Lead Data Center

This job opportunity is part of an RFP process; candidates are invited to submit their resumes detailing relevant experience.

Location: Durham, NC (Hybrid)

LCG is a minority-owned technology consulting firm that has been a trusted partner to more than 40 federal agencies, including 21 of the 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For over 25 years, LCG has brought digitization and innovation to the Health and Human Services (HHS) and the NIH ecosystems. We support IT organizations by bringing precision technology and operation models that achieve mission capabilities and performance success.

Position Description:

LCG is seeking a Data Center Lead will oversee the day-to-day operations, hardware/systems modernization, and lifecycle management of the Client Data Center located on its Durham, NC campus. This role includes managing on-premise data center facilities, hybrid cloud environments (currently Azure), virtual machines (vCenter), and containerization platforms (Docker, Kubernetes). The Data Center Lead will ensure optimal operational efficiency, coordinate with cloud vendors, and maintain power, environmental controls.

The Data Center Lead will direct the planning, coordination, implementation, and execution of policies and programs related to Data Center services, with a focus on infrastructure management, monitoring tools, and server operations across Microsoft, Linux, and UNIX environments. The role also encompasses the management of storage devices like NETAPP and Active Directory.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Oversee daily data center operations, including physical and virtual environments.

Manage modernization efforts, including hardware lifecycle, system upgrades, and cloud instance management.

Coordinate with third-party cloud vendors (Azure) for troubleshooting and support, ensuring seamless integration of cloud and on-premise resources.

Ensure compliance with data center operational standards, including the management of Microsoft, Linux, and UNIX servers, and Active Directory.

Manage the physical environment of the Data Center, including the primary and standby sites.

Monitor and maintain power distribution, environmental controls, and network cabling.

Ensure compliance with client standards for space utilization, temperature regulation, and cleanliness.

Maintain and update rack utilization, power distribution diagrams, and monitoring reports.

Ensure compliance with access control procedures, including managing and monitoring authorized access to the Data Center.

Track physical server access and maintain access logs.

Escort visitors and vendors, ensuring adherence to security protocols.

Oversee the physical security of network storage systems, especially NETAPP appliances, and ensure robust monitoring tools are in place.

Install, configure, and maintain servers, peripherals, and networking equipment.

Perform rack upgrades and system maintenance outside of normal business hours.

Manage lifecycle activities such as decommissioning and sanitizing obsolete equipment, including documentation and CMDB updates.

Leverage monitoring tools to ensure uptime, availability, and performance of servers and storage systems.

Administer shared hosting environments, supporting databases such as Oracle, MS-SQL, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.

Perform database maintenance, including upgrades, performance monitoring, and tuning.

Implement data governance policies, ensuring security and integrity of data (including PII and PHI).

Oversee storage infrastructure, including DASD, RAID, SAN, and NAS devices, with an emphasis on Dell storage arrays and NETAPP appliances.

Manage storage capacity and ensure data backup and disaster recovery readiness.

Work closely with government leads and contractors, performing reviews and analysis of RACI charts.

Provide regular reports on data center operations, including power usage, rack utilization, and database status

Requirements

Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology Management, Engineering, or a related field or Four years of related experience may be substituted for the education requirement.

Minimum of 5 years of experience directing the planning, coordination, implementation, and execution of approved policies, programs, and services related to Data Center services.

8+ years of experience in data center management, including virtualized environments (vCenter), containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and cloud infrastructure (Azure).

Deep knowledge of Data Center Management, including design, infrastructure (hardware, software, telecommunications), maintenance, and operations.

Experience with monitoring tools to track and manage data center performance.

Hands-on experience with infrastructure components, including but not limited to:

Current versions of servers (Microsoft, Linux, UNIX).

Network equipment and configuration.

Network storage, especially NETAPP data storage appliances.

Active Directory management.

Strong understanding of data center power and environmental controls, networking, and server hardware.

Experience with database administration and storage technologies, particularly in enterprise settings.

Strong communication and collaboration skills, capable of working with government and third-party stakeholders.

Desired Skills and Certifications

Certified Data Center Management Professional (CDCMP)

VMware Certified Professional (VCP)

Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification

ITIL Foundation

Demonstrated ability to effectively utilize Generative AI tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, to optimize data center management tasks, including generating operational reports, drafting maintenance plans, and summarizing system performance metrics.

Capability to guide team members in leveraging Generative AI tools to enhance collaboration, streamline data center workflows, and identify opportunities for integrating AI-driven solutions in infrastructure management.

Compensation and Benefits

The projected compensation range for this position is $72,700 to $99,500 per year benchmarked in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The target salary is $81,900. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Salary at LCG is determined by various factors, including but not limited to role, location, the combination of education/training, knowledge, skills, competencies, certifications, and work experience.

LCG offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance options (medical, dental, vision), life and disability insurance, retirement plan contributions, as well as paid leave, federal holidays, professional development, and lifestyle benefits.

Devoted to Fair and Inclusive Practices

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

If you are interested in applying for employment with LCG and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department by email at [email protected].

Securing Your Data

Beware of fraudulent job offers using LCG's name. LCG will never request payment-related details or advancement of money during the application process. Legitimate communication will only come from lcginc.com or [email protected] emails, not free commercial services like Gmail or WhatsApp. If you receive suspicious emails asking for payment or personal information, contact us immediately at [email protected].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.