Director, Policy and Governance (Data Center / Site Operations)

Site Operations Director Policy and Governance

LOCATION: 

Position may be based in St. Louis MO Atlanta GA Dallas TX or Chicago IL

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Site Operations Director Policy and Governance is responsible for establishing implementing and overseeing operational policies procedures and governance standards across all physical data center sites. This role ensures consistent secure and compliant sitelevel operations aligning with organizational goals industry regulations and customer expectations. The position partners with regional site leaders facilities teams and compliance functions to enforce operational excellence and reduce risk across all locations.

• Policy & Procedure Leadership:
  • Develop and maintain standardized operational policies and sitelevel procedures across all data center facilities.
  • Ensure consistent application of physical security maintenance protocols access control and critical infrastructure management.
  • Create and maintain global standards for sitelevel operations including preventive maintenance change management and emergency procedures.
  • Ensure operational documentation (SOPs MOPs EOPs) is uptodate consistent and enforced across all sites.
  • Establish policies that support corporate sustainability targets including energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction.
• Governance & Compliance:
  • Establish and monitor governance frameworks for site operations including audits inspections and performance reviews.
  • Drive compliance with internal standards and external regulatory requirements (e.g. ISO 27001 SOC 2 PCIDSS Uptime Institute).
  • Coordinate readiness for external audits and certifications.
  • Lead internal control audits across data center sites; track findings remediation efforts and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to interpret and implement global regulatory requirements at the site level.
  • Ensure physical and operational compliance with environmental health and safety (EHS) data privacy and security standards.
  • Oversee governance of critical systems such as cooling power and fire suppression ensuring performance thresholds and lifecycle standards are maintained.
  • Define escalation protocols and root cause analysis (RCA) procedures for sitelevel incidents or anomalies.
• Operational Oversight & Risk Management:
  • Lead risk assessments and incident management protocols across data center sites.
  • Ensure operational resilience uptime and continuity plans are documented tested and aligned with enterprise risk strategies.
  • Oversee reporting of key operational metrics (SLAs MTTR PUE etc.) and noncompliance events.
  • Conduct regular operational assessments including readiness drills gap analyses and bestpractice benchmarking against industry standards.
  • Drive consistency and excellence in site operation KPIs across regions (e.g. uptime PUE maintenance schedule adherence).
  • Lead postincident reviews (PIRs) for major site disruptions and ensure lessons learned are integrated into policy updates.
  • Oversee regional disaster recovery and emergency response plans ensuring all site teams are properly trained and equipped.
• Training & Culture:
  • Implement a global training and certification program for site operations teams on standard operating procedures and emergency response.
  • Foster a culture of accountability safety and operational excellence at each site.
• Stakeholder Collaboration:
  • Serve as a central point of coordination between site operations teams compliance facilities security and senior leadership.
  • Support strategic initiatives related to sustainability capacity planning and ESG reporting from an operational standpoint.
• Vendor & Contract Governance:
  • Establish governance for thirdparty vendors operating at data center sites to ensure adherence to operational standards and contractual terms.

Qualifications :

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education:
  • Bachelors degree in Engineering Information Technology Facilities Management or a related discipline is preferred.
• Experience:
  • Minimum 1015 years of progressive experience in data center operations with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple sites or regions.
  • Proven experience in developing and implementing operational policies governance frameworks and compliance programs in critical infrastructure environments.
  • Strong background in facilities engineering critical systems (electrical mechanical fire/life safety) and operational risk management.
  • Demonstrated success managing crossfunctional teams including operations compliance facilities and IT/security.
  • Deep understanding of missioncritical systems and infrastructure: UPS HVAC chillers PDUs generators BMS CMMS and DCIM tools.
• Knowledge of industry frameworks and regulations including:
  • Uptime Institute Tier Standards
  • ISO standards (ISO)
  • SOC 2 HIPAA PCIDSS GDPR and other compliance mandates
• Strong data literacy and experience working with KPI dashboards audit trails and governance tools (e.g. GRC platforms CMMS ticketing systems).
• Leadership & Communication:
  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to drive cultural change promote accountability and lead by influence in a global matrixed organization.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; capable of creating executiveready reports and presenting complex operational data to nontechnical stakeholders.
  • Ability to manage highpressure situations including emergency responses audits and highvisibility incidents.
• Certifications (Preferred):
  • CDCP/CDCS/CDCE Certified Data Centre Professional/Specialist/Expert
  • PMP Project Management Professional
  • OSHA/EHS certifications
• Proven leadership managing geographically dispersed teams or facilities
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Strong organization time management and verbal/written communication skills
• Must possess strong decision making problem solving leadership and management abilities
• Familiarity with and ability to read and understand drawings and specifications
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality at all times
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a cross functional team

Ability to travel as required by project / client needs

Additional Information :

This position reports to the Vice President Site Operations.

All interested candidates should visit and select the Why Ascent / Careers tab to apply for the position.

Ascent LLC offers a full benefits package including medical dental vision STD/LTD life insurance 401(k) PTO paid holidays casual work environment and more.

Ascent LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We are committed to harboring an inclusive and diverse work environment and welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race age gender sexual orientation gender identity religion disability national origin protected military or veteran status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.  These terms apply to all stages of employment with our company.  Ascent LLC actively works to create an inclusive environment where all of our employees can thrive and we understand that having a wide range of experiences viewpoints and backgrounds help to make us both a stronger employer and a stronger business.

All interested candidates should apply through the ad or visit and select the careers tab to apply for the position.

Ascent LLC offers a full benefits package including medical dental vision STD/LTD life insurance 401(k) PTO paid holidays casual work environment and more.

Ascent LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to harboring an inclusive and diverse work environment and welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race age gender sexual orientation gender identity religion disability national origin protected military or veteran status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. These terms apply to all stages of employment with our company. Ascent LLC actively works to create an inclusive environment where all of our employees can thrive and we understand that having a wide range of experiences viewpoints and backgrounds help to make us both a stronger employer and a stronger business.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Fulltime