Overview
Technical Operations Center Manager – EMEA – London, N1C 4AG, United Kingdom
Job Summary:
We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.
As a Technical Operations Center (TOC) Manager, you will be one of three global managers operating in a “Follow the Sun” model, ensuring continuous 24/7 coverage and operational excellence across our technical infrastructure. You will be responsible for leading and mentoring a team of skilled technical professionals, optimizing daily operations, and expertly managing critical incidents to minimize service disruption. Your leadership will be crucial in facilitating seamless handoffs between shifts, maintaining high performance, and upholding the integrity of our systems globally.
Job Functions:
Daily Operations & Optimization
-
Oversee and direct the day-to-day activities of the Technical Operations Center, ensuring all systems, services, and infrastructure operate reliably and securely on a 24/7 basis.
-
Develop, implement, and optimize operational procedures and workflows to enhance efficiency and productivity.
-
Monitor system performance trends and ensure availability and reliability, proactively identifying and addressing issues to minimize downtime.
-
Manage the implementation and maintenance of Service Level Objectives (SLO’s) and Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with UMG Business Units, other IT groups, and vendors as appropriate. This includes measuring and reporting on these SLA’s and SLO’s on a regular and scheduled basis.
-
Drive automation for all repeatable processes by implementing AI and SRE methodologies to reduce toil in daily operations
Major Incident Management
-
Take ownership, lead and coordinate major incident response efforts, acting as the central point of contact during critical outages.
-
Drive investigation activities, facilitate communication, and ensure rapid resolution or workaround implementation for severe IT incidents.
-
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, IT, and third-party vendors, to resolve complex issues and restore services promptly.
Team Management & Leadership
-
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Technical Operations Center specialists, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
-
Manage the engagement, performance, and development of direct reports, including hiring, training, and scheduling work assignments.
-
Provide guidance and support to the team, ensuring high-quality service delivery and adherence to operational standards.
-
Establish and sustain standards of performance across all shifts, promoting a positive and productive work environment.
Effective Handoffs & Global Coordination
-
Facilitate seamless and effective handoffs between shift teams in a “Follow the Sun” model, ensuring continuity of operations and clear communication of critical information.
-
Define clear handover protocols and procedures, ensuring all essential information categories are covered during every transition.
-
Ensure that all relevant information, including ongoing tasks, issues, and special instructions, is accurately and concisely conveyed to the incoming shift.
Job Requirements:
Skills/Abilities
-
Deep technical knowledge in infrastructure operations.
-
Ability to assess faults, prioritize, respond and escalate accordingly.
-
Effective time management and ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
-
Willingness to learn and develop new skills.
-
Ability to work on own initiative and actively seeks ways of improving existing systems & processes.
-
Customer service driven/focused with a proactive and positive can-do approach. Demonstrates commitment to organization’s policy framework and practices continuous improvement.
-
Ability and experience operating confidently and calmly in an emergency response environment with flexibility and strong execution.
Experience
-
A minimum of twelve years of experience in the computer industry with at least six years directly working in an IT management position with similar responsibilities. Core competency in technical operations center management is required including a proven leadership ability with a track record of influencing positive change.
-
Thorough knowledge of IT operations, information technology best practices, and industry trends.
-
Professional ITIL based problem-solving approach that includes root cause analysis, corrective action, and buy-in.
-
Proven experience in supporting mission critical infrastructure and applications on a global scale.
-
Proven ability to work effectively within and across diverse global teams, developing and maintaining collaborative relationships.
-
International experience is beneficial. Additional languages are a plus.
Education
-
BA or BS degree in an IT related field or an equivalent combination of formal education and applicable experience required.
-
Industry standard IT certifications.
-
ITIL Certification strongly desired.
IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.
