Manager, Central Log Service

Job Description Network Infrastructure and Services (NI&S) is part of the Division of Information Technology at Virginia Tech. We provide advanced network, communications, public safety, cybersecurity and data center services. We design, deploy and operate enterprise scale applications, infrastructure and communications networks. NI&S is a dynamic and exciting organization with a commitment to continuous improvement and is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated person to fill this role. Our team is composed of professional, approachable, collaborative staff who are dedicated to facilitating these crucial IT functions in service to the university community. Come build with us! As a member of the Network Infrastructure & Services (NI&S) Central Log Service (CLS) team, the manager will contribute and lead a team that administers and manages Virginia Tech’s Central Log Service and NI&S’s Analytics and Visualization platform. This team works with services that provide centralized logging, enhance cybersecurity, facilitate troubleshooting and resolution of issues across multiple university departments and teams, provide a platform for IT notifications, deliver a data visualization framework, and support regulatory compliance. Although not limited to the following, the position's responsibilities will include: - Manage and mentor a team of engineers, providing management oversight, guidance, coaching, and leadership to promote a flexible and collaborative atmosphere. - Lead Engineers in the day-to-day operational activities necessary for deployment, maintenance, and management of systems and technologies, including end-user engagement, configuration changes, and software updates. - Comply with principles of change, risk, and resource management to ensure the continued reliability, performance, and security of systems and services. - Provide excellent customer service and technical support to monitor, troubleshoot, debug, and resolve performance issues. - Champion and promote service improvements on an ongoing basis to continually improve quality and customer satisfaction. Develop and understand key service metrics, and recommend improvements. - Minimize production system downtime through redundant designs and effective recovery solutions. - Assist in the development of integration tools and configuration management strategies to expedite service provisioning, problem resolution, and configuration changes. - Interpret customer business needs using analytical skills combined with technical expertise to create system requirements and technical specifications. - Engage in professional development opportunities such as training sessions and conferences. Engage employees in developing goals, executing plans, and delivering results. - Motivate employees to accomplish goals by communicating clearly and consistently. - Utilize collaboration and influence skills to achieve successful outcomes across teams within NI&S, the Division of IT, and University Departments. - Ensure that solutions delivered are supportable, cost-effective, meet strategic business needs, and align with our technical strategy. - Participate in an on-call rotation. Required Qualifications - Master's degree or a combination of education and experience that equates to a master's degree. - Experience working with a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) System in an enterprise environment. - Experience designing, developing, testing, and deploying enterprise-class technology solutions. - Ability to lead cross-functional technical teams in a hybrid work environment, ensuring that project objectives are completed. - Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose complex problems in many disciplines and technologies. - Demonstrated ability to identify challenges or opportunities, take ownership, determine and implement solutions. - Significant experience in managing applications on Linux operating systems. - Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and in a team setting with little direction. - Strong coaching skills. Preferred Qualifications - Prior experience managing IT teams. - Demonstrated experience designing and implementing log aggregation platform services, preferably with Splunk. - Experience with streaming and queueing systems such as Cribl and Kafka. - Experience with visualization and dashboard tools such as Splunk and Grafana. - Experience with utilizing configuration management to deploy, manage, and track changes to applications. - Experience utilizing JIRA and/or ServiceNow for Information Technology Service Management (ITSM). - Demonstrated experience working with application containers such as Docker or Kubernetes. - Experience in an agile team setting, preferably with Kanban. - Demonstrated expert knowledge of technologies through one or more industry certifications such as but not limited to, Confluent Certified Developer and Administrator (kafka), Splunk Enterprise Certified Administrator, etc. - Exposure to advising on architectural direction across enterprise-wide IT initiatives and projects. Overtime Status Exempt: Not eligible for overtime Appointment Type Regular Salary Information 100,000 - 110,000 Hours per week 40 Review Date 6/19/2026 Additional Information Sponsorship is not available for this position. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check. About Virginia Tech Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually. Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact IT Human Resources at [email protected] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.