What does a data operations director do?
A data operations director is responsible for managing the company's database and ensure the safety and security of all the data to prevent unauthorized access and information risk. Data operations directors coordinate with data engineers to design systems that would support business functions and operations. They also implement data handling procedures to organize data accurately and properly dispose of outdated ones. A data operations director reports all system failures and leads network infrastructures to improve the performance of data systems.
Data operations director responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real data operations director resumes:
- Lead account through server refresh, server monitoring and path toward server virtualization.
- Champion, foster and lead an initiative to migrate core systems from proprietary UNIX to Linux.
- Introduce and lead the implementation of virtualization technologies throughout the organization.
- Manage large multisite datacenter environment consisting of mainframe and open systems.
- Lead team responsible for design of private/public cloud environment supporting widely distribute engineering resources.
- Manage contract information for provisioning feasibility and establish reporting statistics to track completion of orders for the department.
- Demonstrate expertise including application of technology and service management (ITIL) concepts.
- Lead first prototype using Cloudera Hadoop.
- Spearhead the effort to obtain fiscal justification to purchase the SAS system.
- Identify alternative ETL solutions when it become evident that existing hardware/software solutions would not handle a large amount of data.
- Provide data to various Medicaid, SCHIP and pharmacy benefit committees, groups, and individuals for discussion and decision-making.
- Improve usability of reports by utilizing better report design and data visualization.
- Analyze revenue and reimbursement for Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance companies.
- Provide client specific customize reporting via ad-hoc web interface integrations and database extraction methodologies.
- Promote an ITIL environment across the organization and implement a centralize change management process.
Data operations director skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Data Operations Directors are proficient in Tableau, Visualization, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Organizational skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Data Operations Directors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Tableau, 15%
Managed the Sears's Participation in Tableau's Alpha and Beta Programs;.
- Visualization, 13%
Led the growth of Visualization Community from 200+ users to 1300+ active interactors, 250+ Publishers, 3000+ Viewers;.
- Project Management, 9%
Project management responsibility for all client validations / testing of the score.
- SAS, 7%
Implemented SAS Enterprise Miner, Scoring Accelerator, and Merchandise Intelligence to support ongoing price optimization and customer value studies.
- Direct Reports, 6%
Direct Management responsibilities for 9 direct reports in 4 different geographical locations.
- ROI, 6%
Diagrammed current and future state enterprise architectures and ROI documents to present Oracle solution value to IT teams and executive sponsors.
Common skills that a data operations director uses to do their job include "tableau," "visualization," and "project management." You can find details on the most important data operations director responsibilities below.
Business skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a data operations director to have is business skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." Data operations directors often use business skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed roadmap and life-cycle for data collection systems (desktop meter and large-scale business rules engine). "
Organizational skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling data operations director duties is organizational skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "some it managers must coordinate the work of several different it departments to make the organization run efficiently." According to a data operations director resume, here's how data operations directors can utilize organizational skills in their job responsibilities: "present alliance/calgb data management organizational overview and practices to industry partners. "
Analytical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of data operations directors is analytical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday data operations director duties, as "it managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "improved usability of reports by utilizing better report design and data visualization. "
Leadership skills. A big part of what data operations directors do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to data operations director responsibilities because "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical data operations director tasks: "provide leadership and oversight to four departments: data processing, data analysis, report development, data quality assurance. "
Communication skills. Another common skill required for data operations director responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of data operations directors all the time, as "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." An excerpt from a real data operations director resume shows how this skill is central to what a data operations director does: "provided constant communication between customer sales, and provisioning. "
The three companies that hire the most data operations directors are:
- American Express53 data operations directors jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.24 data operations directors jobs
- Adobe9 data operations directors jobs
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Compare different data operations directors
Data operations director vs. Technical manager
A technical manager is responsible for maintaining the company's information systems database and analyzing technology system matters to ensure its efficiency and accuracy in supporting business operations. Technical managers perform network checks regularly to assess any possible malfunctions that might compromise the company's cybersecurity. They carefully analyze business and clients' specifications on working with systems integration, responding to end-users' concerns and inquiries. A technical manager must have excellent knowledge of the information technology systems industry, as well as a strong command on network codes to conduct adjustments and manage network infrastructure.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, data operations director responsibilities require skills like "tableau," "visualization," "sas," and "persuasion." Meanwhile a typical technical manager has skills in areas such as "infrastructure," "architecture," "customer service," and "digital transformation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Technical managers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $117,846. Comparatively, data operations directors tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $160,135.The education levels that technical managers earn slightly differ from data operations directors. In particular, technical managers are 7.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a data operations director. Additionally, they're 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data operations director vs. Vice president, technology
A vice president of technology is in charge of overseeing all technological operations in a company while managing the workforce involved, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Typically, it is their responsibility to establish goals and objectives, devising strategies to enforce them. They also spearhead the development of new systems and tools that boost workforce productivity, coordinate with analysts and specialists, and resolve any issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a vice president, it is essential to implement the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that data operations director responsibilities requires skills like "tableau," "visualization," "sas," and "persuasion." But a vice president, technology might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "analytics," "architecture," "portfolio," and "risk management."
On average, vice presidents, technology earn a higher salary than data operations directors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, vice presidents, technology earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $156,843. Whereas data operations directors have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $160,135.vice presidents, technology earn similar levels of education than data operations directors in general. They're 5.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data operations director vs. Systems manager
A systems manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the information technology department, evaluating staff performance, developing strategic procedures to maximize productivity, and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenues and profitability for the company. Systems managers inspect company networks to ensure the efficiency of the technology systems, conducting regular diagnostic tests, and installing upgrades to boost optimization. A systems manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command in programming languages and system codes to maintain the security of the company's database.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from data operations director resumes include skills like "tableau," "visualization," "sas," and "persuasion," whereas a systems manager is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "patients," "management system," and "data entry. "
Systems managers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $116,351. On the other hand, data operations directors are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $160,135.systems managers typically earn lower educational levels compared to data operations directors. Specifically, they're 10.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Data operations director vs. Director of professional services
A director of professional services is responsible for evaluating and improving the professional services offered by the firm. Directors of professional services assess the operational processes and systems to ensure high-quality outputs and deliverables. They review contracts for project requirements and specifications and design strategic techniques to achieve goals and objectives within the budget limitations and agreed timetables. A director of professional services must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in directing the project team for project solutions.
Types of data operations director
Updated January 8, 2025
