Our client is looking for a Data Center Strategy Expert.
Digitalization breaks down boundaries: The TSO of the future will be a fully digital system where borders will fade away both between different business units as well as between different steps in the energy value chain. Therefore, we are preparing our infrastructure for a data-intensive future. For our client, IT infrastructure is always becoming more vital as a growing number of critical systems are.
As company Expert, the consultant will be responsible for drafting a comprehensive data center strategy to guide the company through its upcoming infrastructure transformations. This includes evaluating needs, exploring options, addressing constraints, and delivering actionable recommendations aligned with our business ambitions and technical requirements.
The strategy will support the transition to its own hybrid cloud infrastructure, ensure robust application resilience, and account for the growing reliance on IT systems driven by real-time operations and increasing criticality of applications underpinned by AI.
Tasks:
Needs Assessment:
- Align data center strategy with business objectives, including the transition to hybrid cloud and progressive application refactoring.
- Address capacity planning for increasingly resilient applications, extensive testing environments, and redundant production systems.
- Define a phased roadmap for integrating EDP zones into ETB systems, supporting the rising reliance on IT for real-time operations.
- Analyze trends such as the increasing complexity of energy systems and the push for critical AI-driven applications.
- Evaluate and compare scenarios for co-location, building new data centers, and developing in-house infrastructure.
- Provide insights into opportunities for edge computing in substations, leveraging virtual substation technology and it's network backbone.
- Deliver a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis for each scenario, with a focus on risk mitigation and operational efficiency.
Sovereign Cloud Expertise:
- Develop a strategy to integrate sovereign cloud solutions into the company's infrastructure.
- Assess the implications of sovereign cloud on security, compliance, data sovereignty, and cost management.
- Provide recommendations on the role of sovereign cloud in supporting critical applications and ensuring data resilience.
Constraints Analysis:
- Define redundancy, resiliency, and disaster recovery approaches for high availability and fast recovery.
- Analyze the impact of the network topology on data center location, size, and associated investments.
- Assess infrastructure requirements to support the company's growing need for robust, scalable, and interconnected IT environments.
Deliverables:
- A strategic document (What, Why, How) including different scenario’s with pros and cons
- A phased implementation plan detailing steps and timelines.
- Cost-benefit analyses for selected scenarios.
- Risk and mitigation strategies for operational resilience.
- A comprehensive financial plan for implementation.
Requirements:
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in data center strategy development and implementation.
- Proven track record in evaluating and executing options like co-location, building new data centers, and hybrid models.
- Deep understanding of sovereign cloud solutions and their implications for IT strategy, security, and compliance.
Technical Skills:
- Expertise in cloud infrastructure (including hybrid and sovereign cloud).
- Strong knowledge of edge computing, virtual substation technology, and network backbone design.
- Familiarity with the resilience requirements for critical IT applications in real-time operational environments.
Strategic Acumen:
- Ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable strategic recommendations.
- Skilled in cost-benefit analysis, risk mitigation, and phased implementation planning.
Communication:
- Exceptional ability to structure and present complex information for executive decision-making.
- Fluency in English (written and spoken); knowledge of French or Dutch is a plus.
Autonomy and Collaboration:
- Self-driven and capable of working independently while aligning with internal teams.
