Title: Data Center and Infrastructure Manager
State Role Title: Information Technology
Hiring Range: $158,000 - $168,000
Pay Band: UG
Agency: Virginia Retirement System
Location: Virginia Retirement System
Agency Website: www.varetire.org/careers
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
The Virginia Retirement System is seeking an experienced technology leader to join our team as the Data Center and Infrastructure Manager. The Data Center and Infrastructure Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, maintenance, and strategic improvements of the data center and infrastructure. This role ensures optimal performance, security, and compliance with industry standards. It also involves managing a team of IT professionals, handling a significant budget, and aligning operations with the organization’s broader goals. Additionally, this position implements strategies that enhance overall infrastructure, focusing on efficiency and modernization.
The essential functions of the Data Center and Infrastructure Manager include:
• Leads a team of IT professionals, including application, server, and network engineers.
• Fosters an environment that encourages teamwork, collaboration, and clear communication.
• Sets performance goals, offers professional development opportunities, and addresses performance issues promptly when they arise.
• Ensures the continuous availability of critical infrastructure, proactively monitoring systems, and minimizing downtime.
• Manages various aspects of data center and infrastructure operations, such as server management, network performance, cooling systems, and physical security.
• Performs regular capacity planning, load balancing, and system tuning to maintain optimal data center performance.
• Develops and implements strategic initiatives.
• Analyzes the current infrastructure, identifies potential upgrades, and devises a roadmap for implementation that balances performance improvements with budgetary constraints.
• Leads the deployment of new technologies to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to align technology upgrades with the organization’s evolving business needs.
• Ensures compliance with industry standards, such as HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, and CIS, is another critical responsibility. Conducts regular compliance audits, implementing security measures like firewalls and encryption, and develops robust data protection policies.
• Leads the incident response team, analyzing root causes of issues and implementing strategies to prevent future incidents.
• Provides budget oversight of expenses related to equipment procurement, maintenance, staffing, and utilities.
• Develops cost-saving initiatives by reducing tool overlap, optimizing resource allocation, and renegotiating vendor contracts.
• Creates and maintains detailed documentation of data center procedures, network diagrams, and access controls is maintained to support audits, troubleshooting, and disaster recovery efforts.
• Oversees vendor relationships to ensure competitive pricing, timely delivery, and access to the latest technologies.
• Manages backup and recovery processes, enforces strict access control measures, and conducts regular security drills to maintain data integrity and system security.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field, emphasizing infrastructure management.
Seven (7) years’ experience in data center and infrastructure management or a similar role, with direct involvement in managing complex infrastructure and teams or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Considerations
The most qualified candidate will possess:
• Strong leadership skills, be adept at problem-solving, and have excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Proficiency in infrastructure management tools like Nutanix and Netreo.
• Demonstrated experience with project management software, cloud technologies, and automation tools.
• Ability to manage large budgets and retain high-performing teams.
Special Instructions
This position has a current hybrid work schedule of working in the office three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and remotely two days a week (Monday and Friday). However, employees can be required to work in the office any day of the week. Those hired into management level positions must be available to work in the office on any day required.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Contact Information
Name: VRS Human Resources
Email: careers@varetire.org
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.