Our talented teams design, build and operate of the world's best Data Centres.
About VIRTUS
VIRTUS Data Centres is the UK’s fastest growing data centre provider which owns, designs, builds and operates the country’s most efficient and flexible data centres.
In May 2023 we announced our plans to expand into continental Europe, with our first data centre due to open in Berlin in 2026, to be quickly followed by two full campuses and expansion into other countries in the pipeline.
Our purpose is to serve humanity by being an active, positive participant in the 4th industrial revolution. When we talk about our purpose, we refer to our customers’ customers; the child playing a computer game, the person watching their favourite movie, booking a medical appointment, a plane ticket, a hotel or doing their online banking; those things can’t be done if we don’t do our job.
Our mission is to consistently exceed the expectations of customers through innovative, high-quality solutions and services. We employ intelligent thinkers – people with positive attitudes, who add to the quality of our customer proposition and business.
We value individual endeavour and initiative and encourage teamwork and togetherness because collective experience and expertise is VIRTUS’ greatest strength.
Job Summary
Reporting to Senior Director of Operations, the primary function of the role is to provide leadership, direction, management and oversight on the day-to-day operations of the VIRTUS Data Centres. This includes ensuring the safety, reliability, efficiency, and operational excellence of data centres. You will be driving performance improvements, innovation, best practices and championing collaborative efforts across various departments to elevate our service delivery while maintaining alignment with business objectives and delivering on 100% uptime SLAs. This is a key role in the DCO leadership team; the ability to work collaboratively across the business and to lead by example, will be instrumental in success.
Overall, you are expected to be a role model of the VIRTUS values and Leadership Behaviours.
Key Responsibilities:
The role includes but is not limited to the following: -
* Leadership Excellence: Cultivate a high-performance culture that places emphasis on customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. You will inspire your team by setting a sterling example, fostering a workspace where innovation thrives, and ensuring that our operations align with the strategic vision of the organisation.
* Operational Excellence: Oversee and enhance day-to-day operations, driving performance improvements, reliability, efficiency and the highest standards of safety and security for both personnel and assets within our data centres. Ensure that our infrastructure operates at peak efficiency and that we consistently achieve zero downtime, defects, and errors. Actively manage workload and priorities of your teams, to ensure that business goals and deliverables are achieved.
* Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Champion the implementation of innovative practices, processes, and technologies to drive improvements in service delivery, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
* Strategic Financial Management: You will have comprehensive control over the operational and capital expenditure, managing a significant budget with a keen eye on cost optimisation without compromising quality. This includes collaborating closely with the Finance Department to establish budgetary goals and presenting well-justified financial plans to the leadership team.
* Capacity and Infrastructure Optimisation: Proactively manage and forecast data centre capacity needs, ensuring scalability and flexibility to meet future demands. Drive initiatives aimed at enhancing operational capabilities, streamlining processes, and implementing state-of-the-art solutions to bolster efficiency and service quality.
* Performance & SLA Management: Ensure that all data centres consistently meet or exceed their 100% uptime SLA and operations goals. Address performance and goals challenges promptly and efficiently, implementing corrective actions as needed. Track and report all goals, identify trends, issues and work with cross-functional teams for resolution.
* Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and support for operational goals. Collaborate with various departments to achieve high-quality service delivery and operational excellence. Oversee the supplier performance in ensuring work is completed to a high standard and processes are followed.
* People Management & Development: Lead and develop the data centre operations team, ensuring that skills are aligned with business needs and operational requirements. Provide mentorship, coaching, guidance, support to ensure team success, and fostering a culture of passion and commitment for reliability and customer service.
* Incident Management and Continuous Learning: Ensure that incident response times are minimised, with clear processes for resolving issues rapidly and effectively. Track and improve mean time to repair (MTTR) and mean time to detect (MTTD). Foster a culture of continuous learning, encouraging your team to learn from each incident and share these insights across our network of data centres to prevent future occurrences.
This role comes with an on-call element, which will require the Cluster Director to participate in an out-of-hours on-call escalation rota.
What success looks like in 12 months’ time:
* Forge and strengthen relationships with key clients and stakeholders, ensuring they are satisfied with the service levels. This can involve regular check-ins and gathering feedback for continuous improvement.
* Maintain a flawless operational record with zero downtime, enhancing customer satisfaction and relationships.
* Champion technological advancements to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
* Set and achieve ambitious, measurable goals that align with our strategic objectives.
Person Specification
* Bachelor’s degree or master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
* 10+ years of experience in data centre operations, or mission critical operations, with at least 5 years in a senior management or leadership role.
* Proven experience in leading data centre operations at a senior level, with a strong understanding of technical, operational, and strategic functions.
* Proven track record of managing large, complex data centre operations (e.g., power, cooling, fire life safety system, security, compliance) with high reliability and performance.
* Experience with budget management, cost control, and vendor management in a data centre environment.
* Experience in managing large, complex projects, including upgrades and expansions, ensuring minimal disruption to live environments.
* Experience with energy management and sustainability initiatives within data centre operations.
* Strong leadership and people management skills with experience in leading large, cross-functional teams.
* Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to make critical decisions in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
* Exceptional skills in identifying potential risks and implementing mitigation strategies
* Inspire others to excel, embracing challenges and championing innovation
* Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and create a culture of continuous improvement
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the business
* Lead with integrity, empathy, fostering team development, and driving strategic initiatives.
This role is designed for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, embraces challenges, and is committed to setting new benchmarks in operational excellence. If you're driven to make a significant impact, fostering an inclusive and innovative workspace, we encourage you to apply.
In line with VIRTUS’ Vetting Policy, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo a BS7858 screening process.
Remuneration package and benefits:
* Private healthcare
* Pension contribution scheme
* Eye and dental care benefit
* Discretionary bonus
* Income Protection
* Life Assurance
* Cycle to work scheme
* Annual travel card loan
* Tech Scheme
* Electric car scheme
* Workplace extras - Byond card and Extras discount
VIRTUS is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.
We reserve the right to close this post for applications should sufficient applications be received.