Head of Storage and Virtualisation

at  Lancaster University

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of Storage and Virtualisation to lead our Virtualisation and Storage initiatives.
You will have extensive experience with various virtualisation technologies and a proven track record in managing complex IT environments liaising with a broad user base. This role involves strategic planning, implementation, Stakeholder engagement and management of solutions to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and security.

PERSONAL SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Proven leadership experience in IT, specifically in virtualisation and storage.
• Strong understanding of compute, networking, storage, and security principles.
• Extensive experience with SDDC technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Relevant certifications (VCP, Azure Administrator, Red Hat) are highly desirable.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) preferred.
• Familiarity with automation tools and scripting languages.
• Knowledge of containerisation technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Degree or relevant work equivalence experience.

• Lead the storage and virtualisation team in designing, implementing, and managing solutions across platforms like VMware, Nutanix, Hyper-V, NAS, SAN, Azure, AWS and hardware.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the team.
• Develop and execute a strategic plan for virtualisation aligned with Lancaster’s IT strategy.
• Develop and manage budgets, including hardware, software, and training.
• Oversee the deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of on and off premise solutions.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop appropriate solutions.
• Stay updated with the latest IT trends and recommend improvements.
• Manage and optimise environments performance.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Ensure infrastructure is secure, scalable and highly available including backup.