Assistant Critical Operations Manager

STACK Infrastructure; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Dental Care

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid Leave Programs

Job summary

STACK Infrastructure in Elk Grove Village, IL, is seeking an Assistant Critical Operations Manager to support a local data center campus. You will assist the Critical Operations Manager in maintaining mechanical, electrical, fire life safety, and base building systems, and help implement Safety, Availability, and Knowledge programs.

You will oversee staff training, CAPEX/OPEX budgets, and project execution, including scopes, proposals, and invoices, while ensuring compliant operations and high

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 4–5 years' experience in a data center or other related mission critical operations role.
• Knowledge of data center (hyperscale, enterprise, and colocation) industries.
• 3–5 years' experience in vendor and project management.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement a standardized culture of always working safely across STACK data centers.
• Serve as a datacenter subject matter expert for electrical, mechanical, fire life safety, and other data center systems.
• Operate, monitor, maintain, and respond to abnormal conditions within the facility.
• Implement site-level efficiency projects and maintain overall site design PUE.
• Ensure preventative and predictive maintenance programs are executed.
• Train and mentor junior staff.
• Manage vendor relationships and service contracts.
• Assist in managing vendor procurement and billing processes.
• Support site budgeting and forecasting for CapEx and OpEx.

Skills

Data center operations

Vendor management

Project management

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

NFPA standards

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Database software

Job description

The Company

STACK INFRASTRUCTURE (STACK) provides digital infrastructure to scale the world’s most innovative companies. We are an award‑winning industry leader in building, owning, and operating highly efficient, cost‑effective wholesale, colocation, and cloud data centers. Each of our national facilities meets or exceeds the highest industry standards in all operational categories of availability, security, connectivity, and physical resilience.

The Company

STACK INFRASTRUCTURE (STACK) provides digital infrastructure to scale the world’s most innovative companies. We are an award‑winning industry leader in building, owning, and operating highly efficient, cost‑effective wholesale, colocation, and cloud data centers. Each of our national facilities meets or exceeds the highest industry standards in all operational categories of availability, security, connectivity, and physical resilience.

STACK offers the scale and geographic reach that rapidly growing hyperscale and enterprise companies need. The world runs on data. Data runs on STACK.

The Position

STACK is looking for an Assistant Critical Operations Manager (ACOM) to support a local data center campus. As a leader in STACK’s Critical Operations team, the ACOM must possess an expert level of knowledge and will be responsible for assisting the Critical Operations Manager in maintaining the mechanical, electrical, fire life safety, base building, and other various internal data center systems. The ACOM will also be focused on the implementation of programs related to Safety, Team, Availability, Communication, and Knowledge. The Assistant Critical Operations Manager will report to the Critical Operations Manager.

The ACOM is responsible for the implementation of the Data Center Operations Program at their site and is responsible for employee training and ensuring all staff is adequately qualified to perform their duties. Holding regular team meetings and individual 1:1 sessions is required. The ACOM will assist the Critical Operations Manager in developing and maintaining CAPEX and OPEX budgets at the site level. They will also be responsible for project execution and management including developing scopes, obtaining proposals, creating purchase requisitions, and ensuring invoices are routed properly.

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

• Lead and implement a standardized culture of always working safely across all STACK data centers.
• Serve as a datacenter subject matter expert for electrical, mechanical, fire life safety, and other data center systems.
• Operate, monitor, maintain, and respond to abnormal conditions within the facility.
• Implement site-level efficiency projects and maintain overall site design PUE.
• Ensure STACK preventative and predictive maintenance program is executed.
• Train and mentor junior staff.
• Manage vendor relationships and service contracts.
• Assist in managing vendor procurement and billing processes.
• Support site budgeting and forecasting for both CapEx and OpEx.
• Create highly detailed technical procedures for maintenance events, emergency situations, and standard site evolutions.
• Perform expert technical review of procedures, company standards, and policies.
• Manage site audits, both internal and external, ensuring adherence to compliance standards.
• Manage systems to avoid unplanned, customer-impacting outages.
• Manage the data floor and back‑of‑house mechanical loading capacity to ensure cooling system efficiency.
• Navigate and utilize CMS, EPMS, and BMS systems.
• Provide day-to-day exceptional customer service and support.
• Be available on‑call as required to respond to emergency situations at the data center.
• Perform other duties as required by STACK. Job duties, roles, and responsibilities are subject to change over time.

The Details

• Location: Elk Grove Village, IL CHI01B
• Travel: None or less than 5%
• Benefits: Healthcare, Dental Care, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Paid Leave Programs
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Must pass comprehensive background and drug screening

Must-have Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of 4–5 years' experience in a data center or other related mission critical operations role
• Knowledge of data center (hyperscale, enterprise, and colocation) and telecommunications industries
• Experience working with Microsoft Office applications and database software
• 3–5 years' experience managing facility preventative maintenance programs
• 3–5 years' experience in vendor and project management
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and perform well in stressful situations
• Expert understanding of electrical and mechanical systems used in a data center environment (e.g., UPS, Transformers, PDUs, RPPs, Chillers, CRAH, CRAC, STS, ATS, Pre‑action systems)
• Expert knowledge of NFPA70e, NFPA72, NFPA25, and fire life safety compliance standards
• Experience in data center trending and analysis with ability to learn PC‑based monitoring systems
• Proficiency in data center commissioning standards
• Ability to perform physical tasks including standing, walking, climbing, and lifting up to 25 pounds
• Willingness to work outside normal business hours, including weekends, holidays, and on‑call support
• Comfortable working in a high‑stress, fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities

Compensation Range

$60.00 - $62.50

This Might Be Right For You If

• You are a strong communicator, you are persuasive and clear, blending analytics with experience in decision‑making.
• You do not get flustered easily. You can juggle multiple priorities while balancing urgent requests with shifting timelines and deliverables.
• You are a team builder. You take the time to understand and develop the strengths of your resources while formulating long‑term plans for the growth and success of the team.
• You are naturally curious and driven toward continual improvement. While you celebrate your successes, you take time to review and analyze campaigns for future learning.

WHY STACK?

• We offer a competitive compensation package with strong benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, flexible spending accounts – even a cell phone subsidy.
• We foster a culture of appreciation, including peer‑to‑peer recognition and rewards programs.
• Fun is part of our DNA, with events, game nights, happy hours, and barbecues.
• We’re growing – this is a great time to join and make an impact!

STACK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law

Note to external agencies: We are not accepting any blind submissions or resumes/cvs from recruitment agencies. Any candidates sent to STACK Infrastructure, Inc. will not be accepted or considered as a submission without a signed agreement in place. 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 STACK Infrastructure, Inc.