Associate Director, Operational Excellence

IREN•Fort Worth, TX

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Operational Excellence & Compliance owns operating standards, performance governance and operational readiness across IREN’s data centre portfolio. Reporting to the Global Director, Asset Management and Operational Excellence, the role leads the Operational Excellence & Compliance pillar, which is expected to grow from one person to a multi-site team of Operational Readiness & Compliance Leads as the portfolio expands. The position partners with site operations to optimize asset and system performance and owns operational readiness for the transition from construction and commissioning into steady-state operations. It provides Operations’ technical accountability for readiness, receiving assets at the commissioning gate rather than participating in the organization handing them over. The role also defines the competencies needed to operate and maintain assets reliably as the business scales. IREN describes itself as a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider that builds, owns and operates data centres and GPU clusters. The company states that it uses 100% renewable energy and aims to operate responsibly and sustainably, with a positive impact on the communities where it operates.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as Engineering or Technical Studies, or equivalent.
12+ years of progressive experience in critical infrastructure or mission-critical operations with multi-site scope.
Experience building and owning KPI tracking, audit frameworks or operational governance processes across multiple sites.
Experience across the construction-to-operations boundary, including facility onboarding and commissioning handover, with accountability for the acceptance decision.
Demonstrated progression from hands-on site-level execution to leadership of operational governance or process improvement, including leading a team.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to lead through functional direction without direct line authority across site teams.
Sound technical judgment and ability to hold technical accountability by approving standards and deviations while aligning with enterprise standards.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications or technical leadership training.
Experience in hyperscale, colocation or large-scale industrial environments.

Responsibilities

Own the operating standards suite—including SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, maintenance playbooks and technical documentation—across the data centre portfolio, establishing and assuring consistent methods for maintenance effectiveness, work execution and operational planning.
Lead the operational audit and assurance program by establishing the audit framework, directing reviews of site adherence to company and customer requirements, and ensuring corrective actions are closed.
Own the performance framework, KPIs and stewardship process, including dashboards for maintenance completion, work order resolution and labour efficiency; partner with the integrated operations centre on reporting and own the data model used by the KPIs.
Own operational readiness for transitions from construction and commissioning into live operations; establish the Level 1–Level 5 readiness protocol, accept handover on behalf of Operations, hold the acceptance gate at each level, and lead site-deployed Operational Readiness & Compliance Leads through ramp-up and stabilization.
Set operating parameters, guardrails and risk-based limits to protect asset health, and lead business cases for bringing selected maintenance and operational functions in-house where this may improve cost or reliability.
Lead cross-functional initiatives affecting site readiness, scalability and operational performance, and shape the operating model, systems and practices that support growth.
Define the competencies required to operate and maintain assets to IREN’s standards, and support Operations and HSSE in developing related training and exercise programs.
Hold technical authority for operating standards, the readiness protocol and operational management of change; approve standards and deviations within the role’s authority, improve approval timelines while strengthening audit and compliance readiness, and escalate enterprise-level deviations to the Global Director.
Own the lessons-learned system and portfolio operational governance framework, promoting consistency and repeatability globally.
Serve as the senior interface among site operations, the commissioning organization and corporate operational excellence; ensure organizational readiness across the business and act as the commissioning-to-operations liaison.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package including base salary, annual performance incentives and opportunities to build long-term wealth through equity programs.
Relocation assistance, as applicable and based on the successful candidate’s circumstances.
Medical, dental and vision insurance; company pays 100% of employee coverage and 75% of dependent coverage.
Company-paid life and disability insurance.
Voluntary life, critical illness and accident coverage.
Health Savings Accounts when combined with the High-Deductible Health Plan.
Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Financial wellness tools and resources.
Paid Time Off and paid holidays.
Opportunities for advancement and internal mobility.
Training and personal development opportunities.
Company events and team-building activities.