Manager, Critical Operations

QTS Realty Trust; Fayetteville (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Volunteer days

Tuition assistance

Parental leave

Stock purchase plan

Job summary

QTS Realty Trust is seeking a Manager, Critical Operations to lead the data center facility technical strategy, improve operations, and support electrical, mechanical, and life-safety systems. This on-site role requires managing 24x7x365 operations and directing teams on preventative and corrective maintenance across critical equipment.

The role collaborates with the Engineering Manager on daily needs, oversees budgeting and continuous improvement initiatives, and ensures regulatory compliance

Qualifications

• Five or more years workplace or professional equivalent experience.
• Five or more years people leadership experience in a data center environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain facility policies and procedures in line with senior management and laws.
• Develop maintenance governance and ensure 100% uptime of mechanical/electrical/life safety systems.
• Manage budgets and capital projects for cost control and safety.
• Lead maintenance teams; oversee safety compliance and incident response.
• Coordinate with other teams to support customer environments and audits.

Skills

Leadership

DC operations

Regulatory compliance

Energy efficiency

Incident management

Vendor management

Tools

DCIM software

Electrical systems

Job description

Who we are: As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.

The Manager, Critical Operations is responsible for the Data Center facility technical strategy, continuous improvement, and development support. This role will support the electrical, mechanical, FLS (Fire, Life, Safety), and DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure management) platforms, and building and housekeeping items from a site operations standpoint. This role will collaborate with the Engineering Manager on technical operations and daily facility needs. This role will own the strategic projects and continuous improvement site items. This leader should have experience with mechanical and electrical data center infrastructure, codes, regulations, required and applied safety standards and practices, as well as data center remote hands and customer support. This role will oversee the teams who perform preventative and corrective maintenance on critical mechanical and electrical equipment. This role will suggest, plan, and implement measures that increase the energy efficiency of the facility. This role requires on-site work hours to support a 24X7X365 data centre environment and is not eligible for remote and/or hybrid work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned. Maintain, establish, and implement facility policies, procedures and organizational structure within the boundaries established by senior management team and corporate policy while ensuring no contradiction in federal, state, and local operating regulations or laws. Develop and maintain efficient maintenance matrixed operations utilizing maintenance governance, standards utilizing in‑house staffing and vendor support to provide 100% up‑time of all mechanical, electrical, life safety, monitoring, and control systems. This includes, but is not limited to, developing, and coordinating maintenance agreements, maintenance procedures, testing procedures, inspections, reporting, and accounting practices. Development of emergency response planning, response management and reporting of incident and emergency situations for all mechanical, electrical, associated controls and plumbing systems. Develop, direct, and monitor short‑term and long‑range business plans consistent with overall profit and growth objectives of the company that establishes operations standards for cost control, waste reduction, quality, safety, and an environmentally friendly community partner. Manage and oversee the execution of building and site cleanliness and preservation operations. Development and management of an effective operating and capital budget. Oversee operations budget to ensure compliance with organizational expenditure requirements. Partner with Development, Sales, Implementation, and Solutions Engineers to deploy and maintain customer environments. Conduct Sales and Customer tours and audits. Ensure the pro‑active delivery of corporate services support, power services, COT (Critical Operations Technicians) headcount projections, planning, budgeting, capital projects, maintenance, and business continuity/disaster recovery. Help negotiate improvement project contracts as needed on leased and owned real estate. Confer with professional operations staff subject matter experts (SME’s) to find resolution to operational problems, develop and authorize operational procedures and approve all major estimates. Utilize comparative evaluations between mechanical, electrical, and controls systems performance and key performance indicators to monitor the effectiveness of operational programs through benchmarking and the utilization of best practices. Ensure facilities’ mechanical, electrical, controls, monitoring, and fire‑life safety systems compliance with all governmental regulatory operating guidelines. Obtain and keep current all necessary licenses, permits and certifications as required. Supervise, train, develop and coach employees. Works with direct reports to establish performance goals, monitors progress, and advises on ways to enhance their professional development and success. Facilitate Data Center space and cable plant design, implementation, and maintenance. Ensure teams performing equipment installs, managing tickets, communicating, completing tasks pertaining to computer hardware and/or software, and all incidents are resolved in a timely manner.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Five or more years workplace or professional equivalent experience.
• Five or more years people leadership experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Seven or more years data center environment or professional equivalent experience.
• Five or more years people leadership experience in a data center environment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Exceptional customer service.
• Ability to analyze the operation of various systems, determine the cause of any problems or malfunctions and take corrective action as required.
• Ability to manage complex situations during off management hours - single point of contact.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively lead a team environment.
• The ability to acquire and apply job‑related knowledge within set guidelines and expectations.
• Position may involve frequent typing, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, bending, reaching and lifting.
• Lifting requirements may range from 10 lbs. - 50 lbs. on a regular basis, with heavier weights done in conjunction with other individuals or lifting aids.

TOTAL REWARDS

• medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• flexible spending and HSA accounts
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• paid volunteer days
• employee assistance program
• tuition assistance
• parental leave
• military leave assistance
• QTS scholarship for dependents
• wellness program, and other company benefits

This role may be bonus and equity eligible.

• Roth and Traditional 401(k) matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Every employee is bonus or commission eligible
• Generous PTO
• Paid Volunteer Days
• Plus Floating Holidays
• Stock Purchase Plan (SPP)
• 11 paid Holidays Annually/Holiday compensation when worked
• Pet and Legal Insurance
• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program
• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program
• Parental Leave
• Military Benefits Package
• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program
• QTS Scholarship for Employee Dependents
• QTS Crisis Fund Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

QTS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Learn more: Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim. The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here: Know Your Rights (English) Know Your Rights (Spanish) The pay transparency policy is available here: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.