Data Center Operations Director & Critical Systems SME

Cushman & Wakefield; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 162,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield seeks a Director, Operations SME for Data Centers & Critical Env. You will lead as the senior technical authority for complex data center accounts, guiding solution development, site start‑ups, and ongoing operational excellence across electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems.

You will partner with clients and global teams to ensure adherence to contracts, SLAs, and governance while driving continuous improvement and risk mitigation in a fast-paced, high‑reliability

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years in data center operations or mission‑critical environments.
• 8+ years in senior leadership, technical advisory, or SME roles.
• Deep knowledge of electrical systems, mechanical systems, liquid cooling, and critical environment operations.
• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise, hyperscale, or colocation environments.
• Strong incident management and RCA methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and standardize operating solutions for client data center portfolios.
• Oversee site start‑ups, transitions, and deployments across multi-site accounts.
• Provide SME guidance on electrical, mechanical, cooling, and BMS/EPMS systems.
• Lead risk assessments, audits, and operational readiness reviews.
• Drive reliability, energy efficiency, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Mentor operations leaders and ensure safety and governance compliance.

Skills

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

Liquid cooling

Critical facilities

Leadership

Data center operations

Incident management

RCA methodologies

Account operations

Site start-ups

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

DCIM

CMMS

BMS/EPMS platforms

Job description

Cushman & Wakefield seeks a Director, Operations SME for Data Centers & Critical Env. You will lead as the senior technical authority for complex data center accounts, guiding solution development, site start‑ups, and ongoing operational excellence across electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems.

You will partner with clients and global teams to ensure adherence to contracts, SLAs, and governance while driving continuous improvement and risk mitigation in a fast-paced, high‑reliability