Data Operations LeadLocation: Downtown, Chicago (Client Location) Experience: 8–12+ years Role Type: Client-facing Operations & Delivery LeadershipRole OverviewWe are seeking a seasoned Data Operations Lead to support an onsite, client-facing role as part of a strategic Application Management Services (AMS) engagement supporting Data and BI Operations. This role is responsible for operational excellence across enterprise data platforms, ETL pipelines, analytics solutions, and data governance ecosystems. The candidate will act as the primary operational interface with client stakeholders, ensuring platform stability, continuous improvement, and delivery of value-added insights.Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Monitoring & Platform SupportSupport operational monitoring and health management of:Data Integration & ETL platforms: Azure Data Factory (ADF), SSIS, TalendData Warehouses & Datamarts: Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI), Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL ServerReporting & Analytics platforms: Power BI Online, Qlik SenseEnsure availability, performance, and reliability of production and non-production systems.Track and report on operational KPIs, SLAs, and trend metrics.Incident Management & Problem ResolutionSupport 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.Administration & Service Request ManagementLead administrative and service request fulfillment activities such as:User provisioning and role-based access management across Azure SQL, Synapse, Power BI, and Qlik SenseReport and dataset promotion across Dev, Test, UAT, and Production environmentsBusiness data requests, ad-hoc extracts, and reporting enablementEnsure compliance with data governance, security, and audit requirements.Application Maintenance & Release SupportManage application and platform maintenance including:Patching, configuration updates, and minor enhancements across data and analytics platformsRelease coordination and deployment supportSupport disaster recovery (DR) incidents and participate in annual DR drills.Collaborate with delivery and product teams on story backlog grooming, prioritization, and acceptance.DevOps & Automation EnablementSupport DevOps practices for data and analytics platforms, including:Code changes and enhancements for ETL pipelines and reporting logicSource code repository management (Git-based)CI/CD pipeline support and unit test automationIdentify and implement automation opportunities to improve reliability and reduce manual effort.Non-Production & UAT Environment SupportManage 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.Value-Add & Continuous Improvement InitiativesPerform 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:Report and dataset standardsReusable templates and governance modelsBest practices for performance, security, and adoptionRequired Skills & QualificationsTechnical Skills – HANDS ON EXPERIENCEData Integration / ETL: Azure Data Factory (ADF), SSIS, TalendData Warehousing: Azure SQL MI, Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL ServerReporting & Visualization: Power BI, Qlik SenseDG Tools (At least one) – Alation, Ataccama, Profisee (or equivalent tools)Fabric Experience preferredExperience supporting enterprise-scale data and analytics ecosystems in an AMS or managed services model.Strong understanding of incident, change, and release management processes.Client & Leadership SkillsProven 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 & MethodologiesITIL-based service management experience.Agile/Scrum exposure in hybrid delivery and support environments.Strong documentation, reporting, and governance discipline.Preferred QualificationsExperience 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.