Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Job Type: Full-Time | Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Department: Engineering | Reporting to: Global Director, Asset Management and Operational Excellence | Work Location Type: #hybrid IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC. Reporting to the Global Director, Asset Management & Operational Excellence, the Associate Director, Operational Excellence & Compliance owns the operating standards, performance governance and operational readiness program across IREN’s data centre portfolio. The role leads the Operational Excellence & Compliance pillar, growing from a team of one to a multi-site team of Operational Readiness & Compliance Leads as the portfolio expands. It works with site operations teams to optimize asset and system performance, owns operational readiness including the transition from construction and commissioning into steady-state operations, and defines the competencies needed to scale reliably. The pillar is the operate side’s technical accountability for readiness: it sits on the receiving side of the commissioning gate, not inside the organization handing over. With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.

Job requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline (Engineering, Technical Studies, or equivalent), with relevant certifications or technical leadership training considered an asset.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in critical infrastructure or mission-critical operations with multi-site scope, preferably within hyperscale, colocation, or large-scale industrial environments.
• Demonstrated experience building and owning KPI tracking, audit frameworks, or operational governance processes across multiple sites.
• Experience operating across the construction-to-operations boundary, including facility onboarding and commissioning handover, with accountability for the acceptance decision.
• Demonstrated progression from hands-on site-level execution to leadership of operational governance or process improvement, including leading a team.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead through functional direction without direct line authority across site teams.
• Sound technical judgment and the ability to hold technical accountability (approve standards and deviations) while aligning with enterprise standards.

Job responsibilities

• Own the operating standards suite (SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, maintenance playbooks and technical documentation) across IREN’s data center portfolio, setting the standard method for maintenance effectiveness, work execution and operational planning and assuring it is followed.
• Lead the operational audit and assurance program: set the audit framework, direct reviews of site adherence to company and customer requirements and hold sites to corrective action closure.
• Own the performance framework, KPIs and stewardship process, including dashboards for maintenance completion, work order resolution and labor efficiency, that give leadership visibility and drive decisions as the portfolio scales
• Own the reporting partnership with the integrated operations center and the data model the KPIs read from.
• Own operational readiness for the transition from construction and commissioning into live operations: set the readiness protocol (Level 1 to Level 5), accept handover from the construction and commissioning organization on behalf of Operations and hold the acceptance gate at each level, and lead the Operational Readiness & Compliance Leads deployed to each new site through ramp-up and stabilization.
• Set the operating parameters, guardrails and risk-based limits that protect asset health and lead the business case for bringing select maintenance and operational functions in-house where it improves cost or reliability.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives affecting site readiness, scalability and operational performance, and shape the operating model, systems and practices that support growth.
• Define the competencies required to operate and maintain assets to IREN’s operating standards; support Operations and HSSE in building the training and exercise programs against them.
• Hold technical authority for the operating standards, readiness protocol and operational management of change: approve standards and deviations within them, reduce approval timelines while strengthening audit and compliance readiness, and elevate enterprise-level deviations to the Global Director.
• Own the lessons-learned system and the operational governance framework for the portfolio, institutionalizing consistency and repeatability globally.
• Act as the senior interface between site operations, the commissioning organization and corporate operational excellence, accountable for organizational readiness across the business and serving as the commissioning-to-operations liaison.

Compensation

• Actual compensation will bedeterminedbased on factors such as experience, qualifications, and market data for the region.
• Total Compensation packagemay beinclusive of short-term and long-term incentives.
• Relocation (as applicable and based on successful candidate circumstances)

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage – 100% company paid for employees, 75% company paid coverage for dependents
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Voluntary life, critical illness, and accident coverage available
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – when combined with theHigh-DeductibleHealth Plan
• Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources

Financial Well-Being

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Financial wellness tools and resources

Time Off & Flexibility

• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

Growth & Development

• Opportunities for advancement and internal mobility
• Training and personal development opportunities

Lifestyle & Culture

• Company events and team-building activities

We value diverse perspectives and believe that skills can be developed. If you’re passionate about this role, we want to hear from you — whether you meet every criteria or not. Your unique experiences might be exactly what we need! IE US Operations Inc., the employing entity and proud member of the IREN group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating an inclusive workplace.

We are committed to evaluating qualified applicants and do not discriminate against protected characteristics under applicable legislation.

We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. E-Verify Participation Notice.

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