What does a data center supervisor do?
A data center supervisor oversees a data center's daily operations to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently according to company standards. As a data center supervisor, it is their responsibility to manage systems and subsystems, monitor the server rooms, and develop plans to optimize operations. They will also create and implement test processes, perform reviews and assessments, monitor the performance of the workforce, and solve issues and concerns when any arise. Moreover, a data center supervisor produces regular reports, presenting them to senior workers or executives.
Data center supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real data center supervisor resumes:
- Manage PC workstations that include Novell files servers and MSN software.
- Manage the entire project including researching/procuring the hardware, installing require infrastructure, and establishing backup policy/rotation for the entire company.
- Escalate production issues to appropriate development and support groups for resolution.
- Develop overall functional and systems requirements and specifications for the new LAN.
- Research trouble tickets to ensure SLA is being meet on a timely basis.
- Interface with external vendors to ensure hardware and software SLA's are meet.
- Provide oversight for processing activities and to verify schedule adherence by UNIX operators.
- Coordinate the rescheduling of critical production jobs to fit into the new windows of operation.
- Assist in designing requirements for a new VMware environment encompassing power, blade servers, and EMC storage.
- Operate, troubleshoot, and escalate for repair all peripheral equipment such as high-speed laser printers, robotic tape systems.
- Start initiative toward VMWare enterprise implementation.
- Perform the administration and configuration of SAN infrastructure.
- Monitor all infrastructure hardware and software including in-house e-Commerce website.
- Monitor Tivoli console for server/communication activity, alerts and notify appropriate on-call support.
- Assist with install/configuration of building automation systems, mechanical cooling, economizer, and monitor HVAC systems via Computrols.
Data center supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Data Center Supervisors are proficient in Windows, Data Analysis, and SQL. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Organizational skills, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Data Center Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Windows, 9%
Work with Windows and Unix System Administrators for troubleshooting and scheduled changes and unplanned fixes.
- Data Analysis, 8%
Project Manager for data analysis team responsible for developing policies and procedures for rating distress protocols based on accumulated data.
- SQL, 7%
Maintained and designed databases in access and through SQL that produced reports on production numbers and ran queries on the spot.
- Customer Service, 6%
Provided excellent customer service by providing quality assurance, timely response, and effective communication.
- Direct Reports, 5%
Performed reviews and disciplinary procedures for direct reports.
- Computer System, 5%
Supervised and operated a Honeywell/Bull DPS8000 computer system that communicates with the Worldwide Military Command and Control System.
Most data center supervisors use their skills in "windows," "data analysis," and "sql" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential data center supervisor responsibilities here:
Business skills. The most essential soft skill for a data center supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is business skills. This skill is important for the role because "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." Additionally, a data center supervisor resume shows how their duties depend on business skills: "participated in the planning study for a total business recovery strategy for the data center. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform data center supervisor duties is organizational skills. Data center supervisors responsibilities require that "some it managers must coordinate the work of several different it departments to make the organization run efficiently." Data center supervisors also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "key stakeholder and organizational contributor influencing software development, platform interoperability and service delivery in both customer facing and internal roles. "
Leadership skills. This is an important skill for data center supervisors to perform their duties. For an example of how data center supervisor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a data center supervisor: "provided c-level leadership with data center visibility by creating reliability/capacity planning reports. ".
Communication skills. While "communication skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to data center supervisor responsibilities. Much of what a data center supervisor does relies on this skill, seeing as "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of data center supervisors: "supervised 45 individuals in a data communications network, which monitors and services over 50,000 atm terminals worldwide. "
The three companies that hire the most data center supervisors are:
Compare different data center supervisors
Data center supervisor vs. Support supervisor
A support supervisor is responsible for monitoring the daily operations of an organization, assisting the team members in resolving customer complaints, and managing process discrepancies to maintain the smooth delivery of services for customer satisfaction. Support supervisors conduct a one-on-one assessment with the team, identifying each member's challenges and strategizing techniques to address those difficulties and reach their maximum potentials. They also look for business opportunities according to industry trends and data analysis that would generate more resources for revenues and increase the company's profitability.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, data center supervisor responsibilities require skills like "data analysis," "linux," "data integrity," and "data centers." Meanwhile a typical support supervisor has skills in areas such as "excellent interpersonal," "training materials," "patients," and "performance evaluations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Support supervisors earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $48,023. On the other hand, data center supervisors are paid more in the finance industry with an average salary of $75,937.The education levels that support supervisors earn slightly differ from data center supervisors. In particular, support supervisors are 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a data center supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data center supervisor vs. Billing supervisor
A billing supervisor is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the billing procedures of a company. Typically managing a team of billing specialists and clerks, a billing supervisor must set goals and guidelines, gather and analyze billing data, develop reports to be presented to directors and other executives, and create strategies to optimize billing processes. They must also monitor all procedures, ensuring it complies with the company's policies. Furthermore, as a supervisor, they must lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals while implementing the rules and regulations of the company.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real data center supervisor resumes. While data center supervisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "windows," "data analysis," "sql," and "linux," billing supervisors use skills like "patients," "billing procedures," "medicaid," and "billing issues."
Billing supervisors may earn a lower salary than data center supervisors, but billing supervisors earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $61,827. On the other hand, data center supervisors receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $75,937.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Billing supervisors tend to reach similar levels of education than data center supervisors. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data center supervisor vs. Office supervisor
An office supervisor is responsible for overseeing the progress of the workflow and workforce in an office or similar setting, ensuring everything is running smoothly. Aside from this, they must also carry out other tasks such as processing paperwork, preparing reports and presentations, managing schedules, responding to inquiries, and handling correspondence. There are also instances when a supervisor must evaluate staff and address any issues. Furthermore, as an office supervisor, it is also their responsibility to implement the policies and guidelines of the company.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a data center supervisor is likely to be skilled in "windows," "data analysis," "sql," and "customer service," while a typical office supervisor is skilled in "patients," "office procedures," "data entry," and "office operations."
Office supervisors make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $46,395. On the other hand, data center supervisors are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $75,937.When it comes to education, office supervisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to data center supervisors. In fact, they're 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Data center supervisor vs. Front end supervisor
A front end supervisor is an employee who provides support to the departmental for all front end processes. Front end supervisors communicate with customers about their orders to obtain efficient feedbacks for all services. They train store office associates and care representatives so that proper coverage of the store ensures in handling all customer issues conveniently. To be efficient in handling customer issues, front end supervisors must have multitasking and communication skills as well as possess the ability to work well under pressure.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between data center supervisors and front end supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a data center supervisor might have more use for skills like "windows," "data analysis," "sql," and "direct reports." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of front end supervisors require skills like "sales floor," "end loaders," "professional environment," and "ladders. "
Front end supervisors enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $30,472. For comparison, data center supervisors earn the highest salary in the finance industry.front end supervisors reach similar levels of education compared to data center supervisors, in general. The difference is that they're 4.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of data center supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025