Director, Data Center Operations

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

The Director of Data Center Operations is responsible for overseeing the efficient and reliable operation of data center facilities. This role involves strategic planning with internal and external partners, optimization, and management of the physical space within the data center, team leadership, and ensuring the highest levels of uptime, performance, and security for the data center infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in data center management, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of industry best practices.  This role involves leading a team of data center technicians coordinating operational rack and stack and maintenance activities and is responsible for oversight of mainframe and Tape systems.

Essential Functions

Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a team of data center planners, managers, and technicians, providing strategic guidance and support.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence.

• Develop and implement professional development programs and succession planning for the team.

Operational Management:

• Oversee and direct the day-to-day operations of the data center, ensuring high availability, performance, and alignment with organizational goals.

• Establish and manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs.

• Set and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for data center operations and implement strategic improvements.

Strategic Planning: 

• Develop and implement long-term strategies for optimizing the use of white space within the data center.

• Create and maintain comprehensive white space plans, including rack elevations, floor layouts, and cable management.

• Collaborate with facilities, network, and operations teams to ensure alignment with the organization's strategic goals.

Capacity and Resource Management: 

• Monitor, analyze, and forecast data center capacity, including space, power, and cooling.

This is an on-site position. An on-site position must be consistently performed at an assigned Visa office location and require daily commute to the office location.

Qualifications

Basic Qualification:
• 10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 3 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualification:
• 12 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or 8-10 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 6+ years of work experience with a PhD
• Proven experience in leading large-scale data center operations and strategic initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills paired with unwavering attention to detail.
• Strong customer focus with the proven ability to establish productive working relationships with staff, management at all levels, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage customer expectations, and work both independently and as part of a team and long-term planning.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a mann