Director Site Operations

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)

• CFM (Certified Facility Manager)

• OSHA 30 / NFPA 70E Safety Training

Other Requirements

• Ability to work in a 24x7 environment, responding to critical events as needed.

• Strong decision-making ability under pressure.

• Commitment to safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

• Ability to travel as business needs require

Physical activities and requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details

• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits
• Salary Range: $225,000 - 245,000 Base + Bonus. Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience.
• #LI-Onsite #LI-AH
  

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Vantage does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage.

We’ll be accepting applications for at least one week from the date this role is posted. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply soon—we’re excited to find the right person and will keep the role open until we do!