Senior Director Data Center Operations

Salute • Afton, TX

9d • $190,000 - $220,000

About The Position

The Senior Data Center Operations Director provides executive-level leadership, strategic oversight, and operational performance management across one or more mission-critical data center environments. The role supports high-availability infrastructure, including hyperscale, AI, colocation, and enterprise operations, and is accountable for operational reliability, client service delivery, financial performance, staffing, safety, compliance, vendor management, and operational readiness.

The Director leads data center operations and critical infrastructure activities, ensuring mechanical, electrical, plumbing, cooling, life safety, and support systems are operated safely, reliably, efficiently, and in accordance with company, customer, regulatory, and contractual requirements. As a senior operational leader and client-facing executive, the role serves as an escalation point for complex operational matters and requires technical credibility, business acumen, people leadership, and financial discipline in a 24x7x365 mission-critical environment.

The role includes oversight of site and account leaders, infrastructure maintenance and reliability, customer relationships, operating budgets, workforce development, safety and compliance, vendor performance, and new-site transitions and operational readiness. Travel may be required based on assigned sites, client locations, account needs, or business requirements.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in data center operations, mission-critical facilities, facility management, engineering operations, or related technical environments.
• At least 5 years in a senior management or director-level role leading mission-critical operations teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing 24x7x365 operations in high-availability environments.
• Strong experience with critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure, including UPS systems, generators, switchgear, cooling systems, HVAC, electrical distribution, and building support systems.
• Proven experience with budget management, financial oversight, forecasting, labor planning, vendor management, and operational reporting.
• Strong client-facing experience in relationship management, service delivery, operational reviews, and issue resolution.
• Strong knowledge of mission-critical mechanical, electrical, cooling, controls, and life safety infrastructure.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead through complex operational challenges, customer expectations, staffing constraints, technical risks, and high-pressure incidents.
• Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, variance analysis, and resource planning.
• Ability to interpret technical, operational, contractual, and financial information and translate it into practical action.
• Strong understanding of MOPs, SOPs, EOPs, change management, preventive maintenance, incident management, RCA, and operational risk controls.
• Strong client relationship management and ability to communicate effectively with executives, customers, vendors, and technical teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced, high-accountability environments.
• Strong organizational, project coordination, and governance skills.
• Proficiency with standard business software, reporting tools, CMMS platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Must pass pre-employment screenings required by company policy or customer site requirements.
• Must satisfy site access, badging, and security clearance requirements, as applicable.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license if driving is required as part of the role.
• Must be available to support emergency response, escalation events, client needs, and critical operational issues outside standard business hours as required.
• Ability to frequently sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; tour active data center, industrial, construction-support, and critical infrastructure environments; operate computers and other office equipment; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs or ladders; occasionally lift or move items up to 25 pounds; visually inspect equipment and read documents; communicate clearly in person, by phone, video, and in writing; and respond to site conditions in equipment rooms, rooftops, exterior yards, loading areas, central plants, or similar environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, cloud, AI, or high-density data center operations.
• Experience leading transitions, site startups, commissioning turnover, operational readiness, or account mobilization.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, construction management, business administration, or a related field; equivalent education, technical training, military experience, trade experience, and relevant leadership experience may be considered.
• Certifications such as PMP, CFM, FMP, CDCP, CDCS, Six Sigma, OSHA, electrical or mechanical trade certifications, or similar credentials.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior leadership for day-to-day and long-term data center operations, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient performance.
• Lead site directors, operations managers, facility managers, engineers, technicians, vendor partners, and support teams in achieving operational objectives and service commitments.
• Establish operational strategies, performance expectations, accountability standards, and disciplined operating practices across assigned sites or accounts.
• Drive continuous improvement, risk reduction, service quality, and consistent execution of company standards.
• Ensure staffing, scheduling, escalation coverage, succession planning, and operational readiness for 24x7x365 support.
• Serve as a senior escalation leader for critical incidents, customer concerns, operational risks, staffing challenges, service delivery issues, and infrastructure reliability matters.
• Oversee operation, maintenance, testing, and performance of critical infrastructure, including UPS systems, generators, switchgear, electrical distribution, cooling systems, HVAC equipment, fire/life safety systems, building controls, and associated support systems.
• Ensure infrastructure is operated in accordance with maintenance standards, OEM guidance, risk management practices, customer requirements, and company procedures.
• Review system health, operating trends, asset performance, incident history, and site risk profiles to identify reliability improvements and prevent failures.
• Ensure compliance with MOPs, SOPs, EOPs, change management requirements, and maintenance practices.
• Support major maintenance events, repairs, outages, commissioning, integrated systems testing, turnover activities, and operational readiness reviews.
• Lead or support root cause analysis, corrective action planning, incident response, and post-event reviews.
• Represent the company in client relationships, account governance, service delivery, and customer satisfaction efforts.
• Build client relationships through proactive communication, operational transparency, issue resolution, and consistent service delivery.
• Align operations with contractual requirements, service-level expectations, business objectives, and long-term account success.
• Lead operational reviews, performance updates, business reviews, risk discussions, and service improvement planning.
• Represent the company at customer meetings, executive briefings, site visits, audits, incident reviews, and business development support activities.
• Develop, manage, and monitor operating budgets, including labor, materials, maintenance, subcontracted services, vendor spend, training, tools, and support costs.
• Analyze financial performance, operating expenses, labor utilization, cost trends, budget variances, and resource allocation.
• Support forecasting, annual planning, headcount planning, capital planning, financial reporting, and business case development.
• Maintain sound financial stewardship and align spending with approved budgets, service requirements, and business objectives.
• Present operating, financial, staffing, risk, and performance updates to senior leadership and clients as required.
• Identify cost-efficiency opportunities without compromising safety, uptime, compliance, or service quality.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain operations leaders, managers, engineers, technicians, and support personnel.
• Build leadership teams capable of managing complex mission-critical environments with professionalism, accountability, and technical discipline.
• Conduct or oversee performance management, coaching, evaluations, development planning, succession planning, and corrective action.
• Promote safety, reliability, ownership, accountability, teamwork, technical excellence, and customer service.
• Ensure employees are trained, qualified, equipped, and supported to perform their duties safely and effectively.
• Lead workforce planning and organizational development for current operations, future growth, site transitions, and client requirements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety programs, customer requirements, regulatory standards, site procedures, and applicable laws.
• Promote a strong safety culture across operations, maintenance, vendor, and project activities.
• Lead or support audits, inspections, operational assessments, quality reviews, customer reviews, and compliance evaluations.
• Identify operational, technical, financial, staffing, safety, and compliance risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Maintain high standards for documentation, maintenance records, operational reports, training records, procedures, incident reports, and compliance materials.
• Support business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, escalation procedures, and operational risk reviews.
• Provide senior oversight of vendor relationships, contracted services, maintenance providers, OEM support, and third-party service delivery.
• Ensure vendors meet performance expectations, safety requirements, contractual obligations, response times, documentation standards, and customer requirements.
• Partner with procurement, legal, finance, and account leadership on vendor selection, contracts, scope development, cost control, and service performance.
• Review vendor performance, maintenance quality, incident support, staffing levels, and service gaps.
• Support vendor escalation plans, emergency response coverage, preventive maintenance schedules, and critical spares strategies.
• Lead or support new-site transitions, account startups, operational mobilizations, client onboarding, and handover from construction or commissioning to operations.
• Ensure staffing, training, vendor support, procedures, CMMS readiness, asset data, maintenance programs, safety programs, and reporting structures are established before operational readiness.
• Partner with transition, project, commissioning, client, and internal teams to identify gaps, risks, dependencies, and readiness requirements.
• Support operational readiness reviews, turnover planning, site acceptance, transition governance, and stabilization efforts.
• Drive structured handover processes so operations teams are prepared to assume site responsibility safely and effectively.

Benefits

• Eight company-paid holidays, two floating holidays, and PTO.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; enrollment is available starting on Day 1, with coverage beginning the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
• Employee Assistance Program available to all employees.
• 401(k) with immediate 100% vesting, a 3% employer match, and a 50% match on the next 2%.
• Health Savings Account (HSA), mental health resources, and gym discounts.
• Discounted legal services, home and auto insurance, pet insurance, and ID theft protection.
• Discounted Group Life & AD&D insurance.
• Discounted Group Short- and Long-term Disability insurance.
• Parental leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed