Senior Director, Cloud and Data Services (Client-facing)

Vaco by Highspring; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 190,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology solutions firm is seeking a Senior Director for Cloud and Data Services to lead the development of a new service offering for research, healthcare, and public-sector organizations. This role involves strategic planning, operational excellence, and engaging with clients to drive solutions. The ideal candidate will have significant experience leading technical teams, managing services in cloud environments, and a strong understanding of market trends to promote innovation. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and the chance to have a significant impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years leading technical teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong understanding of data center operations and cloud environments.
• Proven financial acumen including budgeting and P&L ownership.

Responsibilities

• Build and launch a modern Cloud/Data Services portfolio.
• Define service catalogs and operational frameworks.
• Work with sales/marketing to shape market strategy.
• Lead data center planning and modernization.
• Establish customer success metrics and feedback loops.

Skills

Leadership of technical teams

Service development

Budgeting and forecasting

Cloud technologies understanding

Communication to executive audiences

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field

Job description

Senior Director, Cloud and Data Services (Client-facing)

Vaco by Highspring offers a range-based compensation of $190,000–$240,000 per year. Your exact salary is determined by experience and skill set.

Base Pay Range

$190,000 / yr – $240,000 / yr

What You’ll Lead

Build and launch a modern Cloud/Data Services portfolio to serve research, education, healthcare, and public‑sector organizations across North Carolina.

• Develop new cloud, hybrid, and data service offerings
• Create business cases, pricing models, and go‑to‑market strategies
• Evaluate emerging technologies and lead proof‑of‑concept initiatives
• Establish a service roadmap aligned with customer needs and market trends

Drive Strategy & Operational Excellence

• Define service catalogs, SLAs/OLAs, and operational frameworks
• Lead capacity planning, technology roadmapping, and service governance
• Implement ITIL‑aligned service management practices
• Oversee incident, problem, and change management processes
• Manage budgets, forecast, and P&L performance

Engage Customers & Shape Market Presence

• Work with sales/marketing to identify opportunities and shape market strategy
• Meet with customers to understand needs and guide service evolution
• Develop onboarding and migration frameworks
• Establish customer success metrics and feedback loops
• Act as a technology evangelist and trusted advisor

Oversee Infrastructure & Cloud Architecture

• Lead data center planning, modernization, and optimization
• Manage capacity, automation, and orchestration initiatives
• Partner with internal teams on power, cooling, network, and security decisions
• Oversee cloud infrastructure used to deliver service offerings

What You Bring

Core Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years leading technical teams and cross‑functional initiatives
• 5+ years in service development, product management, or cloud service creation
• Strong understanding of data center operations, cloud environments, and hybrid architectures
• Experience with ITIL or similar service management frameworks
• Proven financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, P&L ownership
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to executive audiences

Preferred Experience

• Background in data center operations or DCIM tools
• Exposure to AI/ML infrastructure or modern data platforms
• Product management certifications or agile service development experience
• Knowledge of sustainability or green data center practices
• Experience supporting education, healthcare, or public‑sector organizations

Who Will Thrive in This Role

• Has built or scaled a service line before
• Understands cloud technologies but operates comfortably at the strategic level
• Can speak credibly with CIOs, state leaders, and executive stakeholders
• Has both technical fluency and business instincts
• Enjoys being a community‑facing technology evangelist
• Knows where the cloud and data services market is heading
• Can balance innovation with operational discipline

Why This Role Matters

This is not a “maintain what exists” position. It is an opportunity to build, shape, and grow a brand new service line that helps education, healthcare, and public institutions adopt modern technology at scale.

Seniority Level

Director

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Consulting and Information Technology