Data Center Operations Specialist (Local)

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

VUMC IT Data Operations Center

Job Summary:

The VUMC Data Center operates 24x7x365 and hosts the Medical Center’s most critical IT infrastructure. The Data Center Operations Specialist plays a vital role in ensuring the integrity, security, and seamless functioning of this infrastructure. Responsibilities include installing, uninstalling, and relocating hardware; managing documentation; labeling devices and cables; and maintaining clear communication via the ticketing system.

This position supports data center uptime through vigilant monitoring of systems such as fire suppression, water infiltration detection, air cooling, and power infrastructure, all while maintaining a secure and efficient facility.

(Note: this role is a Night Shift position, with the potential for shift modification in the future)

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Primary Responsibilities

• Provide clear and timely communication through the standard ticketing system.

• Execute Moves/Adds/Changes (MACs) in accordance with SOPs, program policies, and safety/security standards.

• Monitor all critical facility systems including: Fire suppression, Water infiltration, Air cooling, Power.

• Respond to incidents involving critical facility systems with internal and external stakeholders.

• Provide remote hands support and coordinate with customers.

• Manage access and maintain the physical security of all infrastructure and assets.

• Document IT assets, shipments, and chain of custody.

• Track and update assets using Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software.

• Coordinate IT hardware destruction with third-party vendors.

• Serve as the point of communication during major incidents (e.g., critical outages).

• Prioritize workloads and align with Data Center mission and VUMC goals.

• Provide on-call, vacation, and sick coverage to support 24x7x365 operations.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Physically able to move/rack equipment and lift 50+ lbs.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to: Update asset management systems, Use ticketing systems efficiently, Install, uninstall, and maintain hardware, Properly cable power/fiber/copper according to SOP, Adapt to shifting priorities and multitask effectively, Work independently and within a team.

• Dependability: punctual, reliable, and available for on-call coverage.

• Organizational and time management abilities.

• Proficient in: Microsoft Office, Outlook, and standard desktop applications, Server/network hardware rack-and-stack, Ticketing systems, Material handling equipment (e.g., server lifts).

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of data center and critical facility best practices.

• Experience with: Device racking/stacking, Cable management (fiber & copper), Environmental monitoring, Surplus processes, Monitoring enterprise health apps (e.g., HealthConnect), Incident facilitation, Mainframe job error monitoring.

• Certifications in data center technologies are highly desirable.

Work Cadence & Schedule

Shift: 12-hour shifts (7 AM – 7 PM or 7 PM – 7 AM), 1-hour lunch
Schedule: Pitman shift (Week A: Mon/Tue/Fri/Sat/Sun; Week B: Wed/Thurs)
On-call: Required for coverage as needed
Holidays: Required to work
Weather: Required to report during inclement weather (hotel accommodations available)

About the Department:

VUMC IT

VUMC IT provides hardware, software and service solutions for the entire Medical Center. With over 40,000 workstations in the Medical Center, our teams can assist not only with hardware support, but also software and application support and services to enhance security and protection of