Vice President of Data Center Operations

Vice President of Data Center Operations

The Vice President of Data Center Operations is a senior executive leadership position responsible for the strategic direction, operational excellence, financial performance, regulatory compliance, and overall management of multiple data center facilities throughout Virginia. This role provides executive oversight for data center operations in Ashburn, Herndon and Chantilly, Virginia, ensuring consistent execution of operational standards, customer satisfaction, infrastructure reliability, personnel development, and business growth initiatives.

The Vice President of Data Center Operations serves as the direct supervisor of all Facility Managers and is responsible for aligning operational objectives with corporate goals established by executive leadership. This position reports directly to the Executive Vice President and Ownership Group.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in mission-critical facilities, data center management, infrastructure operations, personnel leadership, budgeting, compliance, and vendor management.

Reporting Structure

Reports To:

• Executive Vice President
• Ownership Group

Direct Reports:

• Facility Managers (Ashburn, VA)
• Facility Managers (Hermitage, VA)
• Facility Managers (Chantilly, VA)
• Regional Operations Personnel
• Facilities Engineering Leadership
• Operations Support Staff (as assigned)

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operations Management

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for all operational activities across multiple data center facilities.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that align with organizational growth objectives.
• Establish and enforce company-wide operational standards, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reliability, efficiency, scalability, and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure consistency of operational execution across all facilities.
• Lead long-term capacity planning, infrastructure planning, and facility growth initiatives.
• Participate in executive planning meetings and strategic business development efforts.

Facility Oversight

• Directly manage and mentor Facility Managers responsible for daily operations.
• Conduct regular operational reviews and site assessments.
• Monitor facility performance metrics, uptime statistics, service delivery standards, and operational KPIs.
• Ensure all facilities maintain mission-critical operational readiness.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs and infrastructure lifecycle management.
• Support commissioning, expansion, and modernization projects.

Financial Management & Budget Oversight

• Develop, review, approve, and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Analyze financial performance and operational expenditures across all facilities.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and operational efficiency.
• Review and approve major expenditures, procurement requests, and capital projects.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on financial forecasting and strategic planning.
• Ensure budget adherence and financial accountability throughout all locations.

Compliance, Risk Management & Governance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and industry regulations.
• Maintain adherence to operational standards, building codes, electrical codes, fire and life safety requirements, environmental regulations, and industry best practices.
• Oversee compliance efforts related to:
• SOC Audits
• ISO Standards
• Customer Compliance Requirements
• OSHA Requirements
• Environmental and Sustainability Programs
• Lead risk assessment initiatives and business continuity planning.
• Oversee disaster recovery, emergency response, and incident management programs.

Vendor & Contractor Management

• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key vendors, suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
• Negotiate contracts, service agreements, and vendor partnerships.
• Evaluate vendor performance and service-level compliance.
• Approve contractor engagement and project execution plans.
• Ensure third-party providers meet operational, security, and compliance requirements.

Infrastructure & Critical Systems Oversight

• Maintain executive oversight of critical infrastructure systems including:
• Electrical Distribution Systems
• UPS Systems
• Generators
• Switchgear
• Chillers
• Cooling Infrastructure
• Building Management Systems (Client)
• Security Systems
• Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
• Structured Cabling Infrastructure
• Ensure all critical systems operate within required service levels and uptime expectations.
• Support infrastructure expansion and modernization initiatives.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing operations teams.
• Establish leadership development programs for Facility Managers and technical personnel.
• Conduct performance evaluations and succession planning activities.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, professionalism, and operational excellence.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and retention initiatives.

Customer & Executive Engagement

• Serve as the senior operational representative for key customers and stakeholders.
• Participate in executive customer meetings and facility tours.
• Address escalated operational issues and customer concerns.
• Provide executive-level reporting to ownership and leadership teams.
• Present operational performance metrics, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.

Document Review & Executive Approvals

• Review and approve operational documentation requiring executive authorization.
• Evaluate facility-level requests, expenditures, policy changes, and project proposals.
• Ensure operational decisions align with company standards and strategic objectives.
• Provide final operational signoff for major projects, initiatives, and facility changes.

Safety & Security Leadership

• Promote and enforce a culture of safety across all facilities.
• Ensure compliance with workplace safety policies and procedures.
• Oversee physical security standards and operational security practices.
• Lead incident response efforts for major facility events or emergencies.
• Support emergency preparedness and crisis management programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Information Technology, Facilities Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within data center operations, mission-critical facilities, or related infrastructure environments.
• 5+ years of senior management or executive leadership experience.
• Proven experience managing multiple facilities and geographically distributed teams.
• Strong financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning experience.
• Extensive knowledge of mission-critical infrastructure systems.
• Experience with regulatory compliance and operational audits.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel regularly between Virginia facilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Engineering, or related field.
• Uptime Institute Certifications.
• Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP).
• Data Center Certified Associate/Professional Certifications.
• Project Management Professional (PMP).
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM).
• Lean Six Sigma Certification.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or wholesale data center environments.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Data Center Uptime Performance
• Budget Performance and Cost Management
• Operational Efficiency Metrics
• Customer Satisfaction Scores
• Audit and Compliance Results
• Safety Incident Rates
• Infrastructure Reliability Metrics
• Employee Retention and Development Metrics
• Preventative Maintenance Completion Rates
• Capital Project Completion Performance

Core Competencies

• Executive Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Multi-Site Operations Management
• Financial Acumen
• Vendor Negotiation
• Risk Management
• Regulatory Compliance
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