Hi

Role: Data Center Operations Lead

Work Location: Manila, Philippines

Contract

Key Responsibilities:

Data Center Management:

• Strong knowledge of server hardware (various vendors), operating systems (Windows Server, Linux), storage technologies (SAN, NAS), networking (SDWAN, WAN, LAN & Wi-Fi), and virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V).
• Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of all owned and co-located data center facilities.
• Ensure the physical security, environmental controls (power, cooling, humidity), and safety protocols within the data centers are maintained to the highest standards.
• Manage capacity planning, monitoring, and forecasting for data center space, power, and cooling resources.
• Coordinate and supervise vendor activities related to data center maintenance, upgrades, and installations.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation related to data center infrastructure, layouts, and procedures.
• Lead and participate in data center audits and compliance assessments.
• Manage and optimize data center operational budgets.
• IT Infrastructure Operations:
• Lead and manage a team of technical engineers responsible for the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of critical IT infrastructure components, including servers (physical and virtual), storage systems, networking equipment, and backup/recovery solutions.
• Ensure high availability and performance of all critical IT infrastructure services in alignment with defined SLAs.
• Develop, implement, and enforce operational standards, policies, and procedures for IT infrastructure management.
• Oversee incident management, problem management, and change management processes for infrastructure-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimal impact to business operations.
• Drive proactive monitoring and alerting strategies to identify and resolve potential infrastructure issues before they impact services.
• Manage and optimize IT infrastructure operational budgets.
• Team Leadership and Development:
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of technical professionals.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance appraisals.
• Foster a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment within the team.
• Identify training needs and facilitate professional development opportunities for team members.
• Vendor Management:
• Manage relationships with key vendors providing data center services, hardware, and software support.
• Negotiate and review vendor contracts and SLAs.
• Monitor vendor performance against agreed-upon metrics.
• Security and Compliance:
• Ensure all data center and IT infrastructure operations adhere to relevant regulatory compliance standards (e.g., RBI guidelines, PCI DSS, ISO 27001) and internal security policies.
• Participate in security audits and implement remediation plans as required.
• Implement and maintain security best practices within the data center environment.
• Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity:
• Contribute to the development, testing, and maintenance of the organization's Disaster Recovery (DR) and Business Continuity (BC) plans for IT infrastructure.
• Ensure the readiness and recoverability of critical infrastructure components in the event of a disaster.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, and infrastructure enhancements.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry best practices in data center and IT infrastructure operations.
• Lead and participate in projects aimed at improving infrastructure efficiency, scalability, and resilience.
• Stakeholder Management:
• Effectively communicate with internal stakeholders (e.g., application teams, security teams, business units) regarding infrastructure status, incidents, and planned changes.
• Provide regular reports on data center and infrastructure performance metrics.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 10-12 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure operations, with a significant focus on data center management within a large enterprise environment.
• Proven experience leading and managing technical teams.
• Deep technical understanding of data center infrastructure components, including power distribution, cooling systems, fire suppression, physical security, and monitoring tools.
• Strong knowledge of server hardware (various vendors), operating systems (Windows Server, Linux), storage technologies (SAN, NAS), networking fundamentals (LAN, WAN), and virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V).
• Experience with IT service management (ITSM) frameworks such as ITIL.
• Familiarity with monitoring and management tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, SCOM).
• Strong understanding of security principles and best practices relevant to data center and infrastructure operations.
• Experience with disaster recovery and business continuity planning and execution.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication (both written and verbal), interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working within the BFSI sector and understanding its regulatory requirements is highly preferred.

Certifications (Desirable):

• ITIL certifications (e.g., ITIL Expert, ITIL Managing Professional).
• Data Center certifications (e.g., CDCP, CDCS, CDCE).
• Relevant certifications in server, storage, or networking technologies (e.g., MCSE, RHCE, CCNA).
• Security certifications (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CISSP).

Regards

James

Lead APAC Recruiter | Amsptek LLC

Email: [email protected]

Please refer to job description.