Director, Site Operations, NA

About Vantage
Vantage powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.
Site Operations Department
The Site Operations Department is responsible for the overall health of all mechanical and electrical systems, building maintenance, and performance of all data modules in our data centers. The team is staffed 24 x 7 onsite with Critical Facility Engineers (CFEs)on each shift. This team is the face of Vantage to our customers and the first line of defense regarding the uptime of our campus as well as the performance of our customer installations. Using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to plan and track work needed, the Site Operations department performs all preventive and corrective maintenance. Our culture expects and rewards team performance that engages directly with the customers and the facility infrastructure. This is a team that does most of the actual work versus calling upon vendors. As a result, we provide superior service that is faster and more cost effective.
Position Overview
This position will be based on-site at our data center in Santa Clara, CA.
The Director, Site Operations is responsible for the overall operational performance, reliability, and leadership at a center campus, ensuring all critical infrastructure and supporting teams operate safely and effectively in a 24x7x365 mission-critical environment. This role holds full accountability for site operations across power, cooling, building control systems, and facility spaces, with a primary focus on safety, reliability, risk management, and operational excellence.
This leader sets the vision and operational standards for the site by aligning people, processes, and priorities to deliver consistent performance and exceptional customer confidence. The Director, Site Operations oversees maintenance strategy, system readiness, and disciplined execution of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs while maintaining strict adherence to safety and compliance standards.
The Director provides leadership to Operations Managers, Critical Facilities Engineers, and contracted service partners, fostering a culture of accountability, technical rigor, and continuous improvement. This role ensures teams are properly trained, resourced, and aligned to meet both daily operational demands and long-term site objectives.
Reporting to senior operations leadership, the Director, Site Operations partners closely with Engineering, Construction, Security, IT, and Customer Success teams to ensure operational considerations are embedded early in design, commissioning, and expansion activities. This position plays a critical role in reducing operational risk, improving performance metrics, and maintaining the integrity and reputation of the data center campus.
Essential Job Functions and Duties
Strategic Leadership & Oversight
Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability for day-to-day operations of two data center campuses.
Ensure alignment of site operations with corporate objectives, industry standards, and client SLAs.
Establish long-term operational strategies that optimize uptime, safety, and efficiency.
Operational Excellence
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.
Drive incident management, root cause analysis, and post-incident reviews to drive continuous improvement.
Financial & Budget Management
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.
Team Management & Development
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.
Risk, Compliance, & Safety Management
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.
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
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.
KPI Reporting & Performance Management
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.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
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.
Job Requirements
Education & Experience
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.
Technical Skills
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.
Leadership & Business Skills
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.
Certifications (Preferred)
PMP (Project Management Professional)