Technical Operations Manager
2 days ago
Harlow
Technical Operations Manager Data Centre Operations | Harlow | Mission-Critical Environment An established and fast-growing data centre operator is seeking a Technical Operations Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day technical and operational management of a critical data centre site in Harlow. This role sits within the wider Operations leadership structure and reports into a Senior Engineering / Technical Director-level leader, acting as the senior on-site authority for technical operations, service delivery and incident response. The position is heavily focused on hands-on operational leadership, supplier management and customer-facing delivery, ensuring the site operates safely, efficiently and with 100% availability. The Role As Technical Operations Manager, you will oversee 24/7/365 site operations, leading internal teams and managing outsourced facilities partners to ensure all critical infrastructure performs to the highest standards. You will play a key role in: • Managing live operational environments, • Acting as a senior escalation point for incidents, • Owning operational processes, reporting and compliance, • Driving operational excellence at site level This is a technically strong, site-based leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the operation while still contributing to wider strategy and continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities • Act as the senior on-site technical authority, supporting delivery across all customer contracts and operational obligations, • Ensure 100% availability of all mechanical, electrical and life safety systems, • Oversee day-to-day operation and monitoring of all critical M&E infrastructure, including understanding of Sequences of Operation, • Manage and hold accountable the outsourced facilities management provider, ensuring SLAs and KPIs are consistently met, • Own and maintain a robust library of SOPs and EOPs, ensuring operational readiness at all times, • Ensure all work carried out on site is compliant, high quality and non-disruptive to customers, • Act as second-line escalation for major incidents and participate in on-call rota arrangements, • Maintain HV/LV AP awareness, with expectation to renew or maintain authorisation, • Own the BMS / controls strategy for the site, including accuracy of graphics, alarms, data points and system backups, • Manage specialist suppliers responsible for BMS, controls and associated field equipment, • Support maintenance activities where required to ensure engineering standards and system resilience, • Define, track and report critical operational KPIs, SLAs and facilities health metrics, • Contribute to CAPEX planning, lifecycle replacements and operational budgeting, • Work closely with internal stakeholders including construction, design, customer services, compliance, security and QHSE Background & Experience Required • Chartered Engineer or equivalent experience in a mission-critical environment, • Strong technical background in data centre or critical infrastructure operations, • In-depth knowledge of:, • Cooling generation and distribution, • LV & MV electrical systems, • UPS and generators, • Fire detection and suppression, • BMS / controls systems, • Physical security and connectivity, • Proven experience managing outsourced FM providers in live environments, • Experience leading operational or engineering teams within large, complex facilities, • Strong understanding of asset, maintenance, change, incident, event and energy management processes, • Comfortable owning budgets and financial accountability at site level, • Confident customer-facing operator with a track record of service excellence, • Strong IT literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, MS Project, SharePoint), • Able to work on-site in Harlow, with occasional travel to other UK locations if required Why Apply? • Join a high-growth data centre platform supporting advanced computing and AI workloads, • Work in a technically complex, high-availability environment, • Clear progression pathway into senior operational or technical leadership, • High level of autonomy and ownership at site level, • Competitive salary, bonus and comprehensive benefits package