Director, Critical EnvironmentsLocation: Onsite - Pleasanton, California / Travel as Needed
Reporting to: Operations
OverviewThe Director, Critical Environments is responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, reliability, and performance of mission-critical infrastructure supporting business operations. This role oversees the day-to-day management of electrical, mechanical, HVAC, fire/life safety, and building management systems while ensuring maximum uptime and operational excellence. This position requires periodic travel between company facilities to support operations, projects, audits, and emergency response activities.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience managing critical infrastructure environments, leading technical teams, coordinating vendors, and maintaining compliance with operational and safety standards. This position requires a proactive leader who can effectively manage risk, drive continuous improvement, and respond to emergencies in a fast-paced, high-availability environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesFacility Operations- Manage the daily operation of critical facility systems including:
- Electrical distribution systems
- UPS systems and battery plants
- Standby generators
- HVAC and cooling systems
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Fire alarm and suppression systems
- Security and access control systems
- Ensure all critical infrastructure operates within established performance and reliability standards.
- Monitor facility health and respond to operational issues, alarms, and emergencies.
Maintenance & Reliability- Develop and manage preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
- Coordinate maintenance activities with internal teams and external service providers.
- Review maintenance procedures and ensure compliance with operational standards.
- Conduct root cause analysis following incidents or outages and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain equipment lifecycle plans and capital replacement strategies.
Team Leadership- Lead, mentor, and develop Critical Facilities Engineers and technicians.
- Establish staffing schedules, on-call rotations, and training programs.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence.
- Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development initiatives.
Vendor & Contractor Management- Manage relationships with contractors, service providers, and equipment manufacturers.
- Review vendor performance and ensure compliance with service agreements.
- Oversee facility projects, upgrades, installations, and commissioning activities.
- Coordinate contractor access and work activities to minimize operational risk.
Safety & Compliance- Ensure compliance with all company, local, state, and federal regulations.
- Maintain adherence to OSHA, NFPA, and other applicable safety standards.
- Support audits, inspections, and compliance initiatives.
- Develop and maintain emergency response and business continuity procedures.
- Lead safety meetings and promote a strong safety culture.
Reporting & Documentation- Maintain accurate operational records, maintenance logs, and facility documentation.
- Develop and present operational metrics and performance reports.
- Track facility uptime, maintenance activities, incident trends, and operational KPIs.
- Manage facility budgets and operational expenditures.
Emergency Response- Serve as the primary escalation point for facility-related incidents.
- Lead response efforts during critical events and infrastructure failures.
- Participate in after-hours support and emergency call rotations as required.
- Coordinate recovery efforts and communicate status updates to leadership.
Experience & QualificationsRequired- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of experience managing critical facilities, data centers, industrial plants, or mission-critical environments.
- Strong understanding of:
- Electrical power systems
- UPS systems and generators
- HVAC and chilled water systems
- Building automation systems
- Fire/life safety systems
- Experience managing maintenance programs and vendor relationships.
- Proven leadership experience managing technical teams.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and organizational abilities.
Preferred- Data Center Operations experience.
- Knowledge of Uptime Institute, ANSI/TIA-942, or similar standards.
- Experience with CMMS platforms and building management systems.
- Project management experience.
- Military or industrial operations experience.
- Professional certifications such as:
- Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
- Facilities Management Professional (FMP)
- Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP)
- OSHA 30
- PMP
Physical Requirements- Ability to work in mechanical, electrical, and industrial environments.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to climb ladders, access equipment platforms, and navigate facility spaces.
- Ability to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours.
Compensation- Full-Time, Exempt
- $140,000-$190,000/year, DOE
Benefits- Health Coverage - Medical, Dental & Vision
- FSA Health and Dependent Care available
- 401(k) Plan
- Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Observed Holidays Paid
- Cell Phone Allowance
- Collaborative, growth-driven culture
