Director of Data Center Operations

University of Kentucky

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

Posting Details Posting Details Job TitleDirector of Data Center OperationsRequisition NumberRE53973Working TitleDepartment Name3L400:ITS Enterprise SystemsWork LocationLexington, KYGrade Level51Salary Range$93,954-159,744/yearType of PositionStaffPosition Time Status Full-TimeRequired EducationBAClick here for more information about equivalencies:https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalenciesRequired Related Experience8 yrsRequired License/Registration/CertificationNonePhysical RequirementsSitting for long periods of time, walking while carrying up to 25 poundsShiftPrimarily days (Typically 8:00am-5:00pm), weekends and evenings could be required due to work loadJob SummaryThe Director of Data Center Operations is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and maintenance of the organization’s data center infrastructure, ensuring optimal functionality, reliability, and security of systems, networks, and equipment. This role entails developing and implementing workflows to minimize downtime, monitoring performance metrics, and addressing potential issues proactively.

The manager leads a team of technical staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment while ensuring adherence to industry best practices. This position also involves coordinating with vendors for procurement, negotiating contracts, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.

Key responsibilities include:

• maintaining the physical infrastructure of the data center
• conducting regular inspections and preventive maintenance
• managing inventory
• implementing security protocols to safeguard data and infrastructure

The role requires the ability to align data center operations with organizational goals, ensure compliance with industry standards, and lead incident response efforts effectively.

This role demands a proactive leader with strong technical expertise, excellent team management skills, and a strategic mindset to optimize data center performance and support the organization’s objectives.

Internal Employee Being ConsideredSkills / Knowledge / AbilitiesDoes this position have supervisory responsibilities? YesPreferred Education/ExperienceDeadline to Apply04/16/2026Our University CommunityWe value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How many years have you been directly responsible for Data Center Operations at an Enterprise level?
   • None
   • More than 0, up through 1 year
   • More than 1 year, up through 5 years
   • More than 5 years, up through 8 years
   • More than 8 years
2. * Which approach best describes your experience managing a data center’s infrastructure, including capacity planning, redundancy, and disaster recovery?
   • I have designed and managed data center infrastructure, including redundancy and DR strategies, for enterprise environments.
   • I have experience managing data center operations but rely on external teams for redundancy and disaster recovery planning.
   • I have worked in IT infrastructure but have limited direct experience with capacity planning or disaster recovery strategies.
   • I have not been directly involved in data center infrastructure management.
3. * When making decisions about data center investments, how do you balance cost efficiency with performance and scalability?
   • Prioritize long-term scalability while optimizing costs through strategic vendor negotiations.
   • Focus primarily on minimizing upfront costs, even if it may limit future scalability.
   • Invest in the maximizing performance using latest technology without strict cost constraints.
   • Rely on existing infrastructure for as long as possible before considering upgrades.
4. * Describe the type of person you look for when hiring for Data Center Personnel:

   (Open Ended Question)

5. * What is your approach to maintaining an aging data center environment?

   (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents

PI283755381