Director of Data Center Services

Position Summary:

The Director of Data Center Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for Vanderbilt University's data center infrastructure. This role ensures the availability, reliability, scalability, and security of data center services that support the university’s academic, research, and administrative functions. The Director leads a team of professionals in data center operations, architecture, and analysis, and collaborates with internal stakeholders and external partners to align infrastructure capabilities with institutional goals and emerging technologies. This position plays a critical role in shaping the future of the university’s IT infrastructure and contributes to long-term planning and innovation.

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:

Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive data center strategy aligned with university goals and IT roadmap.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and trends to inform infrastructure modernization and innovation.
• Lead capacity planning, risk management, and business continuity initiatives for data center operations.
• Collaborate with senior IT leadership to integrate data center strategy with broader enterprise architecture.

Operational Oversight and Service Delivery

• Ensure high availability, performance, and security of all data center services.
• Oversee daily operations including monitoring, incident response, and maintenance.
• Establish and enforce operational standards, policies, and procedures.
• Manage vendor relationships and service contracts related to data center infrastructure.

Team Management and Development

• Lead and supervise a team of employees, including recruitment, training, and performance management.

• Acts as a player/coach, guiding and performing work within the function.

• Develop and implement plans, objectives, and initiatives to meet organizational goals.

• Allocate financial and human resources efficiently and effectively to support operational activities.

• Monitor and evaluate team performance, providing feedback and coaching to enhance individual and collective capabilities.

• Foster a positive work environment by promoting collaboration, communication, and employee engagement.

• Ensure compliance with Vanderbilt policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

• Collaborate with other departments or stakeholders to achieve cross-functional objectives and resolve issues effectively.

• Analyze data and metrics to identify opportunities for process improvement and operational optimization. 

Compliance, Security, and Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with institutional, regulatory, and industry standards (e.g., HIPAA, FERPA, NIST).
• Implement and maintain robust physical and logical security controls.
• Conduct regular audits and assessments to identify and mitigate risks.
• Coordinate disaster recovery and backup strategies across data center environments.
• Serve as a liaison between IT and academic/research departments to understand infrastructure needs.
• Communicate data center capabilities and constraints to non-technical stakeholders.
• Partner with external vendors, consultants, and peer institutions to share best practices and resources.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

Supervisory Relationships:

This position manages a team of ~12 employees. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for IT Operations.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is necessary

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field is pre