Specialist, Data Centre Operations

Job no: 572954
Work type: Full-time
Location: Flexible
Categories: Information Technology

• Based at our Melbourne Burwood or Geelong Waterfront Campus + hybrid work arrangements
• Full-time and continuing
• HEW 8 $118,801 - $136,018 + 17% Superannuation

Why work with us?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are agile and innovative, and committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education and research and the contributions we make to the wider community. As one of Australia’s largest universities, Deakin has strong global linkages, world-class research and an education portfolio that blends the best of campus and digital delivery into a highly supportive and personalised student experience. We're proud to be a progressive and open-minded university, delivering the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world's universities.

At Deakin, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including various leave options such as generous parental leave and the ability to purchase additional leave; flexible working arrangements to help manage your work-life balance; ongoing learning and development opportunities to advance your career; an inclusive, supportive culture and environment to work in, both online and on campus.

About the role

The Specialist, Data Centre Operations is a senior technical role and key contributor to the delivery and evolution of Deakin’s digital infrastructure. This role holds primary responsibility for the operational integrity, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement of the University’s Data Centre environments. It ensures that physical infrastructure and services are maintained to a high standard while actively supporting the University’s strategic transition to cloud-based platforms.

As the Specialist, Data Centre Operations, you will:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Data Centre, including compute, storage, backup, and networking infrastructure.
• Manage physical infrastructure such as racks, PDUs, cabling, UPS systems, and environmental controls, including lifecycle activities like refreshes, replacements, and maintenance.
• Coordinate infrastructure optimisation initiatives, including footprint reduction, legacy system decommissioning, and evaluation of co-location models.
• Apply automation and DevOps practices to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual overhead.
• Support the University’s strategic transition to cloud infrastructure by ensuring on-premises operations are cloud-aligned and future-ready.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, including the Property team, to coordinate shared responsibilities such as power, cooling, and physical access.

To be successful, you’ll have:

• A Degree with substantial subsequent relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education in IT infrastructure or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex Data Centre environments, including compute, storage, backup, and networking infrastructure.
• Proven ability to lead infrastructure lifecycle activities such as hardware refreshes, cabling upgrades, UPS maintenance, and environmental optimisation.
• Experience with Data Centre networking technologies.

To apply:

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience.

For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Dave Hearne – Associate Director, Cloud Systems & Services via d.hearne@deakin.edu.au

Applications for this position close on Friday, 20 June 2025

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.