Senior Director, Operations Engineering – Strategic Initiatives

Vantage Data Centers

. Set the strategic decision approach for Enterprise Operational Excellence .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $205,000 - $220,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in strategic planning, operational excellence, and decision-support approaches, with a strong focus on data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration. Proven ability to influence executive decisions and shape consequential portfolio strategies in mission-critical environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Strategic PlanningOperational ExcellenceData Center EngineeringExecutive-Level RecommendationsCross-Functional Decision-Making

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Operational StrategyBusiness OperationsPerformance IndicatorsAnalytical InsightRisk ManagementInvestment EvaluationCapability RequirementsOperational ReadinessIncident LearningPortfolio Management

Soft Skills

Exceptional Written CommunicationExecutive PresentationFacilitationStructured Problem-SolvingInfluencing Without Authority

Tools & Technologies

BMSEPMSSCADADCIMCMMSServiceNowPower BITelemetryOperational EvidenceAI-Enabled Decision-Support

Certifications & Qualifications

PMPPgMPLeanSix SigmaITIL

Industry Keywords

Mission-Critical OperationsHigh-Availability EnvironmentHyperscaleWholesale ColocationCloud InfrastructureCapital-Intensive Operating EnvironmentGeographically Distributed Data CenterOperational AutomationPredictive AnalyticsDigital Commissioning

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudPMPServiceNow

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Set the strategic decision approach for Enterprise Operational Excellence
Establish strategic planning and decision-support approaches translating priorities into portfolio choices, capability requirements, investment recommendations, operating implications, and measurable outcomes
Advise the SVP on the importance and sequencing of opportunities and risks
Maintain an integrated view of consequential initiatives and dependencies
Define criteria for assessing strategic opportunities, including value, alternatives, resources, operational consequences, dependencies, risks, and success conditions
Connect operating experience, engineering insight, incident learning, customer requirements, growth plans, financial considerations, workforce capability, and partner performance
Frame scenarios, business cases, and recommendations on capability investments, operating models, engineering priorities, and strategic partner approaches
Challenge assumptions and clarify tradeoffs affecting portfolio reliability, readiness, and scalability
Present significant decisions to senior-leadership forums with recommendations and rationale
Define operational questions, evidence, indicators, risk signals, and performance measures supporting strategic choices
Establish expectations for using operational evidence in planning, investment evaluation, performance reviews, and value realization
Partner with Data Strategy, Technology, Engineering, and Operations on telemetry, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled insight
Evaluate whether major initiatives and investments achieved intended operational and business outcomes
Clarify capabilities, decision rights, organizational interfaces, standards, resources, and leadership actions needed to implement strategic choices
Identify barriers to adoption or sustainment and recommend responses
Provide strategic direction to accountable program, technical, and functional leaders without assuming delivery responsibilities
Create reusable decision tools and approaches for the North American portfolio
Advise the SVP and senior leaders on complex operations engineering, reliability, readiness, technical risk, investment, and portfolio matters
Represent North America operational requirements in enterprise, global, customer, vendor, and strategic-partner discussions
Build alignment across EOE, operations, engineering, technology, finance, procurement, people and culture, and other functions
Guide colleagues in structured problem-solving, business judgment, and executive decision-making
Demonstrate and promote Vantage Values of Trust, Accountability, Respect, and Agility

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Finance, Information Systems, Program Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience
Twelve or more years of progressive experience across mission-critical operations, data center engineering, operational strategy, business operations, enterprise transformation, strategic planning, or an adjacent discipline
Substantial operational, engineering, or program leadership experience in mission-critical data centers or a comparable high-availability, critical-infrastructure environment
Broad understanding of critical environments, including electrical and mechanical infrastructure, controls and monitoring, operational risk, maintenance and lifecycle practices, incident learning, reliability, and operational readiness
Demonstrated experience shaping consequential, cross-functional portfolio decisions
Experience establishing strategic planning, initiative-evaluation, decision-support, or value-realization approaches adopted across a complex organization
Experience developing executive-level recommendations on investments, capabilities, operating models, risk, and partner strategy
Ability to use telemetry, operational evidence, performance indicators, and analytical insight
Strong business and financial judgment
Experience shaping strategic vendor and partner approaches
Proven ability to influence executive and cross-functional decisions without direct authority
Exceptional written communication, executive presentation, facilitation, and structured problem-solving capabilities
Advanced degree preferred
Experience in hyperscale, wholesale colocation, cloud infrastructure, utilities, advanced manufacturing, or another capital-intensive operating environment preferred
Experience supporting a geographically distributed, multi-site data center or critical-infrastructure portfolio preferred
Working knowledge of BMS, EPMS, SCADA, DCIM, CMMS, ServiceNow, Power BI, or comparable operational and data platforms preferred
Experience shaping observability, predictive analytics, operational automation, digital commissioning, or AI-enabled decision-support strategies preferred
PMP, PgMP, Lean, Six Sigma, ITIL, reliability, data center, or comparable professional certification preferred
Ability to operate effectively in office, remote, and active data center environments
Ability to occasionally stand, walk, sit, use stairs, stoop, kneel, wear required personal protective equipment, and lift or move up to 25 pounds
Willingness to travel to campuses, offices, partner locations, and business meetings up to 25%, potentially increasing over time

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Life and AD&D coverage
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Paid time off
Employee assistance program
401(k) program with company match
Additional voluntary benefits
Above-market total compensation package
Recognition, training, and development opportunities
Paid leave benefits
Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities