Datacenter Field Manager
Posted Today by RP International
Negotiable
Undetermined
Undetermined
London Area, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior Datacentre Field Manager is a leadership role focused on the operational delivery and quality assurance of data centre services across multiple European sites. This position involves managing field teams, ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards, and acting as the primary operational interface between customers and technical delivery functions. The role requires significant travel and is initially contracted for six months, with a strong potential for permanent transition.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the on-site and regional operational lead across assigned data centre locations
- Manage, coach, and oversee field technicians, subcontractors, and partner resources
- Ensure consistent delivery standards, safety compliance, and quality outcomes across all sites
- Provide senior-level escalation support for complex technical or operational issues
- Oversee site surveys, installation activities, migrations, and break/fix operations
- Review and validate site readiness, remediation actions, and implementation plans
- Ensure correct staging, configuration, and deployment of infrastructure in line with design documentation
- Own post-installation validation, QA sign-off, and as-built documentation
- Work closely with Project Managers to plan, resource, and execute concurrent workstreams
- Coordinate schedules, access, and sequencing across multiple active sites
- Serve as the operational point of contact for customers during on-site delivery
- Provide clear reporting on progress, risks, and issues to internal and external stakeholders
- Define and improve field delivery processes, tooling, and documentation
- Establish quality control standards and field best practices
- Train and mentor field engineers on technical standards, customer engagement, and safety
- Ensure adherence to change control, incident management, and escalation procedures
- Provide technical oversight for physical infrastructure installations, network and compute hardware deployments, OS upgrades, and hardware validation
- Ensure correct interpretation and execution of slotting matrices, cabling diagrams, and layouts
Key Skills:
- Proven experience leading field-based teams within data centre or critical infrastructure environments
- Strong decision-making ability in fast-paced, operationally complex settings
- Experience managing multiple sites, workstreams, and competing priorities
- Confident communicator with both technical teams and senior customer stakeholders
- Strong understanding of data centre operations and infrastructure
- Knowledge of structured cabling, fibre types, and optic standards
- Experience with network and compute hardware from major vendors (e.g. Cisco, Juniper)
- Familiarity with command-line interfaces and common networking protocols
- Experience coordinating OS upgrades and hardware lifecycle activities
- Comfortable working with incomplete or ambiguous information
- Strong organisational, planning, and time management skills
- Ability to assess risk, apply judgement, and maintain delivery momentum
- Experience working under pressure while maintaining quality and safety standards
- Relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- Data centre experience is essential
- Industry certifications or equivalent knowledge (e.g. Network+, CCNA-level, BICSI)
- Minimum 5+ years’ progressive experience in data centre, field services, or infrastructure delivery roles
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Senior Datacentre Field Manager (Tier 1 client)
Engagement Type: Contract - 6 months initially
Travel: Up to 75% (Primary sites Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Frankfurt, London)
Reports to: Head of Services / Operations Director
Role Overview
The Lead DC Field Manager is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for the operational delivery, governance, and quality assurance of data centre field services across multiple sites. This position owns the day-to-day execution of on-site activities, leads distributed field teams and partner resources, and acts as the primary operational interface between customers, project management, and technical delivery functions.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
- Act as the on-site and regional operational lead across assigned data centre locations
- Manage, coach, and oversee field technicians, subcontractors, and partner resources
- Ensure consistent delivery standards, safety compliance, and quality outcomes across all sites
- Provide senior-level escalation support for complex technical or operational issues
- Delivery & Execution
- Oversee site surveys, installation activities, migrations, and break/fix operations
- Review and validate site readiness, remediation actions, and implementation plans
- Ensure correct staging, configuration, and deployment of infrastructure in line with design documentation
- Own post-installation validation, QA sign-off, and as-built documentation
- Project & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Project Managers to plan, resource, and execute concurrent workstreams
- Coordinate schedules, access, and sequencing across multiple active sites
- Serve as the operational point of contact for customers during on-site delivery
- Provide clear reporting on progress, risks, and issues to internal and external stakeholders
- Process, Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Define and improve field delivery processes, tooling, and documentation
- Establish quality control standards and field best practices
- Train and mentor field engineers on technical standards, customer engagement, and safety
- Ensure adherence to change control, incident management, and escalation procedures
- Technical Oversight
- Provide technical oversight for:
- Physical infrastructure installations (racking, stacking, cabling)
- Network and compute hardware deployments
- Console access and remote engineering enablement
- OS upgrades and firmware updates
- DOA testing and hardware validation
- Ensure correct interpretation and execution of slotting matrices, cabling diagrams, and layouts
Required Experience & Skills
- Leadership & Delivery
- Proven experience leading field-based teams within data centre or critical infrastructure environments
- Strong decision-making ability in fast-paced, operationally complex settings
- Experience managing multiple sites, workstreams, and competing priorities
- Confident communicator with both technical teams and senior customer stakeholders
- Technical Knowledge
- Strong understanding of data centre operations and infrastructure
- Knowledge of structured cabling, fibre types, and optic standards
- Experience with network and compute hardware from major vendors (e.g. Cisco, Juniper)
- Familiarity with command-line interfaces and common networking protocols
- Experience coordinating OS upgrades and hardware lifecycle activities
- Operational Competencies
- Comfortable working with incomplete or ambiguous information
- Strong organisational, planning, and time management skills
- Ability to assess risk, apply judgement, and maintain delivery momentum
- Experience working under pressure while maintaining quality and safety standards
- Qualifications (or Equivalent Experience)
- Relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- Data centre experience is essential
- Industry certifications or equivalent knowledge (e.g. Network+, CCNA-level, BICSI)
- Minimum 5+ years’ progressive experience in data centre, field services, or infrastructure delivery roles
Additional Information
This is a critical, long-term role within the organisation
Initial contract structure reflects current client engagement models, not performance assessment
Strong expectation of permanent transition following the initial contract period (not mandatory)