Who are we?
Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, operating over 250 data centers across the globe. Digital leaders harness Equinix's trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.
Joining our operations team means that you will be at the forefront of all we do, maintaining critical facilities infrastructure as part of a close-knit team delivering best-in-class service to our data center customers. We embrace diversity in thought and contribution and are committed to providing an equitable work environment that is foundational to our core values as a company and is vital to our success.
Strategic Operations Director
Job Description Summary
Anticipates high-impact issues and leads development of strategies for mitigating. Collaborates with global leaders to develop and implement operational strategy and systems roadmap, and forecasts global operational training needs and documentation strategy.
Job Description
The Cross Functional Leader is the IBX Operations leader reporting to the Country/Sub-Regional IBX Ops Senior Leader, and working with key stakeholders to define, plan, monitor, support and train site engineering and technician related operational excellence in service to the IBX site operations team and customers. Working with the Country/Sub-Regional IBX Ops department leaders, they are responsible for budget oversight, asset management, site focused training and QAQC, security operations, sub-regional engineering review and leading a team to deliver the highest possible operational standards across the sub-region and compliance to global standards.
Main responsibilities and accountabilities of the role:
Team Management
Leads teams of managers across multiple disciplines providing strategic guidance and direction to drive team results.
Partners with IBX Site Operations, IBX Ops Project Management, IBX Ops Compliance and Global Design & Construction, along with other relevant stakeholders to lead, manage and deliver infrastructure operational excellence, site engineering & technician process control, OPEX budget oversight, asset management and sub-regional level engineering reviews.
Leads by example, creating a supportive, team driven environment encouraging growth and opportunity.
Recruits, retains, develops, coaches and leads personnel in multiple cross-regional or country IBX locations.
Engineering Support (e.g. Controls)
UK/Campus level engineering reviews (e.g. change control) and risk mitigation (e.g. Controls, Electrical, Mechanical, DCIM / IT Systems).
Oversees installation, maintenance and repair on control systems and recommends system level enhancements.
Review and involvement in new IBX builds and expansions, supporting and partnering with Global Design and Construction as well as the IBX Ops site leads
Coordinates with Operations team to perform asset management / Maximo administration.
Budgeting /Expense Analysis /Purchasing
Leads financial activities, including budget generation and ongoing forecasts, purchase decision evaluation, fund reallocation, and due diligence throughout the organization’s headcount, capital and expense purview.
Proactively identifies & accounts for any budget variances. Focuses on financial reporting and analysis of Capital Expenditures (Project and Customer Facing) and Operating Expenses (including R&M).
Collaborates with IBX Operations to create Purchase Requisitions, validates PR accuracy and completeness, secures approvals, and coordinates contractual obligations with Legal.
Leads multi-IBX / Country maintenance contracts.
Facilities Services
Concierge
Accountable for creating a customer-centric experience for customers entering an IBX facility through in person and onsite customer service activities
This includes coordinating access enrolments, entering work visits tickets, fast pass enrolment, scheduling conference rooms, and tracking customer inquiries and issues to resolution.
Oversees the execution of various administrative tasks, managing IBX work queues, tracking uniform distribution to employees, completes basic reporting and ensures the customer areas are well maintained
Operations Support
Provides Training for Operational policies and procedures. SME for technical and policy issues.
Utilizes site/quality audits and develops curriculum to provide training to drive global consistency and risk mitigation.
Coordinates and plans technical training for operational excellence.
Is accountable for Siebel support, Network Infrastructure Engineering, and Reporting/Administration.
Leads teams managing inventory, purchases orders and contracts related to site upkeep and site amenities.
Security Operations
Reviews and recommends system level enhancements.
Monitors security vendors to ensure the adherence to Equinix policies and procedures to provide a consistent customer experience across all sites.
Collaborates with regional and Global Security to ensure requirements for access and surveillance are met.
Leadership characteristics of the role:
Knowledge and Experience
10-12 years of increasingly responsible Financial Planning & Analysis experience with a focus on Operational expenses.
Data Centre experience preferred, critical facility operations experience within a manufacturing or other capital-intensive operation also helpful.
High level knowledge related to physical security, control systems, and network infrastructure. Demonstrates high understanding of technical systems of critical infrastructure environment.
Ability to navigate complex situations with a calm, professional approach including conflict resolution combined in communicating with Equinix employees, customers and vendors.
Negotiation skills combined with purchasing and/or accounts payable experience helpful.
Deep subject matter expertise required across multiple areas –dynamic and skilled up and down various areas (Finance, Operations, Controls, etc)
Skills and Attributes
Strategic thinking with a strong stakeholder management
Creates a culture of openness and information sharing. Builds consensus via shared decision-making. Builds trust through regular, open, and honest communication. Always delivers bad news quickly and tactfully and follows up with suggested remediation. Speaks persuasively and with authority, using facts and metrics. Creates a work environment based on inclusiveness, welcoming others’ suggestions and points of view.
Experienced and skilled leader utilizing a collaborative approach to deliver exceptional results. Keeps the big picture in mind and develops strategies to drive continuous improvement.
Experience in employee escalation resolution
Proven leader who can manage up and down the org chart and is skilled at leading diverse organizational structures.
Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.
