Director, Solutions Data Centers

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Oversee solution architecture for data center Integrated Facility Management (IFM) initiatives, encompassing new business opportunities, expansions, renewals, and rebids across single-site, regional, and global portfolios.

• Convert client needs, RFIs/RFPs/RFQs, SLAs, KPIs, MOPs/SOPs, uptime standards, and criticality classifications into operational frameworks.

• Create labor models, organizational charts, span-of-control models, and scope matrices that support pricing strategies.

• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, HR, Talent Acquisition, Procurement, Finance, EHS, Sustainability, Legal, and Technology to develop comprehensive solutions.

• Draft and coordinate technical responses, staffing plans, mobilization and transition strategies, technology stacks, governance models, risk registers, and schedules for assumptions and exclusions.

• Facilitate solution workshops, site visits, due diligence assessments, and client presentations; articulate and defend engineering and facilities management methodologies.

• Perform win/loss analyses and enhance solution assets, benchmark libraries, and pricing templates.

• Preserve reusable components for data center solutions, including role profiles, coverage models, PM libraries, scope matrices, and benchmark staffing ratios.

• Design operating models for critical facilities engineering, incorporating on-site teams, 24x7x365 coverage, on-call and escalation frameworks, remote operations center integration, and vendor-supported models.

• Formulate maintenance programs for essential electrical, mechanical, cooling, controls, fire-life-safety, and building-envelope systems.

• Establish engineering technology strategies involving CMMS/EAM, asset hierarchy, BMS/EPMS integration, remote monitoring, analytics, digital twins, and reliability reporting.

• Assess engineering solutions in terms of headcount, overtime, shift differentials, tools, testing equipment, PPE, training, spare parts, and subcontracted specialist services.

• Develop staffing models for sites and portfolios, addressing role distribution, FTE counts, shift patterns, relief factors, absence coverage, and overtime projections.

• Specify qualification and licensure matrices based on jurisdictional requirements.

• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition on recruitment ramp plans, sourcing strategies, pipeline development, hiring sequences, contingencies, and contractor transition strategies.

• Compare engineering ratios against internal and industry benchmarks and clarify any discrepancies.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Facilities/Construction Management, or a similar technical field; equivalent military or trade-progression experience will also be considered.

• Over 10 years of experience in facilities management, critical facilities operations, or engineering services, with at least 5 years of direct responsibility in data center or mission-critical environments.

• More than 5 years of experience in facilities management solutions development, bid management, or a senior operational role with direct accountability for staffing models and cost structures.

• Proven experience in developing critical facilities engineering staffing models and effectively defending them to advanced technical clients.

• Strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical distribution and redundancy topologies (N+1, 2N, 2N+1), UPS and generator systems, mechanical cooling (including liquid cooling), BMS/EPMS, and fire life safety systems.

• Proficiency in FM commercial models, SLA/KPI frameworks, and pricing mechanisms; advanced Excel modeling skills are essential.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; capable of creating a technical solution narrative and presenting it to both C-suite and engineering stakeholders.

• Ability and willingness to travel domestically (typically 25-30% of the time).

• Experience working with hyperscale, colocation, or AI/HPC clients and their operational requirements.

• Relevant certifications such as PE, CEM, CFM, ATD/ATS (Uptime Institute), CDCP/CDCS, PMP, LEED AP, or NFPA 70E.

• Familiarity with union environments and prevailing wage standards.

• Experience in global or multi-regional portfolio solution development.

• Prior experience with major CMMS/IWMS platforms and asset data standardization practices.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health insurance

• Vision insurance

• Dental insurance

• Flexible spending accounts

• Health savings accounts

• Retirement savings plans

• Life insurance

• Disability insurance

• Paid time away from work

• Unpaid time away from work

• Competitive pay