What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Data Center Operations position at Inside Higher Ed?
Job Title
Director of Data Center Operations
Requisition Number
RE53973
Department Name
3L400:ITS Enterprise Systems
Work Location:
Lexington, KY
Grade Level
51
Salary Range
$93,954-159,744/year
Type Of Position
Staff
Position Time Status
Full-Time
Required Education
BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies::
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience
8 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification
None
Physical Requirements
Sitting for long periods of time, walking while carrying up to 25 pounds
Shift
Primarily days (Typically 8:00am-5:00pm), weekends and evenings could be required due to work load
Job Summary
The 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
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 Considered
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? :
Yes
Deadline To Apply
04/16/2026
Our University Community
We 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.
Director of Data Center Operations
Requisition Number
RE53973
Department Name
3L400:ITS Enterprise Systems
Work Location:
Lexington, KY
Grade Level
51
Salary Range
$93,954-159,744/year
Type Of Position
Staff
Position Time Status
Full-Time
Required Education
BA
Click here for more information about equivalencies::
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience
8 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification
None
Physical Requirements
Sitting for long periods of time, walking while carrying up to 25 pounds
Shift
Primarily days (Typically 8:00am-5:00pm), weekends and evenings could be required due to work load
Job Summary
The 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
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 Considered
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? :
Yes
Deadline To Apply
04/16/2026
Our University Community
We 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.
Salary : $93,954 - $159,744