ABOUT SALUTE

Salute is a leading provider of cutting-edge Data Center Infrastructure Services, dedicated to serving data center clients worldwide. We pride ourselves on delivering sustainable solutions, unparalleled reliability, and outstanding customer service. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Site Director - Mission Critical Data Center Operations to join our team and drive operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and critical infrastructure performance at one of our growing mission-critical data center campuses.

LOCATION REQUIREMENT

Candidates must be willing to relocate to, or reside within a reasonable commuting distance of Ellendale, North Dakota, to support onsite operations and leadership responsibilities.

For candidate awareness and transparency, this position may be advertised in multiple cities across the United States; however, the actual work location is Ellendale, North Dakota.

Department: Data Center Critical Facilities Operations
Location: Ellendale, North Dakota
Location Type: Onsite
Direct Reports: Yes
Travel: Up to 10%

The Site Director serves as the senior onsite leader responsible for the operational, technical, financial, and personnel performance of a growing mission-critical data center campus. This role is accountable for ensuring the reliability, maintenance, and performance of all critical facility infrastructure while leading managers and technical teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The Site Director is responsible for ensuring that all electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment within the data center is operating at peak efficiency. This involves both planned preventative maintenance of equipment, daily corrective work, and emergency response to emergent issues.

Reporting to the Vice President, the Site Director acts as the primary operational and technical resource for the site and partners closely with customers, leadership, vendors, and internal stakeholders. This position plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, customer satisfaction, safety, compliance, workforce development, and long-term site success.

The Site Director serves as the principal technical and operational resource for the site, partnering closely with onsite Critical Facility Managers, Critical Facilities Technicians, customers, offsite support teams, and third-party vendors. The role requires direct accountability for the reliability, maintenance, risk management, and performance of mission-critical electrical and mechanical infrastructure, including UPS systems, standby generators, electrical distribution systems, switchgear, utility interfaces, chiller plants, CRAH/CRAC systems, Building Management Systems (BMS), Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms, and related cooling and control systems.

WHAT THE HIRING TEAM IS LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a proven facilities leader with extensive experience operating and managing mission-critical infrastructure within a data center environment.

DIRECT DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Candidates must have direct operational ownership, leadership responsibility, maintenance oversight, reliability accountability, or risk management experience for critical infrastructure systems within a data center or mission-critical environment.

Qualified experience includes responsibility for systems such as:

Electrical Infrastructure

• UPS Systems
• Standby Generators
• Switchgear
• Medium-Voltage Distribution
• Low-Voltage Distribution
• Utility Substations
• Transformers
• ATS/STS Equipment
• Power Distribution Equipment (PDU/PMM)

Mechanical & Cooling Infrastructure

• Chiller Plants
• Air Handling Units
• CRAH Systems
• CRAC Systems
• Mechanical Cooling Systems

Controls & Monitoring Systems

• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
• Facility Monitoring Systems

Critical Support Systems

• Fire/Life Safety Systems
• Preventive Maintenance Programs
• Change Management Programs
• Emergency Operating Procedures

Experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, cloud, enterprise, or other mission-critical facility operators is strongly preferred.

IMPORTANT FIT CONSIDERATIONS

This role requires direct leadership and accountability for mission-critical facility infrastructure. Candidates should have hands-on responsibility for the operation, maintenance, reliability, and risk management of electrical and mechanical systems. Experience focused primarily on adjacent functions, such as IT, construction, project management, telecommunications, networking, fiber infrastructure, rack deployments, hardware lifecycle management, safety leadership, EHS programs, or vendor support, may not meet the requirements without substantial critical facilities ownership experience.

The strongest candidates will demonstrate direct accountability for the operation, maintenance, reliability, performance, and risk management of mission-critical electrical and mechanical systems.

PRIMARY DUTIES

Within varied scope of work and organizational expectations, responsibilities may include:

• Empowering a culture of safety, security, compliance, and transparency in all aspects of data center activities.
• Leading and managing a team of high-performing managers and individual contributors at a data center site and their ongoing talent development.
• Expert level of knowledge with technology and digital tools such as communicating via video, CMMS systems, and BMS systems.
• Financial administration of site activities and staff members, including creating and evaluating budgets, payments, and pay cycles.
• Managing and overseeing data center site services, resources, and deployment across the data center for the client.
• Collaborating and coordinating with multiple internal business groups to ensure the successful delivery of service levels.
• Analyzing production operations and initiating corrective actions to ensure operational stability.
• Initiating and establishing quality standards for the Data Center teams and managing those initiatives through completion.
• Learning, living, and coaching the Salute culture and values. Leading through change and challenge by bringing clarity, generating energy, and delivering success.
• Operating, monitoring, maintaining, and responding to abnormal conditions in facility systems.
• Completing planned and ad hoc preventive maintenance work assignments requiring the skill and direction of several engineering, mechanical, and maintenance trades.
• Conducting periodic inspections of building systems, including HVAC and electrical distribution systems, and maintaining mechanical equipment rooms to ensure clean and safe conditions.
• Responding rapidly to emergency situations, conducting investigations, and managing indoor environmental and air quality concerns.
• Maintaining a complete working knowledge of creating, closing, and tracking work requests (WRs). Initiating or responding to work orders, following up, and verifying completion of work.
• Monitoring performance and noting deficiencies of service contractors while recommending improvements as necessary.
• Managing workload across all shifts and resources, ensuring a balanced approach to work activity, task prioritization, and accomplishment of objectives.
• Partnering with Human Resources regarding shift cycles, workforce deployment, compensation activities, staffing strategies, and related personnel matters.
• Performing other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Estimate cost of client installations.
• Build OPEX and CAPEX budgets and manage/report on their status.
• Analyze and interpret complex project documents such as AutoCAD and Visio.
• Analyze and propose solutions with limited information.
• Interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Apply advanced analytical and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communications skills to effectively respond to sensitive and complex issues.
• Create effective presentations and communicate with both internal and external customers.
• Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service for both coworkers and customers.
• Develop operating and maintenance standards and project tracking/management documents.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable laws and ordinances related to data, communications, and MEP projects.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and coaching to team members.
• Work effectively under pressure with a proactive approach.
• Demonstrate excellent attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a willingness to embrace new ideas and procedures.
• Utilize Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Teams to create presentations, reports, and communications.
• Enhance existing skill sets and organizational capabilities.
• Direct operations, technical, and engineering personnel to ensure established processes and procedures are followed.
• Perform, oversee, and manage periodic audits of Maintenance Operating Procedures (MOPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance with company standards and industry best practices.
• Perform periodic audits of site Change Management activities to ensure documentation accuracy and process compliance.
• Collect and report operating metrics to monitor site performance and efficiency.
• Coordinate major activities among sites and drive outstanding issues through resolution.
• Support development of client improvement initiatives, including cost estimates, savings opportunities, and implementation strategies.
• Develop operating standards, processes, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Review engineering drawings and perform site surveys to identify mechanical, electrical, and control systems and facility operating characteristics.
• Manage relationships with customers, property management teams, internal stakeholders, and external partners as required.

EXPECTATIONS

Successful candidates will:

• Maintain the highest standards of safety and compliance.
• Drive operational excellence and infrastructure reliability.
• Lead with accountability and integrity.
• Develop and retain high-performing teams.
• Communicate effectively with customers, leadership, vendors, and employees.
• Demonstrate strong judgment during normal operations and emergency situations.
• Successfully balance strategic objectives with day-to-day operational demands.
• Promote collaboration across departments and business units.
• Support and model Salute's values through leadership and decision-making.

KEY SKILLS

Leadership & Business Competencies

• Strategic Planning
• Team Development & Coaching
• Change Management
• Budget Management
• Project Management
• Organizational Development
• Vendor Management
• Customer Relationship Management
• Executive Communication

Technical Competencies

• Critical Facilities Operations
• Electrical Distribution Systems
• UPS Systems
• Generator Systems
• Switchgear and Transformer Systems
• HVAC and Chilled Water Systems
• CRAH/CRAC Systems
• BMS Platforms
• DCIM Platforms
• Reliability & Risk Management
• Fire/Life Safety Systems

Technology Proficiencies

• CMMS Platforms
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Teams
• AutoCAD (Preferred)
• Microsoft Visio (Preferred)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and directly related experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in critical facilities, mission-critical operations, or data center infrastructure environments.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience within a data center environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing managers and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Direct operational responsibility for critical facility infrastructure systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, leadership, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience supporting hyperscale, colocation, cloud, enterprise, or mission-critical facility operators is strongly preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to climb ladders and multiple flights of stairs.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach during equipment-related activities.
• Ability to respond quickly during emergency situations.
• Ability to work in various indoor and outdoor environments.
• Ability to work in elevated-noise environments while wearing appropriate PPE.
• Ability to distinguish color-coded warning indicators, cables, and equipment.
• Possession of a valid driver's license for business-related travel.

If you are a motivated and results-driven individual with a passion for data center services and a knack for building strong client relationships, we want to hear from you. Join us in revolutionizing the data center industry and apply today!

Salute is an equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity, creating an inclusive environment for all employees, and providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants; if you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our Human Resources department at hr@salute.com for more information. (For recruiting specific questions, please contact recruiting@salute.com)

Compensation & Benefits Disclosure

The base pay range for this role is $185,000 - $200,000. This reflects a good‑faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to pay upon hire, based on factors such as skills, experience, education, and market/location. Our comprehensive benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA), gym discount, mental health, Discounted Group Life & AD&D, Discounted Group Short & Long-term Disability, 401(k) retirement matching, PTO/paid holidays, and parental leave. Final compensation will be determined by job-related factors consistent with applicable law.

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