Sr Manager, Data Center Operations at Energy Transfer — Houston, Texas | Racks & Rows
Sr Manager, Data Center Operations
Energy Transfer·Houston, Texas
Full-time
Free account to apply · application completed on Energy Transfer
About This Role
Energy Transfer, recognized by Forbes as one of America's best large employers, is dedicated to responsibly and safely delivering America’s energy. We are driven to inspire our employees to create superior value for our customers, our investors, a sustainable future and giving back to the community where we have long-standing commitments to causes including MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and many more.
We value all of our employees who make our growth and success possible. We are proud to offer industry leading compensation, comprehensive benefits, 401(k) match with additional profit sharing, PTO and abundant career opportunities.
Come join our award winning 12,000 strong organization as we fuel the world and each other!
Summary
The Senior Manager, Data Center Operations is responsible for the operational oversight and technical leadership of the Energy Transfer Data Center (ETDC) — a mission-critical facility serving Energy Transfer's enterprise IT infrastructure. This role leads a team of internal data center technicians and manages the contracted technical and facilities service providers who support the physical infrastructure of the facility.
The Sr Manager serves as the technical subject matter expert for all facility systems, providing informed oversight of electrical, mechanical, cooling, security, and building infrastructure, while escalating hands-on and licensed work to contractors and specialists as appropriate. The manager will serve as a technical leader who understands the facility, directs the operations team, holds service providers accountable, and drives continuous improvement across all critical systems.
The Energy Transfer Data Center is a mission-critical facility requiring continuous oversight, including during severe weather events and other emergencies, to ensure infrastructure integrity and uptime.
Facility Infrastructure Oversight
• Provide day-to-day operational oversight of all physical infrastructure systems at the Energy Transfer Data Center
• Direct and review technical work performed by internal technicians and contracted specialists across all critical systems:
– Normal, UPS, and standby electrical power systems
– HVAC systems including chillers, cooling towers, CRAH/CRAC units, and airflow management
– Building automation / building management systems (BMS)
– Physical security systems (badge access, CCTV/surveillance, guard services)
– Fire suppression and life safety systems
– Grounds and building maintenance
• Serve as the technical SME for facility systems. Capable of directing contractor work, interpreting MEP and single-line drawings, and evaluating the quality of infrastructure work performed
• Own and maintain the scheduled preventive maintenance program across all critical systems; review and approve PM work orders and completion documentation
• Escalate complex electrical, mechanical, or structural work to licensed contractors and specialists; define scopes of work, oversee execution, validate completions, and sign off on quality
• Drive power efficiency initiatives and capacity planning for facility space, power, and cooling
• Ensure availability of spare parts, critical consumables, and emergency equipment for rapid response to infrastructure events
• Maintain all critical infrastructure documentation, including single-line diagrams, equipment manifests, maintenance records, and as-built drawings
• Provide on-site leadership during emergencies, including severe weather events (hurricanes, winter storms), extended power events, and disaster scenarios, to maintain facility uptime and personnel safety
Team Leadership & Staff Management
• Lead, schedule, and develop Data Center Operations Technicians
• Define performance expectations, conduct regular 1:1s and annual reviews, and build individual development plans for each team member
• Create and manage work schedules to maintain operational coverage during business hours, planned maintenance windows, and on-call rotations
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions; ensure all technicians are trained and compliant with safety and operational standards
• Identify training gaps and advocate for technical development opportunities (certifications, vendor training, safety programs)
Vendor, Contractor & Budget Management
• Serve as the primary point of contact for electrical, mechanical, security, and facilities contractors performing work at the ETDC
• Manage contractor performance through SOW reviews, on-site oversight, and post-work quality validation
• Review and process invoices for contracted services; escalate discrepancies and cost concerns
• Support annual and multi-year capital and operational budgeting for facility maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and equipment replacement programs
• Evaluate vendors for new services or contract replacements; provide recommendations to IT leadership
Security & Compliance
• Oversee the physical access control program for the data center: badge provisioning, periodic access reviews, and deprovisioning
• Ensure physical security configurations comply with SOC 1 / SOC 2 and SOX IT General Controls requirements
• Coordinate with internal audit, compliance, and risk teams during audit cycles; provide documentation and evidence for control assessments
• Maintain compliance with all applicable fire, life safety, and building code requirements
• Align facility operations with ITIL / ITSM change management, incident response, and problem management practices
COMPLIANCE & GOVERNANCE
Ensure data center physical infrastructure operations comply with SOC 1 / SOC 2 audit requirements
Support SOX IT General Controls compliance as they relate to physical security, access control, and environmental systems
Maintain awareness of and support compliance with PCI DSS requirements for applicable infrastructure
Apply Uptime Institute Tier standards as a framework for operational practices, maintenance standards, and infrastructure decisions
Maintain complete and current documentation of all critical infrastructure configurations, maintenance histories, and compliance artifacts
Education
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Electrical Technology, Facilities Management, or a related field — or equivalent combination of education and progressive data center operations experience
Experience
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise data center operations or critical facility management
• 3+ years of experience supervising or leading a technical operations team
• Demonstrated familiarity with electrical and mechanical infrastructure systems in a mission-critical environment (UPS, generators, HVAC/cooling, power distribution)
• Experience managing contractors and service providers performing work in a data center or critical infrastructure context
• Familiarity with building management / building automation systems (BMS) and data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platforms
• Experience supporting compliance programs in a data center context (SOC, SOX, PCI, or similar)
Preferred Certifications / Licenses
• State of Texas Electrical License (journeyman or master)
• CDCP (Certified Data Centre Professional), CDCS, or CDCE
• Uptime Institute certifications (Accredited Operations Specialist or similar)
• ITIL Foundation or higher
• OSHA 30 (Construction or General Industry)
• PMP or equivalent project management certification
Skills & Competencies
• Strong technical subject matter expertise in data center electrical, mechanical, and cooling infrastructure systems
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, electrical, and mechanical drawings — single-line diagrams, floor plans, and mechanical schematics
• Proven ability to manage contractors and hold service providers accountable to quality, schedule, and safety standards
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills — able to manage concurrent maintenance programs, infrastructure projects, and operational demands
• Clear and professional communication skills — ability to brief IT leadership on facility status, risk, and improvement initiatives, and to direct contractors and technicians effectively
• Safety-conscious mindset; familiar with OSHA standards, lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures, and arc flash safety requirements
• Proficiency with work order management, CMMS platforms, or equivalent maintenance tracking systems
WORKING CONDITIONS
• On-site at the Energy Transfer Data Center; this is not a remote or hybrid position
• Availability for 24/7 emergency response, including during severe weather events (hurricanes, winter storms), extended power events, and other facility emergencies
• Ability to work in both office and active data center plant/floor environments
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. when required during facility walkthroughs, inspections, or emergency response
Required Skills
Data Center OperationsCritical Facility ManagementElectrical InfrastructureMechanical InfrastructureHVAC SystemsVendor ManagementBudget ManagementPhysical SecurityCompliance AuditingTeam LeadershipCapacity PlanningIncident ResponseSOP DevelopmentMEP Drawing InterpretationPreventive MaintenanceSafety Management
