Datacentre Team Lead

The Role:  

Uisce Éireann IT (UÉ IT) provides IT services and support to the wider Uisce Éireann business, and across the Local Authority user base. IT Operations is responsible for all operational run activities across Applications, Operational Technology, Service Management and Infrastructure. 

The IT Infrastructure team is responsible for IT/OT infrastructure services to the business across a wide range of functions including maintenance of existing systems and IT/OT infrastructure, release management, configuration management, IT/OT disaster recovery, vendor management, security infrastructure management, IT/OT standards compliance and quality assurance. The team guide resources, facilitate team demand management and capacity planning, and manage the sequencing and operational interdependencies of all IT Operations related initiatives. The infrastructure team also manages the data centres and IT/OT infrastructure for UÉ, including IT availability and IT continuity.

Reporting to the Operational Infrastructure Manager, the Datacetre Team Lead is responsible for ensuring the datacentre’s reliability, security and efficiency, by managing the datacentre’s operations and ensuring the proper functioning and maintenance of servers and network infrastructure. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of implementing and maintaining Data Centre and Cloud based infrastructure.
• Other duties as required from time to time
• Manage the implementation, configuration, tuning and administration of business critical and complex Infrastructure virtualisation systems (storage, network, compute).
• Manage the Operating System implementation, configuration, tuning, monitoring and administration.
• Manage hardware implementation, configuration, tuning, monitoring and administration of Development, Test and Production environments.
• Lead the design, architecture, build and testing of new systems for both business as usual and project initiatives.
• Secondment to IT project teams as necessary and engagement with the Design & Strategy, Build & Delivery, Business Partnering and Business Change teams.
• Manage interactions and effective working relationships with multiple external vendors, contractors and IT Managed Service providers.
• Manage software version management and currency and patching of applications within the scope of the role.
• Participate in procurement processes including the creation of contracts, creation and approval of purchase orders, running of mini competitions and tenders.
• Keep abreast of industry trends and undertake technical training to maintain skills currency.
• Provide out-of-hours cover as part of the Standby Rota as required and manage this across the team.

General Duties and Responsibilities 

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business, including but not limited to; 
  • Wider IT Teams, notably the Cyber Security, Service Management and Build & delivery Teams
  • Project Stakeholders across the business as required
• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards
• Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives
• Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team
• Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in IT Operations and IT Infrastructure implementation and support. 
• Experience in the analysis, design and implementation of Infrastructure systems is desirable. 
• Experience in Linux (RHEL), Microsoft Windows operating systems is desirable.
• Experience in VMware, Vblock infrastructure, VDI environments, SAN technologies, and Servers is desirable.
• Experience in hardware racking/stacking of infrastructure appliances within a Data Centre is desirable. 
• Relevant third level qualification and or accreditation is desirable and or relevant expereince 
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable
• Demonstrated people management experience, with strong people, change management and conflict resolution skills
• Experience providing coaching in the development of the technical skills and abilities in others
• Highly motivated individual, working to the highest professional standards and with proven ability to deliver results
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and analyse problems and potential improvements, and propose and implement solutions
• Demonstrate adaptability and the ability to change focus and direction in line with business strategy and requirements
• Proactively identifying new areas of improvement and using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job