Title: Operations Manager (Hybrid Schedule)

State Role Title: Salary Non-Specified

Hiring Range: 148,000-185,000

Pay Band: UG

Agency: Virginia Retirement System

Location: Virginia Retirement System

Agency Website: www.varetire.org/careers

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Are you a strategic leader with a deep technical background in IT operations and a passion for building high-performing teams? We are seeking an Operation’s Manager to spearhead our IT operational initiatives, ensuring the highest levels of service delivery, application performance, and organizational alignment.

As an Operation’s Manager, you will be a visionary leader responsible for the stability and evolution of our enterprise systems. You will drive innovation, manage complex cross-functional relationships, and ensure our technology stack remains resilient and responsive 24x7x365.

Strategic Leadership & Technical Excellence
• 24x7x365 System Reliability: Manage and ensure that all production application systems remain online and accessible at all times to meet the demands of our stakeholders.
• Performance Monitoring: Create and implement advanced application performance monitoring tools to proactively ensure customer satisfaction and application responsiveness.
• Database & Disaster Recovery: Manage the Database Administration (DBA) team to ensure operational uptime, data availability, and the strict maintenance of disaster recovery thresholds.
• Data Integrity: In collaboration with the Data Office and various stakeholders, develop rigorous methodologies to verify the accuracy of data within our databases.
• Continuity & Change Management: Develop and perform comprehensive continuity checks following every upgrade, release, or change to the database or application environment.
• Incident Management & Triage: Staff and lead the production support team to effectively triage and troubleshoot production issues across infrastructure, database, data, networking, and security.
• Technical Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and staff on complex technical topics and emerging technology trends.

Project & Portfolio Management
• Strategic Planning: Lead strategic planning and decision-making to align projects with business goals that drive long-term value.
• Resource & Capacity Planning: Manage all resources and capacity planning across a diverse portfolio of projects.
• Cross-Functional Delivery: Champion collaboration, remove barriers, and guide teams to successfully deliver complex, large-scale initiatives.
Team Development & Relationship Management
• Talent Strategy: Shape team structure, culture, and talent strategy to support evolving business needs.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Maintain close relationships with key business stakeholders and internal operations staff to ensure strict alignment with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for both internal and external customers.
• Silo Elimination: Break down departmental silos and resolve conflicts to align different teams toward shared business goals.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Providing strategic direction, technical guidance, and operational oversight to ensure successful delivery of IT initiatives. Responsibilities include supervising cross-functional teams, managing project timelines, resources, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and supervising work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science or a closely related field.

Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive experience in IT operations, application support, or production systems management

Minimum of three (3) years in a supervisory or lead role overseeing enterprise application operations.

Additional Considerations

Preferred Knowledge and Skills: SDLC, ITIL, data architecture and data warehouse.

Experience with IT Service Management tools (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira), ITIL or Agile frameworks, CI/CD and automation practices, enterprise database administration tools, and application performance monitoring solutions. Proficiency in developing operational metrics, dashboards, and KPIs.

Special Instructions

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.

VRS is unable to provide sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship now or in the future.

The current hybrid schedule for technology employees is 3 days onsite in Richmond, VA (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) and 2 days remote (Monday and Friday). All employees must be able to work the current hybrid schedule and report to the office as needed on designated remote days.

Contact Information

Name: 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.