Operation Ops. Excellence & Compliance

Role Purpose:

The Operations Excellence & Compliance will be a pivotal leader responsible for driving continuous improvement, establishing best-in-class operational processes, and ensuring comprehensive compliance across all data center operations. This role focuses on optimizing efficiency, enhancing reliability, and standardizing operational practices to achieve peak performance and meet stringent Customer quality standards. The incumbent will champion a culture of excellence, data-driven decision-making, and robust governance within the Operations department, reporting directly to the Director - Operations Engineering.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Process Design & Optimization:

• Lead the design, documentation, and continuous optimization of all critical operational processes across data center sites (e.g., MOPs, SOPs for maintenance, incident response, change management, capacity management).

  • Implement and champion Lean Six Sigma methodologies or other continuous improvement frameworks to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and enhance operational workflows.
  • Conduct regular process audits and performance reviews to ensure adherence to established procedures and identify areas for improvement.
  • Drive initiatives to standardize operational practices across multiple data center campuses, ensuring consistency and best practice adoption.
  • Collaborate with Engineering, IT Operations, and other departments to ensure seamless integration of processes and cross-functional efficiency.

Performance Monitoring & Analytics:

• Develop and implement comprehensive operational performance metrics and KPIs (e.g., Uptime, MTTR, MTBF, PUE, incident rates) for all data center operations.
  • Establish and manage data collection, analysis, and reporting frameworks to provide insightful dashboards and performance trends to management.
  • Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes for significant operational incidents, ensuring lessons learned are integrated into processes.
  • Utilize data analytics to identify operational bottlenecks, predict potential failures, and recommend proactive solutions to enhance reliability and efficiency.
  • Facilitate regular operational review meetings to discuss performance, compliance status, and improvement initiatives.

Compliance & Governance Management:

• Ensure strict compliance with all relevant industry standards, certifications, and regulatory requirements applicable to data center operations (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, PCI DSS Physical Security, Uptime Institute/ TIA-942 standards).
  • Develop, implement, and maintain a robust compliance framework and audit program for operational processes.
  • Coordinate and facilitate internal and external audits (e.g., ISO, SOC, customer audits) related to operational processes, providing necessary documentation and support.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of corrective action plans stemming from audit findings or compliance gaps.

Conduct regular compliance training and awareness programs for operations personnel to foster a culture of adherence and accountability.
Education: Bachelor's Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial).degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial).
Minimum 5-7 years of direct experience in leading or significantly contributing to operational excellence initiatives within the Data Center industry (hyperscale, colocation, or large enterprise data centers) in India.

• Demonstrated experience in applying and optimizing operational processes specific to data center infrastructure (e.g., power distribution, cooling systems, physical security, IT systems, BMS & allied systems).
• Proven experience in managing and successfully navigating compliance audits (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS physical security aspects, Uptime Institute/ TIA-942 standards) within a data center context.
• Hands-on experience in leading critical incident management and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes for major outages or operational failures in a 24x7 mission-critical data center environment.
• Track record of driving measurable performance improvements related to data center uptime, energy efficiency (PUE reduction), and overall operational reliability.
  Overall Experience:
• 15-20 years of extensive experience in operations management, process improvement, quality assurance, and compliance roles.
• Minimum 5-7 years in a leadership or managerial role, demonstrating strong capabilities in driving operational excellence initiatives and managing compliance frameworks.
• Proven track record of implementing continuous improvement methodologies and achieving measurable results in complex operational environments.