Practice Manager - ROH Automation and Operations

Datacom; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Datacom is seeking a Practice Manager – Automation and Operations to lead a major transformation of our Reliability Operations Hub into an automation-first, AI-enabled platform engineering and SRE capability. This leadership role requires driving observability, self-service automation, and preventative engineering across regions while aligning with product and commercial teams to deliver scalable services.

You will build and grow a high-performing Platform Reliability Engineering function and

Qualifications

• Experience in SRE practices and platform engineering
• Automation leadership and large-scale tech operations
• Strong people leadership and transformation skills

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation of the Reliability Operations Hub to an automation-first, AI-enabled platform engineering and SRE capability (ROH).
• Drive observability, preventative engineering and self-service automation to reduce toil and incidents.
• Collaborate with Product and Commercial teams to evolve capabilities into scalable customer-facing services.
• Develop and grow Platform Reliability Engineering teams across regions, shaping global operating models.

Job description

Our Why

Datacom works with organisations and communities across Australia and New Zealand to make a difference in people’s lives and help organisations use the power of tech to innovate and grow.

About the role (your why)

Ready to help build the future of Operations?

We’re looking for our next Practice Manager – Automation and Operations to lead one of the most important transformations underway in our technology operations.

This isn’t a “keep the lights on” leadership role.

It’s an opportunity to help transform our Reliability Operations Hub (ROH) from traditional, reactive operations into a modern automation-first, AI-enabled Platform Engineering and SRE capability.

Clearance requirement: This position requires Australian citizenship and an existing NV1 security clearance, or eligibility to obtain one.

You’ll have the mandate to:

• Turn manual work into automation Lead the shift away from repetitive operational activity through Ansible, AI-assisted operations, self-service and reusable automation.
• Build a modern 24x7 Reliability Operations Hub Shape how work enters the ROH, how it flows across teams and regions, and how we create faster, more consistent operational outcomes.
• Move us from reacting to engineering Embed SRE practices, stronger observability and preventative engineering so we solve problems permanently, not just repeatedly.
• Turn operational pain into improvement Use incidents, toil and recurring problems as the fuel for automation and better platform design.
• Help build something we can take to customers Work with our Product and Commercial teams to evolve capabilities such as observability, automated triage and SRE into scalable customer-facing services.
• Lead and grow capability across regions Develop our Platform Reliability Engineering teams, build broader technical capability and create stronger, more consistent ways of working.

In this role you will

Because you won’t be inheriting a finished model. You’ll help build it.

If you’ve been looking at our transformation and thinking “I know how we could do this better”, this is your chance to step in and lead it.

We’re looking for someone who can bring together technology, automation, people leadership, operational excellence and commercial thinking. Someone who is equally comfortable leading through a critical incident, challenging why a manual process still exists, developing engineers, and helping shape what the next generation of Datacom operational services could look like.

Sound like you?

If you have strong experience in SRE, Platform Engineering, Automation or large-scale Technology Operations and want to play a hands‑on leadership role in where we go next, we’d love to hear from you.

This isn’t about running yesterday’s operations better. It’s about building tomorrow’s.

Culture and Benefits

Datacom is one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest suppliers of Information Technology professional services. We have managed to maintain a dynamic, agile, small business feel that is often diluted in larger organisations of our size. It’s our people that give Datacom its unique culture and energy that you can feel from the moment you meet with us.

We care about our people and provide a range of perks such as social events, chill-out spaces, remote working, flexi-hours and professional development courses to name a few. You’ll have the opportunity to learn, develop your career, connect and bring your true self to work. You will be recognised and valued for your contributions and be able to do your work in a collegial, flat-structured environment.