Vanderbilt University · 3 months ago
Director of Data Center Services
Nashville, TN, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
7+ years expVanderbilt University is seeking a Director of Data Center Operations to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for its data center infrastructure. This role involves ensuring the availability, reliability, scalability, and security of data center services that support the university’s academic, research, and administrative functions.
E-LearningEducationHigher Education
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree is necessary
7-10 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure or data center operations is necessary
At least 5 years in a leadership or management role overseeing complex data center environments is necessary
Demonstrated experience with hybrid cloud environments, virtualization, and enterprise storage solutions is necessary
Proven track record of strategic planning, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration is necessary
Deep understanding of data center architecture, power and cooling systems, and network infrastructure is necessary
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on operational excellence is necessary
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders are necessary
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment is necessary
Demonstrated commitment to VUIT's Guiding Principles is necessary
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field is preferred
Relevant certifications such as Data Center Management (DCM), ITIL, Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP), or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are highly desirable are preferred
Company
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Vanderbilt University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (90)
2024 (91)
2023 (87)
2022 (58)
2021 (62)
2020 (65)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$28.55MKey Investors
Mark AbkowitzNational Science Foundation
2018-11-07Grant· $4.5M
2018-04-18Grant· $0.55M
2015-07-10Grant· $12.8M
Leadership Team
B
Bharat Bhuva
Professor
Bill Blot
Professor
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