Data Operations Manager

Position: Data Operations Lead Role: Downtown, Chicago (On-Site) | Locals Only Long Term Role Type: Client-facing Operations & Delivery Leadership Technical Skills – HANDS ON EXPERIENCE • Data Integration / ETL: Azure Data Factory (ADF), SSIS, Talend • Data Warehousing: Azure SQL MI, Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL Server • Reporting & Visualization: Power BI, Qlik Sense • DG Tools (At least one) – Alation, Ataccama, Profisee (or equivalent tools) • Fabric Experience preferred • Experience supporting enterprise-scale data and analytics ecosystems in an AMS or managed services model. • Strong understanding of incident, change, and release management processes. Key Responsibilities 1. Operational Monitoring & Platform Support • Support operational monitoring and health management of: o Data Integration & ETL platforms: Azure Data Factory (ADF), SSIS, Talend o Data Warehouses & Datamarts: Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI), Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL Server o Reporting & Analytics platforms: Power BI Online, Qlik Sense • Ensure availability, performance, and reliability of production and non-production systems. • Track and report on operational KPIs, SLAs, and trend metrics. 1. Incident Management & Problem Resolution • Support offshore team with end-to-end incident management, including triage, business communication, and resolution. • Act as the primary escalation point for P1/P2 incidents. • Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and drive corrective and preventive actions. • Establish structured problem management practices to reduce repeat incidents. 1. Administration & Service Request Management • Lead administrative and service request fulfillment activities such as: o User provisioning and role-based access management across Azure SQL, Synapse, Power BI, and Qlik Sense o Report and dataset promotion across Dev, Test, UAT, and Production environments o Business data requests, ad-hoc extracts, and reporting enablement • Ensure compliance with data governance, security, and audit requirements. 1. Application Maintenance & Release Support • Manage application and platform maintenance including: o Patching, configuration updates, and minor enhancements across data and analytics platforms o Release coordination and deployment support • Support disaster recovery (DR) incidents and participate in annual DR drills. • Collaborate with delivery and product teams on story backlog grooming, prioritization, and acceptance. 1. DevOps & Automation Enablement • Support DevOps practices for data and analytics platforms, including: o Code changes and enhancements for ETL pipelines and reporting logic o Source code repository management (Git-based) o CI/CD pipeline support and unit test automation • Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve reliability and reduce manual effort. 1. Non-Production & UAT Environment Support • Manage UAT data refreshes from production data warehouses and data lakes. • Ensure masking, security, and compliance standards are followed. • Provide operational support for non-production environments, including performance tuning and issue resolution. 1. Value-Add & Continuous Improvement Initiatives • Perform trend analysis on incidents, performance, and platform utilization. • Drive DevOps and operational automation initiatives. • Establish and mature a Power BI Analytics Center of Excellence (CoE), including: o Report and dataset standards o Reusable templates and governance models o Best practices for performance, security, and adoption Client & Leadership Skills • Proven experience in an onsite, client-facing role. • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills. • Ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and coordinate across business and IT. • Demonstrated ownership mindset and accountability for operational outcomes. Process & Methodologies • ITIL-based service management experience. • Agile/Scrum exposure in hybrid delivery and support environments. • Strong documentation, reporting, and governance discipline. Preferred Qualifications • Experience setting up or leading Analytics or BI Centers of Excellence. • Power BI tenant administration and governance experience. • Hands-on experience driving automation-led operational transformation. • Relevant certifications (Azure, Power BI, ITIL, Agile) are a plus.