIT leadership, facilities personnel, vendors, contractors, and customers to support operational objectives and service delivery commitments.
Serves as a subject matter resource for data center processes, procedures, and operational standards, promoting consistency and informed decision-making.
Coordinates activities across multiple teams and stakeholders to ensure infrastructure changes and service requests are completed successfully and with minimal disruption.
Develops, maintains, and improves operational procedures that enhance consistency, efficiency, knowledge transfer, and service quality.
Supports operational reporting and analysis efforts that provide leaders with actionable information for planning and service improvements.
Operational Planning, Projects, and Technology Administration | 15% of Time
Leads operational projects that improve data center capacity, infrastructure utilization, environmental management, and overall service…