Data Centre Manager

TGS International Group; Watford; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

TGS International Group in Watford is seeking a Data Centre Manager to own MAC and BAU on a client data centre. You will lead on-site operations, wiring, patching, testing and decommissioning, while supervising shift activity and coordinating third parties.

This role requires extensive banking IT experience and strong cabling and asset/ticketing systems knowledge. You will manage change and service delivery, mentor staff and support a high-profile banking IT environment, with opportunities to

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in structured cabling installation, fault finding and testing with Fluke test equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of structured cabling standards and cable types (FTP, UTP and Optical Fibre).
• Expert knowledge of Asset Management Systems.
• Expert knowledge of Ticketing Systems.
• Expert understanding of complex change management and service delivery processes.
• Proven supervisory and people management skills.
• Experience of managing 3rd parties and 3rd party delivered services.
• Ability to mentor and train new starters, and to approve / sign off training modules.
• Self-starter with strong prioritisation, multitasking and independence.
• Satisfactory skills matrix score.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day MAC and BAU activities on site, supervising shift teams.
• Install and remove racks, servers and hardware equipment on site.
• Patch network and connect equipment within racks; test with Fluke equipment.
• Manage visitor access and supervise third parties and internal teams.
• Lead special projects from design through handover and report status.
• Maintain accurate documentation and asset tracking per processes.
• Support incident management and escalation procedures.
• Mentor new starters and ensure training completion.

Skills

Banking IT environment experience

Structured cabling installation

Asset Management Systems

Ticketing Systems

Change management

Supervisory / people management

3rd party management

Shift leadership

Tools

Fluke test equipment

PDU installation

Job description

Employment Type: Permanent, Full Time

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are working with a leading provider of technology and telecoms infrastructure services, delivering critical connectivity and data centre support services to some of the most demanding client environments in the UK, including tier-one banking and financial services facilities.

Due to continued growth on a key managed services contract, we are recruiting a Data Centre Manager to be based on site at a client data centre in the Watford area.

Reporting to the Service Delivery Manager, you will own the day-to-day running of Moves, Adds and Changes (MAC) and Business As Usual (BAU) activity on site. This is a genuinely hands-on leadership role. You will be in the halls racking, patching, testing and decommissioning, while also supervising shift activity, managing third parties, controlling site access, and keeping the client's asset and ticketing data accurate.

You will work closely with the client and the Service Delivery Manager to improve operational systems, processes and procedures, driving enhanced service deliverables and clearer management reporting. In certain circumstances the role may extend to supporting additional data centres and/or campus sites.

If you are a data centre professional who knows structured cabling inside out, has worked within a high-compliance banking IT environment, and is ready to step into a supervisory position with real ownership, this is an excellent opportunity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Installations & Decommissioning

• Install and remove racks, servers and hardware equipment
• Restack and relocate equipment within site
• Decommission and remove redundant infrastructure
• Install power distribution units (PDUs)
• Label equipment to the required standard

Cabling & Connectivity

• Patch network and connect equipment within racks
• Support structured cabling infrastructure and hardware connectivity
• Fault find and test using Fluke test equipment
• Conduct technology room inspections
• Assist with alarm investigations
• Identify and report redundant infrastructure
• Support tracking and management of infrastructure assets

Asset Movement & Site Support

• Support mechanical and electrical provisioning alongside CRE teams

Access & Security Control

• Manage visitor access to data centre environments
• Escort and supervise third parties and internal teams
• Support site security processes

Leadership & Service Delivery

• Lead and supervise shift activities
• Lead special projects from design through to handover
• Manage third parties and third party delivered services
• Mentor and train new starters on all systems, processes and procedures
• Approve and sign off training modules
• Support incident management and escalation procedures

Reporting & Administration

• Submit regular reports, timesheets and expenses within deadline
• Maintain accurate documentation in line with company and client processes
• Track daily activities, task completion, incidents and project status

WORKING PATTERN

• Site based in the Watford area
• Supporting 24/7 data centre operations across BAU and project work
• Flexibility on working hours is required
• Leave is subject to restrictions aligned with management coverage

REQUIREMENTS - ESSENTIAL

• Relevant experience working within a banking IT environment
• Relevant experience in a Data Centre Moves, Adds and Changes (MAC) environment - IT hardware deployment
• Extensive experience in structured cabling installation, fault finding and testing with Fluke test equipment
• Thorough knowledge of structured cabling standards and cable types (FTP, UTP and Optical Fibre)
• Expert knowledge of Asset Management Systems
• Expert knowledge of Ticketing Systems
• Expert understanding of complex change management and service delivery processes
• Proven supervisory and people management skills
• Experience of managing 3rd parties and 3rd party delivered services
• Experienced service delivery professional, comfortable supporting a large-scale and diverse environment of incident management, escalation procedures and project delivery disciplines
• Ability to lead / supervise shift activities and special projects from design through to handover
• Ability to mentor and train new starters, and to approve / sign off training modules
• Self-starter - organised, detail-oriented, able to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong prioritisation and multitasking ability, and the ability to work under pressure
• Satisfactory skills matrix score

REQUIREMENTS - DESIRABLE

• Previous training / qualifications within the Information Technology field
• ITIL Foundation and Expert

EXPERIENCE

You will come from a live, operational data centre background - most likely as a Data Centre Technician, Data Centre Engineer, Shift Lead, Smart Hands Engineer or MAC Engineer looking for a step up, or as an existing Data Centre Manager or Supervisor.

Experience gained supporting banking or financial services data centres is essential, given the compliance, change control and security standards these environments demand. You will be equally comfortable on the tools as you are running a shift, briefing a client, or signing off a third party's work.

WHAT THE ROLE OFFERS

• Salary of £46,000 - £54,000
• A permanent, site-based position on a long-term managed services contract
• Genuine ownership of the day-to-day operation of a critical client site
• Exposure to a high-profile banking IT environment
• Supervisory responsibility with scope to lead special projects end to end
• Potential to broaden scope across multiple data centres and campus sites
• Career progression within a growing managed services business
• Support with industry training and certification