Vice President Datacenter Operations

Position Summary

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.

Reporting Structure

Reports To: Executive Vice PresidentOwnership 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
• 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).
• Led Six Sigma Certification.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or wholesale data center environments.