Director of Operations - Critical Site - Engineering knowledge background

Who are we?

Joining our operations team means being at the center of everything – maintaining and evolving critical infrastructure that powers the digital world and delivers real impact for our customers, communities and society. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Director, IBX Operations – LD4 (Critical Site)

We are seeking a senior, influential leader to take full ownership of operations at LD4 — one of our most critical and high-profile sites globally.

This is a Director-level role with focused accountability, combining end-to-end operational leadership with the strategic oversight expected at a senior level. You will be responsible for delivering exceptional performance across safety, reliability, customer experience, and cost — while leading and developing a high-performing technical organisation on-site.

This is not a purely strategic role. It requires a visible, hands-on leader who can operate at depth within a mission-critical environment, while also shaping direction, influencing stakeholders, and raising standards across the broader organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Site Leadership & People Management

• Review the organisational design for site operation and transform as appropriate.
• Lead, inspire, and develop a multi-disciplinary team, including managers and technical professionals.
• Set the tone for a high-performance, safety-first culture and drive continuous improvement
• Own all people leadership responsibilities including hiring, succession planning, performance, and capability development
• Act as a visible site leader, building trust, engagement, and accountability across the organisation.
• Be the key Operational stakeholder for capacity management at site level, balancing the commercial & customer needs whilst maintaining availability.

Operational Excellence & Site Performance

• Own the end-to-end operational performance of LD4, ensuring uptime, reliability, and customer commitments are consistently met
• Define and deliver site-level objectives aligned to Equinix standards and global priorities
• Drive operational efficiency, resilience, and continuous improvement across all disciplines
• Lead incident response as the senior escalation point, ensuring rapid resolution and strong post-incident learning

Strategic & Director-Level Accountability

• Translate broader operational strategy into clear site-level execution plans
• Establish and track performance metrics (KPIs, SLAs, capacity, availability, financials)
• Own site financial performance, including OPEX/CAPEX planning, cost optimisation, and investment decisions
• Balance short-term operational demands with long-term site capability and growth planning

Infrastructure, Capacity & Investment

• Partner with regional and global teams on capacity planning, infrastructure strategy, and future expansion
• Ensure the appropriate infrastructure refresh programmes are in place.
• Oversee delivery of site projects, upgrades, and expansions to time, scope, and budget
• Ensure accurate and forward-looking capacity management (power, cooling, and space)

Customer & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the senior operational representative for LD4, engaging with internal and external stakeholders
• Drive a strong customer-first mindset and continuously improve customer experience outcomes
• Collaborate with global and regional leadership to ensure alignment with broader business priorities

Risk, Compliance & Resilience

• Own business continuity, disaster recovery readiness, and operational risk management at site level
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory, safety, and corporate standards (ISO, audit, etc.)
• Maintain rigorous governance across MOPs, change control, and operational processes

Vendor & Ecosystem Management

• Oversee vendor performance against SLAs/KPIs and drive continuous improvement
• Build strong partnerships with suppliers and internal support teams to optimise performance and delivery

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven leadership in mission-critical operations (data centres, telco, engineering, or large-scale infrastructure)
• Demonstrated experience owning operational outcomes, budgets, and team performance
• Strong background in engineering, facilities, or technical operations
• Experience operating in complex, matrixed environments and influencing across functions
• Track record of driving performance improvement and operational excellence
• Strong financial and business acumen, linking operational delivery to commercial outcomes

Leadership Profile

We’re looking for a leader who can:

• Lead at depth and at scale — comfortable being hands-on while setting direction
• Influence and align — engage effectively with senior stakeholders across the business
• Raise the bar — set ambitious standards for safety, customer experience, and operational performance
• Think strategically — connect site operations to wider business goals and transformation initiatives
• Develop others — build strong leadership capability within the site

Role Profile Positioning

This role is intentionally designed to:

• Own a single, critical site (LD4) with full accountability
• Operate with the scope, decision-making authority, and impact of a Director
• Combine operational depth (Manager-level execution) with strategic leadership (Director-level influence)

Why Should You Apply?

• Competitive Salary: Attractive compensation including a non-contractual bonus based on performance and a Reserved Stock Unit package.
• Generous Leave: 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days
• Comprehensive Insurance & Health Benefits: Life Assurance, Income Protection, Critical Illness Insurance, Private Healthcare, Eye Care Coverage, and Gymflex Membership.
• Investment Opportunities: Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Company Pension Plan.
• Travel Benefits: Cycle to Work Scheme and Annual Season Ticket Loan.
• Career Growth: Excellent opportunities for growth and advancement within the company.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability.  If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

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. 

We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here.

This posting is for a backfill position, meaning it is to fill an existing vacancy within our organization.