Director, Site Operations, NA

Vantage Data Centers • Sterling, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is on-site at our data center in Sterling, VA. The Director, Site Operations is responsible for the overall operational performance, reliability, and leadership at a center campus, ensuring all critical infrastructure and supporting teams operate safely and effectively in a 24x7x365 mission-critical environment. This role holds full accountability for site operations across power, cooling, building control systems, and facility spaces, with a primary focus on safety, reliability, risk management, and operational excellence. This leader sets the vision and operational standards for the site by aligning people, processes, and priorities to deliver consistent performance and exceptional customer confidence. The Director, Site Operations oversees maintenance strategy, system readiness, and disciplined execution of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs while maintaining strict adherence to safety and compliance standards. The Director provides leadership to Operations Managers, Critical Facilities Engineers, and contracted service partners, fostering a culture of accountability, technical rigor, and continuous improvement. This role ensures teams are properly trained, resourced, and aligned to meet both daily operational demands and long-term site objectives. Reporting to senior operations leadership, the Director, Site Operations partners closely with Engineering, Construction, Security, IT, and Customer Success teams to ensure operational considerations are embedded early in design, commissioning, and expansion activities. This position plays a critical role in reducing operational risk, improving performance metrics, and maintaining the integrity and reputation of the data center campus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, or related technical discipline preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in mission-critical facilities, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale data center or critical infrastructure operations.
• Strong knowledge of electrical distribution systems (UPS, switchgear, generators, ATS), mechanical systems (CRAC/CRAH, chillers, etc.), and BMS/EPMS controls.
• Proven expertise in incident management, root cause analysis, and reliability engineering practices.
• Familiarity with CMMS, monitoring platforms, and data-driven reporting tools.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team-building skills.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
• Ability to partner with clients, vendors, and executive leadership in a high-stakes environment.
• Ability to work in a 24x7 environment, responding to critical events as needed.
• Strong decision-making ability under pressure.
• Commitment to safety, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Ability to travel as business needs require
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• CFM (Certified Facility Manager)
• OSHA 30 / NFPA 70E Safety Training

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Oversight Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability for day-to-day operations of the data center. Ensure alignment of site operations with corporate objectives, industry standards, and client SLAs. Establish long-term operational strategies that optimize uptime, safety, and efficiency.
• Operational Excellence Maintain 24x7x365 operational readiness of critical infrastructure, including power, cooling, building automation, and life-safety systems. Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs for all mechanical, electrical, and controls systems. Drive incident management, root cause analysis, and post-incident reviews to drive continuous improvement.
• Financial & Budget Management Help develop and manage annual site operating budgets, capital improvement budgets, and cost-control initiatives. Track OPEX and CAPEX performance against financial targets. Ensure vendor contracts, procurement, and service agreements are cost-effective and aligned with performance expectations.
• Team Management & Development Directly manage senior operations staff and shift teams. Ensure staffing models provide adequate coverage for reliability, maintenance, and incident response. Lead training, development, and performance management programs to build a high-performing team.
• Risk, Compliance, & Safety Management Ensure compliance with OSHA, NFPA, ISO, and other regulatory and industry standards. Enforce EH&S policies, safe work practices, and compliance with MOP/SOP/EOP standards. Manage audits, certifications, and corporate compliance requirements.
• Stakeholder & Client Engagement Act as the primary point of contact for customers, senior leadership, and external stakeholders. Support client tours, audits, and technical discussions, representing the site with professionalism. Provide executive-level reporting on facility status, incidents, risks, and performance metrics.
• KPI Reporting & Performance Management Track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to uptime, incident response, safety compliance, and operational efficiency. Establish benchmarking metrics to compare site performance against corporate standards and industry best practices. Deliver regular reports (monthly, quarterly, annually) to executive leadership, highlighting performance trends, risks, and areas for improvement. Use KPI data to drive accountability across site teams, support informed decision-making, and guide continuous improvement initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation Drive operational excellence initiatives, including automation, monitoring improvements, and sustainability practices. Benchmark performance against industry best practices to enhance efficiency and reliability. Foster a culture of innovation and accountability within the site team.

Benefits

• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees