Data Center Facilities Operations Director

Peter Kazella and Associates, Inc; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Peter Kazella and Associates, Inc is seeking a Data Center Facility Operations Director in Naperville, IL, to lead a critical 7x24x365 operation. The ideal candidate will manage the overall quality and service of data center maintenance, ensuring 99.999% uptime.

The role requires 10-15 years of relevant experience and strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills. The position includes competitive salaries and benefits such as medical insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of data center facility operations and maintenance experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in data center facility operations.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform periodic site walk-throughs to ensure SOPs and standards are followed.
• Communicate operational status with senior management and onsite customers.
• Supervise onsite management team and vendors to ensure work follows established practices.

Skills

Data center facility operations

Leadership experience

Technical supervision

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Data Center Facility Operations Director – Naperville, IL

This is a 7x24x365 operation leading a critical data center. We look for an experienced director to manage overall quality and service of operation and maintenance of critical facility infrastructure to meet dynamic customer requirements and maintain 99.999% uptime.

Responsibilities

• Perform periodic site walk‑throughs to ensure SOPs and standards are followed, assist facilities staff and contracted vendors.
• Identify vulnerabilities and oversee the third‑party critical facilities onsite team.
• Communicate operational status with senior management and onsite customers.
• Site acceptance and commissioning of the facility to meet company standards.
• Act as liaison coordinating efforts between contracted vendors and onsite customers.
• Oversee development and approval of MOPs for DC build and data hall work.
• Participate in interviewing prospective candidates for critical facility roles.
• Audit installed data center components to verify job scope completion and design documentation.
• Provide strategic and tactical leadership for reliability of systems such as switchgear, generators, UPS, power distribution, chillers, cooling towers, air handlers, fire suppression, building monitoring, etc.
• Supervise onsite management team and vendors to ensure work follows established practices.
• Manage customer relationship and act as escalation point for the site.
• Establish performance benchmarks, analyze data and prepare reports on all critical facility operations.
• Work with business leaders to coordinate projects, manage capacity, and optimize plant safety, performance, reliability and efficiency.
• Review MOPs and SOPs for all work on critical data center equipment.
• Maintain readiness to achieve 99.999% uptime.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of data center facility operations and maintenance experience.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in data center facility operations.
• Budget and P/L responsibility.
• Solid understanding of critical electrical and mechanical/HVAC equipment.
• Experience supervising a technical data center operations staff.
• Previous role as a Data Center Facility Manager.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Superior analytical, planning and problem‑resolution skills.
• Effective communicator in email, phone and meetings; strong organizational and reporting skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, manage conflicts, and execute project management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint and related tools.
• A PLUS – Previous experience in the Military / Military Veterans.

Company offers competitive salaries and benefits including medical insurance and a 401(k) plan.

EOE/AA Employer M/F/D/V