Global Vendor Manager, Data Center Infrastructure

Cloudflare•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Cloudflare is hiring a Global Vendor Manager focused on sourcing and managing global suppliers for data center infrastructure services, including structured cabling, data center infrastructure installation, power system installation, cooling system deployment, cage and space fitout, and critical infrastructure commissioning. The role develops sourcing plans and delivers them through supplier capability reviews, technical assessments, pre-qualification, onboarding, and master contract negotiations. The position requires deep technical understanding of data center design and build-out, including power and cooling sizing, cold aisle containment, caging, electrical distribution, and the end-to-end process of a full-scale data center fitout. The manager uses this expertise to evaluate proposals against Cloudflare’s standards, negotiate pricing and risk allocation, and build strategic supplier partnerships. This role complements the Global Vendor Manager, Data Center Services, and owns the infrastructure build, installation, and critical systems domain. The role is available in Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Seattle, or Washington, D.C. Compensation varies by location: $93,000–$128,000 annually for Denver-based hires and $104,000–$143,000 for Seattle- or Washington, D.C.-based hires. The position is eligible for Cloudflare’s equity plan and employee benefits. Applications will be accepted until November 25, 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field.
At least 8 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supplier management within data center infrastructure, construction, or critical facilities industries.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of data center power distribution, including electrical load calculations, UPS sizing, generator capacity, PDU selection, and busway versus whip distribution.
Demonstrated technical knowledge of cooling systems, including cooling load calculations, CRAC/CRAH sizing, airflow requirements, containment strategies, and PUE optimization.
Knowledge of structured cabling design, including fiber and copper topologies, cable management, pathway sizing, and testing standards.
Knowledge of full-scale data center cage and space fitout processes, including layout, clearance requirements, raised floors, overhead ladder racks, and environmental separation.
Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements and managing infrastructure supplier relationships end to end.
Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple sourcing initiatives and deliver results on time.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to technical and commercial detail.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to collaborate with engineering, operations, and vendors and influence without direct authority.
Comfort working in a fast-paced global environment with distributed teams and suppliers across multiple time zones.
Proficiency in Google Workspace applications and familiarity with procurement, contract management, or ERP systems.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Construction Management, or Supply Chain.
Professional certifications such as BICSI RCDD/DCDC/OSP, CDCP/CDCE, a PE license in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, PMP, or procurement certifications such as CPSM, CPM, or CSCP.
At least 7 years of strategic sourcing experience with direct experience managing data center infrastructure vendors in cabling, power, cooling, fitout, or commissioning.
Hands-on data center construction, infrastructure deployment, or commissioning experience, ideally as a former engineer, project manager, or technical lead who transitioned into vendor management.
Familiarity with data center design standards, including TIA-942, Uptime Institute Tier Standards, ASHRAE thermal guidelines, NFPA 70/75/76, and hot/cold aisle containment strategies.
Experience in hyperscale, colocation, or high-growth cloud infrastructure environments.
Advanced skills in TCO modeling, cost optimization, vendor benchmarking, and financial analysis for infrastructure projects.
Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, including single-line electrical diagrams, mechanical P&IDs, cabling schematics, and floor plan layouts.
Familiarity with data center energy efficiency, sustainability initiatives, and renewable energy procurement.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for data center infrastructure categories, including structured cabling, power systems, cooling systems, cage and space fitout, fire suppression, and commissioning services.
Build and maintain supplier portfolios across multiple geographies to support data center expansion.
Research markets and supplier landscapes, benchmark vendor capabilities, and maintain competitive tension.
Create category-specific sourcing plans that balance cost, technical quality, capacity, and risk.
Promote supplier diversity and geographic coverage to support business continuity.
Review vendors’ technical capabilities, certifications, workforce qualifications, project histories, capacity, and compliance with Cloudflare standards.
Lead technical due diligence, including reference site visits, project portfolio reviews, and proof-of-concept evaluations.
Validate vendor experience with full-scale data center cage and space fitouts from design through commissioning.
Manage supplier onboarding from identification and technical assessment through contract execution.
Negotiate master service agreements, statements of work, pricing frameworks, volume commitments, rate cards, and cost-optimization terms.
Structure contracts with technical specifications, acceptance criteria, performance guarantees, and remediation terms.
Partner with Legal, Procurement, and Finance on contract governance, compliance, and risk management.
Design and implement supplier scorecards for delivery timelines, technical quality, safety, cost adherence, and warranty responsiveness.
Establish business review cadences, address performance gaps, and drive continuous improvement.
Manage supplier risk assessments, including financial health, capacity, and business continuity planning.
Drive corrective action plans and escalate critical supplier performance issues.
Partner with Infrastructure Engineering, DC Operations, Network Engineering, Power Engineering, and Facilities to translate requirements into sourcing strategies.
Serve as the primary contact for data center infrastructure procurement and coordinate communication between internal stakeholders and vendors.
Support project delivery through vendor readiness, scope clarity, execution oversight, and issue resolution.
Use infrastructure expertise and market benchmarks to assess vendor pricing and negotiate competitive commercial terms.
Develop risk-sharing models and contract terms for design-build projects and fixed-price or time-and-materials scopes.
Build long-term supplier partnerships while maintaining competitive markets.
Identify opportunities for vendor consolidation, standardization, and total cost of ownership reduction.

Benefits

Medical/Rx insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Commuter Spending Accounts
Fertility and family-forming benefits
On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program
Global travel medical insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Life and accident insurance
401(k) retirement savings plan
Employee stock participation plan
Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave
Leave programs, including parental, pregnancy health, medical, and bereavement leave
Eligibility to participate in Cloudflare’s equity plan