Director, Site Operations, NA

Vantage Data Centers•Santa Clara, CA

51d•$215,000 - $220,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role is based in our Santa-Clara, CA at our data center campus. The Director, Site Operations, leads the overall operations for one, or more, of our data center campuses and will directly lead a team of CFEs and/or manager-level positions. This position will collaborate with Reliability Engineering, Design Engineering & Construction and other resources to run the overall campus. This position will handle the workflow/work order management, training plans, event management, customer communications, hiring and performance management of the overall team. Our CFEs are respected, well-trained, customer-focused and some of the best facilities engineers you will find in the industry. While you do not have to be the 'alpha' engineer to lead this team, you must possess an excellent overall understanding of typical electrical and mechanical building systems to direct the work that needs to occur when maintaining the overall environment.

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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.
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.
Lead incident management, root cause analysis, and post-incident reviews to drive continuous improvement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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