Data Center Operations Manager

Salute is a global leader in delivering Data Center services – firmly established in the US and with a rapidly growing client base across Europe and beyond.

This is an exciting time to join the team as we step up operations in new countries and commence work on new and challenging projects. As a result of this growth, we are looking to recruit a Technical Operations Manager

This is a key opportunity to join a growing organisation providing specialist advisory services to the data centre industry.

Our team supports clients across colocation advisory, strategy and business planning, operational readiness, acquisition and investment assessment, new-build technical due diligence, and operational maturity development. We help clients plan, assess, improve and, where required, manage their data centre operations, providing objective advice and promoting best practice across mechanical, electrical, operational and commercial areas.

The Technical Manager operates in an advisory, governance and operational leadership capacity, ensuring the technical integrity, performance, compliance and effective day-to-day management of mechanical and electrical infrastructure within client data centres.

The role provides technical oversight, due diligence and best-practice guidance, ensuring that engineering and operational activities—including mobilisation, upgrades, new builds, ongoing site management and client service delivery—are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with client requirements, international standards, operational best practice and regulatory compliance.

A key part of the role is promoting and managing electrical safety governance. Acting as the High Voltage Authorised Person (HVAP), the Technical Manager manages the appointment, authorisation and competency of personnel involved in HV and MV operations. The position ensures safe systems of work are applied, switching operations are controlled, and all activities comply with statutory and electrical safety requirements.

Alongside technical delivery, you will provide operational leadership for assigned sites and accounts. This includes leading and developing operational teams; managing client and vendor relationships; liaising with HR, finance and payroll teams; supporting billing and cost control; and contributing to the strategic development and growth of client accounts.

The role will also include structured development to become a subject-matter expert in artificial intelligence and its practical application within data centre operations. You will identify opportunities to use AI, automation and data-led insight to improve operational decision-making, reporting, maintenance planning, risk management and service delivery.

To Be Successful in This Role, You Will Need To

• Have a strong technical understanding of datacentremechanical and electrical systems and their operational interfaces.
• Demonstrate experience in technical due diligence, operational readiness,mobilisationand performance evaluation for new and existing facilities.
• Possess knowledge of colocation operations, lifecyclemanagementand industry best-practice frameworks.
• Understand and apply standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 55000, ISO50001and Uptime Institute operational guidelines.
• Hold, or be qualified for appointment as, a High VoltageAuthorisedPerson (HVAP), with proven experience managing or supervising HV and MV systems, preparing and issuing safety documentation, implementing isolation procedures, and ensuring compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations and site-specific safety rules.
• Demonstrate the ability to assess competence, manageauthorisedpersonnelandmaintainsafe systems of work for HV and MV operations.
• Haveexperience leading operational teams and managing performance, development,trainingand succession planning.
• Be comfortable managing client relationships, suppliers, servicepartnersand senior internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness, including an understanding of budgets, billing, financial controls, vendorperformanceand account development.
• Be interested in the use of AI,automationand operational data to improve datacentreperformance and service delivery.
• Communicate effectively with clients,consultantsand internal stakeholders at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

 Technical Advisory, Governance and Site Operations

• Provide technical governance and assurance across client datacentreenvironments.
• Lead or support the day-to-day operational management of assigned sites and client accounts.
• Support clients with due diligence reviews for acquisitions, newbuildsand upgrades.
• Conduct technical and operational performance assessments to benchmark maturity,resilienceand compliance.
• Develop recommendations and action plans to address risks, inefficiencies and resilience gaps.
• Oversee operational processes including maintenance delivery, change control, incident response, emergencypreparednessand documentation management.

 Operational Leadership and Team Development

• Lead,developand support operational and engineering teams across assigned sites or accounts.
• Establish clear expectations,accountabilities, performancemeasuresand development plans for team members.
• Work with HR on recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, successionplanningand retention.
• Ensure technical teams hold the appropriate competency,authorisation, training and development for their responsibilities.
• Build andmaintaincompetency matrices and training plans for operational personnel.
• Promotea collaborative, accountable and safety-focused culture across site teams.

Operational Readiness and Maturity

• Supportmobilisationand readiness assessments for new datacentres, major infrastructureupgradesand operational transitions.
• Evaluate operational processes,documentationand technical capability within client teams.
• Advise clients on achieving operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to the development of operational maturity assessments and benchmarking.

• Ensure sites are suitably prepared for handover, live operation, maintenance delivery and emergency response.

Technical Due Diligence, Risk Assessment and Incident Management

• Evaluate the design, resilience,maintenanceand lifecycle condition of infrastructure.
• Provide independent verification of technical compliance and investment risk.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based reports and recommendations for clients and investors.
• Lead or support post-incident reviews, system faultinvestigationsandoperational-failurereviews.
• Capture lessons learned andpromotebest practice across client operations and internally.

Health, Safety and Electrical Governance

• Understand and implement both company and local in-country health and safety requirements.
• Act as the High VoltageAuthorisedPerson (HVAP) for assigned sites or advisory projects, where appointed.
• Manage the appointment,authorisationand competency verification of engineers and personnel involved in HV and MV operations.
• Develop andmaintainsafe systems of work for electrical activities, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and client-specific safety rules.
• Oversee electrical safety documentation, switchingschedulesandpermitsystems.
• Conduct or support audits of electrical safety systems and compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations and local-country requirements.

Client, Vendor and Commercial Management

• Act as a senior operational point of contact for assigned clients, building trusted and productive relationships.
• Lead or support client operational meetings, performance reviews, service-improvementdiscussionsand incident communications.
• Manage relationships with vendors,subcontractorsand service partners, ensuring safety, quality,performanceand value.
• Liaise with finance and commercial teams on billing, purchase orders, cost tracking, budgetmanagementand financial reporting.
• Support payroll and people-related processes in partnership with HR and finance, ensuringaccurateandtimelyinformation is provided.

• Identifyopportunities to improve client service, operationalefficiencyand commercial performance.
• Contribute to account plans,proposalsand strategic developmentactivityfor assigned clients.

AI, Data and Continuous Improvement

• Complete structured development in AI and its application within the datacentresector.
• Identifyresponsible and practical opportunities to use AI,automationand data-led insight to improve reporting, maintenance planning, operational risk management, knowledgemanagementand workforce productivity.
• Ensure AI and digital tools are applied in line with client confidentiality, datasecurityand governance requirements.
• Contribute to the development of internal standards,templatesand methodologies for advisory and operational services.
• Supportknowledge-sharingand competency development across the Advisory Services team.

Key Deliverables

• HV and MV governance framework, including appointment procedures and competency matrix.
• Electrical safety rules and safe-system-of-work documentation.
• Authorised-person register and associated training records.
• Technical due diligence reports and executive summaries.
• Operational performance,maturityand readiness assessments.
• Fault investigation and root-cause-analysisreports.
• Client operational reports, performance-reviewmaterialsand strategic account plans.
• Team competency,developmentand resource plans.
• Vendor performance reviews and operational improvement plans.
• Billing, cost-controlandfinancial-supportinformation for assigned accounts.
• AI and data-ledoperational-improvementrecommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

• A degree in Electrical,Mechanicalor Building Services Engineering is preferred. Consideration will also be given to candidates holding an HNC, HND or equivalent in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum of seven years’ experience in datacentreorcritical-infrastructureoperations.
• Proven experience in technical due diligence, operational readiness, operationalmanagementor advisory services.
• Experience leading technical or operational teams in a client-facing environment.
• RecognisedHigh VoltageAuthorisedPerson qualification, or equivalent experience and suitability for appointment.
• Familiarity with ISO and Uptime Institute operational standards.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, reporting, technicalgovernanceand vendor management.
• Commercial awareness and experience supporting budgets, billing,procurementor account performance.
• Fluent English;additionalEuropean languages are beneficial.
• Willingness to travel across Europe.

Personal Attributes

• Analytical and methodical, with a structured approach to problem solving.
• A confident and credible leader who can advise clients and lead teams at senior levels.
• Balanced technical,operationaland commercial understanding.
• Strong commitment to safety, accuracy,complianceand operational integrity.
• Collaborative,pragmaticand focused on continuous improvement.
• Curious and adaptable, with a genuine interest in AI,dataand emerging technology.
• Calm and decisive when managing operational risk, clientissuesand competing priorities.