Vice President, Data Center Operational Excellence

Director, Data Center Operational Excellence

Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Ada Infrastructure is part of the digital infrastructure platform Areas Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across credit, real estate, private equity, and infrastructure asset classes.

We are a global data center business grounded in sustainability, safety, and security. With a world-class team of industry leaders and the resources of Ares Management, Ada Infrastructure is executing on our mission to lead the world in safe, sustainable digital infrastructure that drives customer success and social benefit.

The Director, Data Center Operational Excellence is responsible for defining, implementing, and continuously improving the global operating model that enables Ada's data center portfolio to operate safely, reliably, efficiently, and at scale.

This role serves as the strategic owner of operations governance, standards, processes, systems, operational readiness, and continuous improvement across the global operations organization. The y will partner closely with regional operations leaders, security, engineering, delivery, product, finance, and executive leadership teams to establish the operational framework that supports long-term growth and operational excellence.

The successful candidate is a proven leader with deep experience in mission-critical operations, organizational scaling, process design, governance, operational excellence, and change management. This individual will drive consistency across regions while enabling operational flexibility needed to support local market requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Global Operations Strategy & Governance
• Operations Process Ownership
• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
• Operations Systems & Data Strategy
• Incident, Risk & Readiness Management
• Vendor & Partner Management
• Leadership & Organizational Development

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Facilities Management, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of experience in data center operations, mission-critical facilities, engineering operations, infrastructure operations, or related environments.
• 5+ years of leadership experience with responsibility for global programs, operational governance, or operational excellence functions.
• Demonstrated success scaling operational processes across multiple regions, sites, or business units.
• Significant experience with operational governance, process design, organizational transformation, and change management.
• Experience working with executive leadership teams and influencing decisions across complex organizations.
• Strong analytical, financial, program management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.

Preferred

• Experience in hyperscale, colocation, cloud, or large-scale mission-critical environments.
• Experience with CMMS, DCIM, asset management, maintenance management, or enterprise operational systems.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, ITIL, ISO, Quality Management Systems, or similar operational excellence methodologies.
• PMP, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, CDCP, CFM, or other relevant professional certifications.
• Experience leading globally distributed teams and supporting rapidly growing organizations.

Success Profile

• Create scalable operational frameworks that support global business growth.
• Drive consistency without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Build strong partnerships across operations, engineering, delivery, and product and financial organizations.
• Translate strategy into repeatable operational execution.
• Use data to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Build organizational capability that enables best-in-class data center operations globally.

Reporting Relationships

Principal, Digital Infrastructure

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$220,000.00 - $240,000.00

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.