Director, Operations

Aligned Data Center; Murphysboro (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aligned Data Center is seeking a senior leader to drive the strategic vision for its datacenters, including facility operations, security, logistics, and safety. You will oversee 24x7 campus operations, monitor capacity and budgets, and ensure SLAs are met.

Role requires strong leadership, experience with MEP systems, vendor management, and a focus on continuous improvement and sustainability. Collaboration with clients and cross-functional teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or 12–15 years of related experience.
• Experience in data center operations and facilities management.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in AutoCAD, Visio, and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Provides senior leadership to drive strategic vision for Aligned’s datacenters and critical facilities operations.
• Manages 24x7 Datacenter campus operations, monitoring capacity, availability, budget, and inventory.
• Oversees electrical and mechanical infrastructure and ensures SLAs.
• Leads vendor management, contracts, and cost optimization.
• Drives sustainability initiatives and continuous improvement.
• Ensures safety compliance and incident response readiness.
• Manages budgeting, forecasting, change management, and documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic vision

Communication

Budgeting

Customer service

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Visio

MS Office

PDF documents

Job description

It’s fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they’re doing!
We’re committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides senior leadership to drive strategic vision for Aligned’s datacenters, including Critical Facilities Operations, Preventative Maintenance, Commissioning, Infrastructure, Service Delivery, Security, Logistics, and Safety on a Senior level.
• Manages Campus operations of the 24x7 Datacenter environment. Identifies and implements critical metrics necessary to manage and monitor the performance of overall operations including, but not limited to, capacity, availability, budget, and inventory. Oversees all electrical and mechanical infrastructure such as UPS systems, generators, fire suppression systems, BMS, and HVAC systems Has responsibility for meeting established Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Ensures that all work performed within the Datacenter is done to high quality and without impact to any internal/external customers.
• Oversees requirements and delivery of services provided by Operations, Security, and Safety. Drives maximum potential of these functions to provide exceptional services to clients and employees.
• Oversees and supports the level 5 commissioning, operations, and maintenance of all Datacenter mission critical infrastructure in order to achieve 100% availability. Manages Datacenter facility expansion and consolidation.
• Manages, coaches, and develops management team performing Datacenter operations.
• Manages and leads vendor relationship to maintain day to day operations and strategic goals for Datacenter Operations SLA’s and deliverables. Works with current vendor stakeholders and partners to develop and deliver strategic plans. Oversees all Datacenter vendor contracts, streamlining services required and optimizing overall costs.
• Will work closely with all strategic supply chain vendors to ensure Aligned’s lean management strategies and continuous innovation and process improvement are fully implemented.
• Evaluates and mitigates risk on new and existing programs within datacenter program governance.
• Develops opportunities for cross-team effectiveness and remove organizational barriers for strong teamwork, collaboration, and excellent service delivery.
• Drives Aligned’s Sustainability Strategy and creates a program to improve the efficiency of the Datacenter operations.
• Engages in improvement projects, which often requires reaching out to a variety of support teams and driving them from conception to completion.
• Manages budgeting and forecasting, planning, deployment, incident and problem management, change management.
• Maintains documentation and diagrams capturing all essential parameters of Datacenter operations.
• Defines policies, procedures, and standards related to performance, capacity, availability, continuity, and security.
• Creates and delivers presentations to leadership team, company meetings, and conferences.
• Will meet all customer service levels and power utilization efficiency commitments and take an active role in on-going customer interaction. Participate in customer service review discussion and various ad-hoc meetings related to Datacenter management issues.
• Manages customer service orders and remote hand requests.
• Supervise local change management processes including the review and approval of all Method of Procedures (MOPs) for maintenance and one-time/emergency repair events in coordination with onsite personnel, contractors, and customers.
• Ensure compliance with all safety procedures as well as utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations (i.e., fire, evacuation, equipment failure etc.) and any customer concerns.
• Ensures inventory control programs/purchase parts and supplies are maintained.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, requisitions, government agencies and AE directives as relates to building and critical environment operations.
• Operational Roles may also apply as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with 10 years’ experience or minimum of 12-15 years of related experience in lieu of degree.

• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex project documents, AutoCAD, Visio, and PDF documents.

• Ability to project and time manage effectively.

• Ability to develop operational standards, project tracking, and management documents.

• Ability to effectively respond, verbally or written, to sensitive issues, complex inquiries, or complaints.

• Ability to make effective presentations and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

• Requires a high level of commitment to customer service, whether co-workers or clients.

• Requires in-depth knowledge of all applicable rules, laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances in performing data/communications and MEP projects.

• Ability to estimate cost of client installations and other assigned projects. Cost tracking for all projects.

• Knowledge of Purchase Order Requests process and invoice tracking.

• Develops appropriate RFP processes in addition to development of operating and capital budgets.

• Ability to analyze and solve problems involving several options with limited information.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form and to work independently.

• Demonstrate ability to work well under pressure with a proactive approach to unusual occurrences.

• Requires good organizational skills, attention to detail and an openness to new ideas and procedures.

• MSOffice applications. i.e., Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Occasional travel will be required for training and meetings.