Data Center & Network - Group Lead, EIT

National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryTitle: Data Center & Network - Group Lead, EIT Location: 5651 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy, Albuquerque, NM 87113, USA• NRAO Headquarters, 520 Edgemont Rd, CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, United States of America Requisition Number: 298 Job Family: Enterprise Info Tech Pay Type: Salary Required Education: MGT Position Description: Position SummaryThe National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) is a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the NRAO under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The Observatory has been instrumental in the study of black holes, galaxies, and the early universe. The NRAO Enterprise Infrastructure Technology (EIT) is seeking a Group Lead/Manager for their Network & Data Center Services to join the team. The manager is responsible for the leadership, management, operational performance, and strategic development of enterprise Network Services and Data Center Services. This position provides direct supervision of technical staff while establishing standards, procedures, service-level objectives, and performance metrics that ensure reliable, secure, and efficient delivery of infrastructure services across all organizational locations. The Manager is accountable for operational excellence, team performance, budget planning, resource allocation, service reliability, operational governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.The position is based preferably at the NRAO headquarters in Charlottesville, Virginia or Albuquerque, NM. What You Will be Doing:Directly supervise Network Services and Data Center personnel, including performance management, coaching, and professional development.Establish operational goals, service-level objectives, and team performance expectations.Develop, maintain, and enforce SOPs for network and data center operations.Standardize operational practices and documentation across organizational locations.Oversee plans to re-architect network services.Oversee enterprise network operations including routing, switching, wireless, WAN, internet connectivity, and network security infrastructure.Oversee data center operations including facilities coordination, rack management, power, cooling, capacity planning, and infrastructure lifecycle management.Develop and maintain service metrics, KPIs, dashboards, and performance reporting frameworks.Conduct monthly and quarterly service reviews and present results to leadership.Coordinate incident, problem, and change management activities.Develop annual operating budgets and participate in capital planning.Manage vendor relationships and contracts.Drive operational maturity and continuous improvement initiatives.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesProvides direct supervision of Network Engineers, Network Administrators, Data Center Technicians, Data Center Engineers, contractors, and related technical personnel.Work EnvironmentWork is mission driven, team oriented and typically performed in an office setting within a research or development environment. There may be periodic visits to network and data center facilities. Occasional travel between organizational locations may be required. Participation in major incident reviews and maintenance activities may occur outside normal hours. Who You Are: You have:a bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experiencea minimum seven years of progressively responsible infrastructure experiencea minimum of three years of supervisory experience managing technical teamsexperience supporting enterprise network and/or data center environmentsexperience developing operational standards, service metrics, and reporting frameworks Technical Knowledge:Network OperationsData Center OperationsInfrastructure ManagementIT Service Management (ITSM)Incident ManagementProblem ManagementChange ManagementBusiness Continuity and Disaster RecoveryCapacity PlanningService Delivery ManagementOperational Metrics and KPIsBudget Planning and Financial ManagementVendor and Contract ManagementInfrastructure Monitoring PlatformsWhile not required you may have:Experience supporting geographically distributed organizations.Experience developing operational maturity programs and governance frameworks.Experience within scientific, research, government, or higher education environments.Experience leading standardization and continuous improvement initiatives.CertificationsITIL Foundation or ITIL Managing ProfessionalProject Management Professional (PMP)Cisco CCNP or CCIECertified Data Center Professional (CDCP)Competency SummaryLeadershipOperational ExcellenceStrategic ThinkingCommunicationCollaborationProblem SolvingAccountabilityContinuous ImprovementAdditional RequirementObservatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor new H-1B Visas for this position. Total Rewards: CompensationThe starting salary of this position is between $123,800 and $153,000. Factors which may affect starting pay may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions. Benefits:Associated Universities, Inc (AUI) offers a comprehensive benefits package addressing the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements. AUI provides: Excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days)Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment.AUI’s retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay with no required employee contribution.Click Total Rewards for more information. Application Instructions: For consideration, select the “Apply” button above. Please be prepared upload a cover letter describing your interest in this position along with a current resume. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to View email address on click.appcast.io. PM20 Compensation details: 123800-153000 Yearly SalaryPI137234df2e6f-26289-42016965