Data Centre IT Operations Manager

About the role:

The DC IT Operations Manager leads the team responsible for the performance, resilience, and lifecycle of our data center IT infrastructure. Distinct from the IT Facilities Manager, this role focuses on maturing operational processes and developing people to create a culture of continuous improvement. Their primary objective is to guarantee our hardware and systems provide a world-class, trusted foundation for all xneelo products.

What you’ll do:

Reporting into the Head of Infrastructure, you will

● Lead and manage the teams delivering the DC IT Operations function

● Recruit, develop and retain the required people with appropriate skills

● Build an agile, self-organising culture in teams

● Ensure optimal levels of stakeholder engagement

● Resolve any people issues

● In collaboration with the Head of Infrastructure, evolve the function and team structure to ensure capacity to deliver

● Partner with product and technical teams to define and recommend technical hardware specifications

● Collaborate with the IT Facilities Manager to implement and oversee operational strategies, ensuring adherence to power, cooling, and density specifications for the facility

● Act as the primary on-site customer liaison for datacenter visitors and escalations

● Implement and uphold the datacenter operational health and safety standards

● Act as the primary on-site contact and liaison for the outsourced security team

Who you are:

● Passion to lead people and achieve results through others

● You love helping others push through their growth barriers and seeing them succeed

● Passion for IT hardware and technology in general

● You are able to remain calm and objective when pressure mounts and significant challenges are presented

● You are able to prioritise the needs of varying stakeholders and achieve win-win outcomes for all

● You take a big picture view and are astute at identifying those decisions which can have a more significant impact than what meets the eye

● Strong administrative skills, highly organised and able to prioritise

● Possess a keen eye for detail and proactively address inefficiencies or discrepancies

● Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

Mastery in this role:

A DC IT Operations Manager at the mastery level is a transformative leader who elevates the entire

function from a reactive operational team to a proactive, strategic pillar of the business.

● Strategic Technical Advisor: They don't build the hardware roadmap; they make it better. A master in this role provides indispensable, hands-on expertise that shapes and validates the technical roadmap. They ensure that strategic plans are grounded in operational reality, making our future infrastructure both ambitious and achievable

● Culture Builder & Mentor: Their greatest product is their team. A master in this role builds a world-class team where individuals feel empowered, challenged, and are constantly growing. They are a respected coach whose leadership creates a culture of excellence and psychological safety

● Relentless Driver of Operational Excellence: They are fundamentally dissatisfied with the status quo. They view every manual IT process as an automation opportunity and every hardware incident as a chance to make the system stronger, constantly refining processes and addressing operational challenges

● Pivotal Cross-Functional Leader: They are a trusted and influential partner who connects strategy to reality. Their collaboration with Product, Technical, and Facilities leaders and decision makers is seamless. They translate strategic needs into practical hardware specifications and ensure IT operations are perfectly in sync with the physical constraints and capabilities of the datacenter facility

Minimum Requirements:

● 5-7+ years of experience in a large-scale IT infrastructure or datacenter operations environment

● At least 3 years of direct people management experience, with a proven track record of leading and developing a technical team

● A relevant degree or diploma in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or CDCP/CDFOM certification or equivalent real-world experience

Technical Skills & Competencies:

● Expert-level knowledge of enterprise server hardware, components (CPUs, RAM, storage), and their lifecycle management

● Solid understanding of datacenter operational best practices, including rack layouts, cabling standards, and the implementation of IT hardware within a high-density environment

● A firm grasp of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, switching, VLANs)

Leadership & Professional Skills:

● A passion for people leadership, with demonstrated experience in mentoring, coaching, and building a high-performing, self-organising team

● A strong drive for continuous improvement, with experience in maturing operational processes, driving automation, and enhancing efficiency

● Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical, product, and facilities teams

Advantageous Experience:

● Direct experience in a web hosting or ISP environment

● Familiarity with specific hardware vendors (e.g., Super Micro, Juniper, Intel and AMD)

● Relevant industry certifications