DC Operations Director

Job Description: The Director of Data Center Operations is responsible for leading all aspects of facility performance, vendor management, and client service delivery in a Tier III colocation environment. This role ensures operational excellence across uptime, compliance, capacity planning, and SLA adherence. The director oversees cross-functional teams, manages vendor contracts, and drives strategic initiatives to support multi-tenant infrastructure and mission-critical workloads.

Key Responsibilities

Facility Operations & Uptime: Oversee daily operations of Tier III data center including mechanical, electrical, and IT infrastructure. Ensure 100% uptime through proactive maintenance, monitoring, and incident response. Lead capacity planning, space/power forecasting, and infrastructure optimization. Vendor Oversight & Contract Management Manage third-party vendors for security, MEP services, janitorial, and remote hands support.

Enforce compliance with SLAs, safety protocols, and performance KPIs. Conduct quarterly vendor reviews and negotiate service contracts. Compliance & Risk Management Ensure adherence to ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and internal audit frameworks. Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning.

Maintain documentation for regulatory inspections and client audits. Team Leadership & Client Interface Supervise operations staff, shift leads, and technical support teams. Serve as an escalation point for client issues and coordinate resolution across departments. Support onboarding of new tenants and ensure alignment with colocation standards.

Strategic Planning & Reporting Develop annual budgets, staffing plans, and capital improvement roadmaps. Present operational metrics and risk assessments to executive leadership. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Requirements

Recommended Qualifications Education

• Bachelor’s in Engineering, Facilities Management, or IT-related field (electrical) Experience - 8–12+ years in mission-critical operations; 5+ years in leadership roles. Skills
• Vendor management, SLA enforcement, CMMS/BCMS platforms, KPI reporting, client relations. Certifications
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD), PMP, OSHA 30, ITIL, ISO Lead Auditor.