Critical Operations Director - Data Center

STACK is seeking an experienced Critical Operations Director to establish and lead the Operations function for its Melbourne data centre campus. Reporting to the VP Critical Operations (Aust), this role has end-to-end accountability for site safety, operational readiness, reliability, customer service and the performance of all mission-critical mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire life safety, controls and base-building systems.

This is a senior people leadership role for a proven leader who has successfully managed 100+ employees, including managers, supervisors and frontline technical teams. The Director will recruit, develop and lead the Operations team, work collaboratively across STACK, build trusted customer relationships and create an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture. All Critical Operations staff report through this role.

Candidates may come from data centres or other complex mission-critical environments, including Defence, naval operations, aviation, utilities, power generation, transport, healthcare or large-scale industrial operations. Direct data-centre experience is advantageous but is not essential where the candidate can demonstrate leadership of large technical workforces, operational readiness, asset reliability and incident command in a high-consequence 24/7 environment.

This role directly supports STACK’s commitment to 100% uptime and a concierge-level customer service experience, ensuring risk is proactively managed, planned works are executed safely, and customer communications are clear, timely and professional.

As the senior operational leader for the Melbourne campus, you’ll have the opportunity to build the Critical Operations function from the ground up and establish the standards that will support the site as it grows.

You’ll:

• Recruit, build and lead an operational workforce of more than 100 employees across multiple shifts, technical disciplines and leadership levels.

• Develop managers, supervisors and frontline teams through clear expectations, coaching, succession planning and consistent performance management.

• Create an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture centred on safety, reliability, collaboration and customer service.

• Take overall responsibility for operational readiness, uptime, asset reliability and the safe day-to-day operation of the campus.

• Provide credible leadership across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire life safety, controls and other Mission Critical infrastructure.

• Ensure preventative and predictive maintenance, technical procedures and critical work packages are executed safely and effectively.

• Lead the response to abnormal operating conditions, incidents and emergencies, including customer communications, root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

• Use CMMS, EPMS and BMS platforms to monitor asset performance, capacity, efficiency and operational risk.

• Partner with Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Security, Commercial, Customer, Finance and Procurement teams to deliver coordinated campus outcomes.

• Build trusted customer relationships and provide clear, professional communication during planned works, incidents and service-impacting events.

• Manage vendors, service contracts, CAPEX and OPEX budgets, compliance obligations and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Provide senior on-call leadership during emergencies and significant operational events.

You’re an accomplished operational leader who knows how to build teams, develop people and make sound decisions in complex, high-consequence environments.

Direct Data Centre experience is highly regarded but not essential. We also welcome proven leaders from other Mission Critical industries, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, oil and gas, power generation or aviation, where safety, uptime, asset reliability and incident command are fundamental to operational success.

You’ll bring:

• Extensive experience leading a workforce of more than 100 employees, including managers, supervisors and frontline technical teams.

• A proven record of recruiting, coaching, developing and retaining high-performing operational teams.

• Experience leading operations in a complex, live 24/7 environment with responsibility for safety, operational readiness, reliability and emergency response.

• Strong technical judgement and the credibility to lead and challenge mechanical, electrical, controls, fire and facilities specialists.

• Demonstrated experience managing critical assets, maintenance programs, vendors, complex projects and significant site budgets.

• A highly collaborative leadership style and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across multiple business functions.

• Strong customer-service leadership, including managing expectations, resolving escalations and communicating clearly during operational events.

• Knowledge of service-level obligations, regulatory compliance and relevant building-code requirements.

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent military, operational or professional experience.

• Full Australian working rights and the ability to pass background checks and attain and maintain NV1 security clearance where required.

• Willingness to participate in on-call support and work outside standard business hours when operationally required.

Senior command, engineering, sustainment or operational leadership experience within the Australian Defence Force or an allied Defence organisation will be highly regarded.

STACK provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, redundancy, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.