Data Centre Operations Manager

Equinix; Greater London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Critical Illness Insurance

Private Healthcare

Eye Care Coverage

Gymflex Membership

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Company Pension Plan

Cycle to Work Scheme

Annual Season Ticket Loan

Job summary

Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure leader, seeks a senior operations leader for LD14 in Slough. You will own site performance, safety, and engineering partnerships from commissioning through steady-state operations, shaping team culture and ways of working from day one.

With a background in engineering or facilities leadership, you will manage budgets, multi-disciplinary teams, and complex stakeholder engagements to deliver operational excellence at a brand-new data centre.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in technical operations within complex, high-availability environments.
• Experience leading and developing technical or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong background in engineering, facilities management, or mission-critical operations.
• Track record of raising performance standards and delivering operational excellence.
• Comfortable managing budgets, technical projects, and senior stakeholder relationships.
• Long term relevant experience or equivalent progressive leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire, and develop teams of experienced technical professionals and/or subordinate managers.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee full people management responsibilities, including hiring, coaching, development, and performance reviews.
• Plan and deliver site infrastructure projects on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Oversee technical maintenance, system upgrades, and facility expansions.
• Collaborate with engineering and design teams during new facility handovers.
• Ensure vendors deliver to KPIs and SLAs; build supplier relationships.
• Lead incident management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Operational excellence

Safety culture

Communication

Change management

Education

Engineering degree

Facilities management certification

Tools

CMMS

Project management software

Job description

Who are we?

Equinix is the world's digital infrastructure company, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.

A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future.

Joining our operations team means being at the center of everything - maintaining and evolving critical infrastructure that powers the digital world and delivers real impact for our customers, communities and society. You'll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you - because when you feel valued, you're empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

We're looking for a strong, influential leader to take ownership of operations at LD14, our newest data center on the Slough campus. This is a leadership role requiring someone who can set high standards, inspire technical teams, and bring people with them on the journey to ensure operational excellence.

LD14 is a purpose-built, five-storey International Data Centre in the Slough Trading Estate. Opening in 2027 alongside our established Slough sites, LD14 is designed to support high-density workloads, cloud connectivity, and mission-critical financial infrastructure. Sustainability is built in, including the ability to supply waste heat for district heating in the local community. This is a rare opportunity to lead a new site from commissioning through to steady-state operations, and to shape its team, culture, and ways of working from day one.

This is not an IT management role

Instead, we're seeking someone with a background in engineering, technical operations, or facilities leadership. While data center experience is an advantage, we also welcome candidates from telecommunications, infrastructure, and other mission-critical technical environments. You will have been accountable for running an operation, responsible for the delivery outcomes, operating costs, and the complexities of engaging with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, inspire, and develop teams of experienced technical professionals and/or subordinate managers
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Oversee full people management responsibilities, including hiring, coaching, development, and performance reviews
• Act as a visible, hands-on leader who sets the tone and brings others along on the journey

Operational Management

• Define and deliver on operational objectives, policies, and procedures to ensure site performance meets or exceeds Equinix standards
• Drive operational efficiency, reliability, and safety across the site
• Manage budgets, cost controls, and resource planning effectively
• Partner closely with senior stakeholders on site capacity planning and infrastructure strategy

Project & Infrastructure Oversight

• Plan and deliver site infrastructure projects on time, within scope, and on budget
• Oversee technical maintenance, system upgrades, and facility expansions
• Collaborate with engineering and design teams during new facility handovers

Vendor & Performance Management

• Ensure vendors consistently deliver to agreed KPIs and SLAs
• Build strong supplier relationships and drive continuous improvement initiatives

Incident & Risk Management

• Act as the senior incident lead during critical events, coordinating teams and ensuring timely resolution
• Lead root cause analysis and ensure corrective actions are implemented quickly
• Oversee compliance, MOP approvals, and testing protocols to ensure operational resilience

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in technical operations within complex, high-availability environments (data centers, telco, engineering, or large-scale infrastructure)
• Experience leading and developing technical or multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong background in engineering, facilities management, or mission-critical operations
• Track record of raising performance standards and delivering operational excellence
• Comfortable managing budgets, technical projects, and senior stakeholder relationships
• Long term relevant experience or equivalent progressive leadership roles

The Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Inspire and influence - lead people, not just manage them
• Raise the bar - set ambitious standards for safety, quality, and performance
• Be technically credible - engage confidently with engineers, vendors, and technical teams
• Thrive under pressure - operate effectively in mission-critical, high-availability environments

And has:

• Leadership experience - must have managed more than 10 direct reports
• New site experience - ideally a strong understanding of opening a new site, as this role will support the launch of LD14, our newest site
• Senior-level influence - has worked with budgets and stakeholders at a senior level
• A positive mindset - brings energy, resilience, and a can-do attitude to the team

Why Should You Apply?

• Competitive Salary:Attractive compensation package
• 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days (pro rata for shift positions)
• Comprehensive Insurance & Health Benefits:Life Assurance, Income Protection, Critical Illness Insurance, Private Healthcare, Eye Care Coverage, and Gymflex Membership
• Investment Opportunities:Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Company Pension Plan
• Travel Benefits:Cycle to Work Scheme and Annual Season Ticket Loan
• Career Growth:Excellent opportunities for growth and advancement within the company

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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