Director Data Center Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: Site Director - Mission Critical Data Center Operations Ellendale, North Dakota | Onsite Leadership Role **Sign-On Bonus Available***Relocation Assistance Available for Qualified Candidates JOB DESCRIPTION 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 OperationsLocation: Ellendale, North DakotaLocation Type: OnsiteDirect Reports: YesTravel: Up to 10% SALUTE BENEFITS THAT PUT YOU FIRST We know life doesn't stop when work begins; that's why we offer perks designed to support your well-being, your family, and your future: Time to RechargeEnjoy 8 company-paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, and Paid Time Off (PTO) so you can rest, celebrate, and take care of what matters most. Comprehensive Benefits PackageMedical, Dental, and Vision coverage with Day One enrollment eligibility.Coverage begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment. Peace of MindOur Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all employees, even if you do not participate in the benefits program. Your Financial Future MattersEmployer-supported 401(k) with immediate 100% vesting.3% employer match plus a 50% match on the next 2% contributed. Wellness SupportHealth Savings Account (HSA) optionsMental health resourcesGym membership discounts Extra Protection & PerksLegal servicesHome and auto insurancePet insuranceIdentity theft protection Additional IncentivesSign-On Bonus AvailableRelocation Assistance Available for Qualified Candidates POSITION SUMMARY 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 who can successfully operate and grow a mission-critical data center environment, build and scale an organization beyond 100 employees, lead managers and technical teams, and understand the operational risks associated with UPS systems, generators, electrical distribution systems, and critical cooling infrastructure. The ideal candidate will be an experienced data center leader with direct responsibility for mission-critical infrastructure and operations. This individual must have demonstrated success leading teams, managing customer-facing operations, and overseeing the reliability, maintenance, performance, and risk management of complex electrical and mechanical facility systems. Candidates should possess a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in critical facilities operations, mission-critical environments, or data center infrastructure, including at least 3 years in a data center leadership role. The successful candidate will bring:Demonstrated success leading managers, supervisors, and technical teams.Experience scaling teams and supporting large operational organizations.Strong customer-facing leadership experience.Experience managing operating budgets, capital expenditures, and site performance metrics.Direct responsibility for the operation, maintenance, reliability, and risk management of critical facility systems.Experience driving safety, operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.Strong judgment and decision-making skills in both routine and emergency operating conditions.The ability to balance strategic leadership responsibilities with day-to-day operational oversight. 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 InfrastructureUPS SystemsStandby GeneratorsSwitchgearMedium-Voltage DistributionLow-Voltage DistributionUtility SubstationsTransformersATS/STS EquipmentPower Distribution Equipment (PDU/PMM) Mechanical & Cooling InfrastructureChiller PlantsAir Handling UnitsCRAH SystemsCRAC SystemsMechanical Cooling Systems Controls & Monitoring SystemsBuilding Management Systems (BMS)Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)Facility Monitoring Systems Critical Support SystemsFire/Life Safety SystemsPreventive Maintenance ProgramsChange Management ProgramsEmergency 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 ACCOUNTABILITIESManage 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 CompetenciesStrategic PlanningTeam Development & CoachingChange ManagementBudget ManagementProject ManagementOrganizational DevelopmentVendor ManagementCustomer Relationship ManagementExecutive Communication Technical CompetenciesCritical Facilities OperationsElectrical Distribution SystemsUPS SystemsGenerator SystemsSwitchgear and Transformer SystemsHVAC and Chilled Water SystemsCRAH/CRAC SystemsBMS PlatformsDCIM PlatformsReliability & Risk ManagementFire/Life Safety Systems Technology ProficienciesCMMS PlatformsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft TeamsAutoCAD (Preferred)Microsoft Visio (Preferred) REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSBachelor'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 REQUI