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Director of Project Operations

Job Description

Position Summary

The Director of Project Operations is a leadership role responsible for building and running DCSL's project management function and owning the successful delivery of customer projects from handoff through closeout. This role builds out the project management arm of the organization from the ground up, develops and matures the project management process, and ensures that process is followed consistently across every project and site. The Director of Project Operations is accountable for the safety, profitability, and successful execution of all projects, and for ensuring that DCSL's customers have an exceptional experience at every stage of their engagement.

DCSL's operating model centers on hiring and developing strong project management teams while ensuring the physical execution of work, including material handling, heavy equipment operation, rigging, and transportation, is executed by qualified teams and/or service providers. This role ensures that all phases of project execution meet DCSL's standards for safety, quality, and timeliness on every project.

What You’ll Do

  • Build and lead DCSL's project management function from the ground up, defining roles, recruiting and onboarding project managers, and establishing performance standards and operational culture from day one.
  • Develop, document, and continuously mature DCSL's project management process, ensuring it is clear, repeatable, and scalable across all projects and sites.
  • Ensure organization-wide compliance with the project management process, holding the team accountable to consistent execution and using process adherence as a driver of quality and predictability.
  • Own the safety of all projects, ensuring that every project, including all subcontracted physical work, is executed in accordance with safety standards, site requirements, and applicable regulations.
  • Own the profitability of all projects, managing scope, cost, and service-provider spend to protect project margin and deliver against the financial expectations set for each engagement.
  • Ensure client success across the full project lifecycle, serving as a senior point of accountability for customer satisfaction, clear communication, and the consistent delivery of commitments.
  • Oversee subcontracted physical execution, including material handling, heavy equipment operation, rigging, and transportation, by selecting, qualifying, coordinating, and managing the performance of third-party service providers.
  • Build and maintain a network of trusted service providers, establishing the qualification standards, agreements, and insurance and compliance prerequisites required before any third party performs work on a DCSL project.
  • Manage and develop project managers through direct coaching, structured performance management, and active engagement, building accountability at every level of the function.
  • Partner with the sales team on the handoff of new projects, ensuring project managers are ramped effectively and assume ownership as the primary DCSL stakeholder for each engagement.
  • Coordinate closely with the Director of Warehouse Operations to ensure seamless alignment between facility readiness, systems infrastructure, and live project execution.
  • Establish and track KPIs for project operations, including project safety, profitability, on-time delivery, service-provider performance, and client satisfaction, and provide regular reporting to senior leadership.
  • Drive continuous improvement across project operations, identifying bottlenecks, refining the project management process, and implementing best practices to improve efficiency, profitability, and client outcomes.
  • Position the project management function for future capability growth, including the potential future addition of in-house execution capacity should DCSL elect to bring such capabilities in-house.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the broader operations team.

Required Qualifications

  • 8+ years of progressive experience in project management, operations management, logistics, or a closely related discipline.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and building project management teams, with at least 3 to 5 years in a senior leadership or operations management role.
  • Proven track record building operational infrastructure from the ground up, including project management processes, SOPs, and performance management frameworks.
  • Experience managing project profitability, including scope, cost control, and vendor or service-provider spend.
  • Demonstrated experience selecting, qualifying, and managing third-party service providers or subcontractors against performance, safety, and compliance standards.
  • Strong working knowledge of field safety requirements and the standards applicable to subcontracted material handling, rigging, and heavy equipment operations, with the ability to enforce a strong safety culture across service providers.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and team management skills, with the ability to lead through both influence and direct authority.
  • A client-first with a track record of delivering strong customer outcomes and managing senior client relationships.
  • Valid driver's license and clean background required; ability and willingness to travel to DCSL warehouse locations as needed.

Qualifications

  • Project management certification (such as PMP) or equivalent demonstrated process expertise.
  • Experience in data center logistics, industrial warehousing, or heavy equipment environments.
  • Familiarity with final equipment placement and installation workflows.
  • Experience coordinating multi-site operations and time-sensitive deployments through subcontracted execution.

What We’re Looking For

  • A builder — you are energized by creating structure where none exists and know how to develop high-performing teams in fast-moving environments.
  • A leader — you build clear, repeatable processes and hold a team accountable to following them, using discipline as a path to quality and predictability.
  • Client-focused — you treat customer success as a core measure of the job and build the relationships and communication that earn long-term trust.
  • Commercially minded — you own project profitability and make decisions that protect margin without compromising safety or quality.
  • A collaborator — you understand that project execution depends on tight coordination with facilities, systems, sales, and service providers, and you proactively build those bridges.
  • Accountable — you own outcomes, hold your team and service providers to high standards, and create a culture where safety and performance are non-negotiable.

Physical Requirements

This is primarily an office- and site-based leadership role with regular presence at DCSL warehouse locations and active project sites. The Director of Project Operations must be able to move about warehouse and project environments, including non-temperature-controlled spaces and outdoor areas with uneven terrain, and must be comfortable working in proximity to heavy equipment and rigging operations performed by service providers. Reasonable travel between sites is required, and the role may require up to 25% travel to warehouse and project locations.

Values & Culture

DCSL is looking for people who take pride in the work, show up for the team, and bring a no-job-too-small attitude to every project. We move fast, support each other, and build something worth being proud of. If that sounds like you, we'd love to talk.