Senior Operations Manager – Data Center Accounts (U.S.)

LotusWorks•Grafton, WI

17d•Onsite

About The Position

LotusWorks is seeking a Senior Operations Manager – Data Center Accounts to oversee the end-to-end performance of data center client accounts across hyperscale and enterprise environments. This role primarily focuses on Commissioning (Cx) services, with supporting scopes in critical facility Operations & Maintenance (O&M), QA/QC, and Construction Services. The successful candidate will be accountable for safe and contract-compliant service delivery, financial performance of accounts, workforce leadership, client relationship management, and account growth. This position demands strong commissioning and critical facilities expertise, coupled with commercial leadership and the ability to develop high-performing teams across multiple campuses and critical environments.

Requirements

10+ years of experience within data center, mission-critical facilities, or comparable critical infrastructure environments, including significant leadership responsibility.
8+ years of leadership experience managing large accounts, multi-site operations, service delivery, or P&L responsibility.
Proven Commissioning (Cx) experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, enterprise data center, or similar mission-critical construction programs.
Strong technical understanding of critical electrical and mechanical infrastructure, including electrical distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear, cooling systems, controls, BMS, and EPMS.
Strong understanding of L1–L5 commissioning, FAT, startup, functional testing, integrated systems testing, deficiency management, and turnover.
Experience supporting critical facility O&M, including MOPs, SOPs, EOPs, CMMS discipline, preventive maintenance, change management, and work controls.
Strong financial and commercial acumen with experience managing P&L, forecasting, budgeting, pricing, cost controls, change management, invoicing, and financial performance.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing large technical teams, preferably organizations of 50–200+ employees across multiple campuses, shifts, or geographic locations.
Strong client-facing presence with the ability to lead business reviews, resolve escalations, manage contractual expectations, and identify account growth opportunities.
Experience managing complex workforce requirements, including utilization, traveling crews, staffing forecasts, succession planning, employee development, and technical training.
Strong understanding of EHS leadership, critical-environment procedures, security requirements, quality systems, business continuity, and operational risk management.
Familiarity with CMMS platforms, BMS/EPMS, building automation, and critical infrastructure monitoring systems.
Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Ability to travel extensively between U.S. client sites and meet applicable client background, security, and site access requirements.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field preferred.
Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) through ACG or BCxA preferred.
CDCP, CDCE, PMP, CFM, safety, or other relevant mission-critical certifications preferred.
Proof of education, licenses, and certifications will be required where applicable.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior account point of contact for client Data Center Construction, Commissioning/Startup, Critical Facilities Operations, Procurement, EHS, and other key stakeholders, developing strong relationships at the manager and director levels.
Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and monthly operating reviews covering commissioning performance, KPIs, financials, risks, staffing, service delivery, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Own account contracts and commercial performance, including scope management, renewals, rate escalations, change orders, and ensuring scope growth is commercially captured before mobilization.
Identify and pursue organic account growth opportunities, including additional builds and phases, new campuses and regions, and adjacent O&M, QA/QC, and Construction Services scopes while supporting proposals and RFP responses.
Own commissioning program delivery across assigned accounts, including Cx plans, design and submittal reviews, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), L1–L5 testing, installation verification, startup, functional and integrated systems testing, deficiency management, and turnover packages.
Maintain consistent commissioning standards across campuses, General Contractors, vendors, and project teams through standardized test scripts, documentation, acceptance criteria, and appropriate Cx independence.
Manage commissioning schedule risk against construction milestones and Ready-for-Service (RFS) dates, maintaining required acceptance criteria during schedule compression and clearly escalating residual risk.
Oversee critical facility O&M, QA/QC, and Construction Services scopes in accordance with contractual requirements, including MOPs, SOPs, EOPs, CMMS discipline, preventive maintenance programs, quality inspections, and construction delivery.
Maintain critical-environment operating discipline, including change management, work approvals, appropriate controls for work on live critical systems, and incident reporting in accordance with client standards.
Incorporate commissioning lessons learned into O&M procedures, QA/QC inspection requirements, and construction delivery to improve reliability and future project execution.
Provide EHS leadership through incident prevention, near-miss reporting, audits, employee engagement, and alignment with client safety programs while promoting a zero-harm culture.
Ensure compliance with client site requirements, security and access protocols, quality systems, company policies, labor requirements, and contractual obligations.
Own account P&L, including forecasting, budgeting, monthly financial reviews, variance analysis, corrective actions, and overall revenue and gross margin performance.
Develop commissioning pricing and cost models based on system counts, testing levels, and build phases to support new scopes, proposals, and change orders.
Manage workforce utilization across engineers, technicians, traveling crews, and multiple campuses while controlling labor, overtime, per diem, travel, subcontractors, and material costs.
Ensure accurate and timely invoicing with appropriate supporting documentation and coordinate with client Procurement on accounts receivable and DSO performance.
Hire, lead, coach, develop, and retain Commissioning Managers, Engineers, Supervisors, and Critical Facilities Technicians while maintaining succession plans for key positions.
Lead employee goal setting, performance reviews, development planning, compensation recommendations, recognition, and corrective actions in coordination with Human Resources.
Maintain workforce and staffing plans aligned with client build pipelines, commissioning demand, attrition, client ramps, badging and site qualification lead times, vacancies, contingent labor, and traveling crew requirements.
Own employee onboarding and site readiness, including pre-employment and background requirements, badging/security clearance, EHS orientation, client-specific training, and 30/60/90-day employee check-ins.
Maintain training matrices and certification requirements, including OSHA, NFPA 70E/arc flash, LOTO, generator, UPS and switchgear OEM training, and client-specific qualifications, ensuring compliance and audit readiness.
Develop technical career paths, mentoring programs, CxA and critical facilities certification opportunities, and cross-qualification between Commissioning and O&M personnel based on delivery needs.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, availability, cost, quality, cycle time, operational consistency, and client value, including tracking and reporting measurable improvements and savings.
Maintain business continuity, emergency response, and shift coverage plans supporting 24/7 critical environments.
Monitor and report key account performance indicators, including safety, Cx schedule adherence, on-time RFS support, deficiency aging and closure, first-attempt test pass rate, turnover performance, revenue and gross margin, utilization, retention, time-to-fill, training compliance, and client satisfaction.
Escalate material safety, availability, schedule, financial, staffing, quality, and contractual risks to leadership with clear mitigation and recovery options.
Perform any other duties or responsibilities that may be assigned.