Technical Operations Manager

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.

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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