About VIRTUS

VIRTUS Data Centres is the UK’s fastest-growing data centre provider which owns, designs, builds and operates the country’s most efficient and flexible data centres.

In May 2023 we announced our plans to expand into continental Europe, with our first data centre due to open in Berlin in 2026, to be quickly followed by two full campuses and expansion into other countries in the pipeline.

Our purpose is to serve humanity by being an active, positive participant in the 4th Industrial Revolution. When we talk about our purpose, we refer to our customers’ customers; the child playing a computer game, the person watching their favourite movie, booking a medical appointment, a plane ticket, a hotel or doing their online banking; those things can’t be done if we don’t do our job.

Our mission is to consistently exceed the expectations of customers through innovative, high-quality solutions and services. We employ intelligent thinkers – people with positive attitudes, who add to the quality of our customer proposition and business.

We value individual endeavour and initiative and encourage teamwork and togetherness because collective experience and expertise is VIRTUS’ greatest strength.

Job Summary

Reporting to the VP EMEA Operational Readiness (OR) and Site Delivery, the primary function of the role is to lead the set up and delivery of sites to the Operations Organisation across EMEA, ensuring industry leading levels of health and safety, uptime, performance, and customer satisfaction. The PM Operational Readiness and Site Delivery will be a key member of the EMEA Team and responsible for building operational excellence through process improvement, technology innovation, and team leadership.

The role includes but is not limited to the following:

Duties and Responsibilities

• Execute according to the OR framework to enable the transition of new sites into Operations ensuring all the stakeholders are engaged and aligned on roles and responsibilities
• Take ownership of and be accountable for the performance of this framework for each individual new Site to the Senior Management Team and stakeholders.
• ensure that as a new build site is transitioned into operations, it is 100% ready with all staff, operational procedures and best practices shared, practiced and understood.
• Ensure sites can run successfully by ensuring all sites have permits, plans and permission to operate.
• Collaborate with the Design & Build and Operations leadership teams in the planning, design, build and operation of new properties and redevelopment opportunities. Be accountable for the ready for service operational handover for each facility.
• Multifaceted collaboration between operations, investments teas, and operations the business to ensure successful site delivery, through building excellent relationships and understanding.
• Lead by example; inspire a culture of safety first, operational excellence in the Live Site Operations team through strategic and hands on leadership, raising the bar of performance by demonstrating continuous improvement and Coaching.
• Deliver a consistently outstanding experience for our customers, no matter what the location. Work closely with other delivery organisations to enable consistent adoption of best practice and continuous improvement across all our locations
• Ensure the necessary follow up lessons are learned from any Implementation via the use of post-implementation reviews (PIR)s and root cause analysis. Ensure that all learned lessons are shared and embedded across the entire fleet of data centres.
• Facilitate the delivery and analysis of performance data for how transition projects are progressing against goals and KPIs
• Act as a point of escalation for all issues relating to site transition
• Ensure full compliance against all operational processes and standards and all ISO standards across the business.
• Drive Health and Safety by developing new measures or implement existing to drive a zero-accident culture

What success looks like in 12 months’ time:

Five metrics / descriptors of success in the role

• All new sites are Operations ready three months before effective launch (public launch)
• Including, but not limited to:
  • All maintenance contracts for the new sites are in place with the vendor onboarded and inducted;
  • All staff is hired and trained and is “shift ready”;
  • A training matrix is in place and up to date

• Complete handover to Operations with zero snags for all new sites
• Develop at least one drill scenario per category (mechanical, electrical, safety, security, access) and implement a drill mechanism to ensure consistent and constant compliance at handover
• Support the effective and traceable H&S mechanism to drive a zero-accident culture that can be sustained after handover
• Person Specification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in data centre operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Experience of managing large-scale project/programs related to data centre operations across multiple geographies

Skills

• Very strong understanding of data centre infrastructure, including power and cooling systems, networking, and security
• Strong project management skills and experience leading large, complex technology projects
• Demonstrated ability to lead by influencing and drive multi disciplined teams in a matrix organisation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities
• Knowledge of regulatory and industry standards related to data centre operations

In line with VIRTUS’ Vetting Policy, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo a BS7858 screening process.