Operations Director Jobs in Nashville, TN
Operations Director jobs in Nashville are actively hiring across the city's fastest-growing corridors, from Midtown and the Gulch to Cool Springs and the airport-area logistics hubs. Demand runs strongest in healthcare systems, hospitality, logistics, and manufacturing, reflecting Nashville's diversified economy. Employers posting roles right now include HCA Healthcare, Alvarez & Marsal, and Vanderbilt University. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Operations Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 46+ Operations Director jobs
Position Summary
The Senior Director of Special Projects is responsible for leading the planning, governance, and execution of capital and operational projects across operational data centers after initial construction and commissioning are complete. This role serves as the strategic owner for all post-handover infrastructure projects, ensuring facilities continue to evolve to meet customer demand, operational requirements, technology advancements, and asset lifecycle needs.
The Senior Director partners closely with Data Center Operations, Engineering, Capacity Planning, Real Estate, Design & Construction, Supply Chain, Finance, Product, and Customer organizations to deliver projects safely, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal impact to production environments.
This leader develops standardized execution strategies, establishes project governance, and builds a high-performing organization capable of managing a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, mechanical, electrical, customer-driven, and facility enhancement projects across a global data center portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and lead the global strategy for post-construction capital projects across operational data centers.
- Establish governance, prioritization frameworks, and execution standards for all special projects.
- Build and lead a geographically distributed organization of project managers and technical leaders.
- Drive continuous improvement through standardized processes, metrics, reporting, and lessons learned. Partner with executive leadership to align project priorities with business objectives and long-term infrastructure strategy.
Portfolio Management
Lead the execution of projects including:
- Customer-specific infrastructure requests
- Rack infill and capacity expansion
- Rack refresh and modernization programs
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) asset replacement and end-of-life programs
- Facility infrastructure upgrades
- Power and cooling enhancements
- Design modifications and engineering improvements
- Operational resiliency projects
- Capacity optimization initiatives
- Building infrastructure enhancements
- Commissioning and recommissioning efforts
- Final construction project closeouts and punch list completion
- Deferred scope execution
- Compliance-driven improvements
- Sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives
- Emergency infrastructure recovery projects Technology refresh initiatives
Project Delivery
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and with minimal operational disruption.
- Establish standardized project planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and change control processes.
- Oversee contractor and vendor performance across multiple programs.
- Manage project financial performance, forecasts, and capital expenditures. Drive schedule adherence and executive-level reporting.
Operational Partnership
- Serve as the primary executive interface between Construction, Operations, Engineering, and customers for post-handover projects.
- Coordinate maintenance windows and project execution with operational teams.
- Balance customer commitments with operational risk and infrastructure availability. Resolve complex cross-functional issues that impact project delivery.
Asset Lifecycle Management
- Develop long-term infrastructure renewal strategies.
- Prioritize replacement of aging mechanical and electrical assets.
- Manage lifecycle planning for critical facility infrastructure. Coordinate capital planning with Finance and Asset Management teams.
Customer & Business Support
- Lead execution of customer-requested modifications and expansions.
- Support new product introductions requiring infrastructure changes.
- Deliver projects that improve customer experience, capacity, reliability, and operational efficiency. Ensure commitments to internal and external stakeholders are met.
Governance & Compliance
- Maintain compliance with corporate engineering standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Ensure projects follow change management, commissioning, quality assurance, and safety processes.
- Develop executive dashboards and portfolio health reporting.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Business, or related field.
- 15+ years of progressively responsible experience managing large-scale infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, or capital construction programs.
- 8+ years leading large technical organizations.
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar capital portfolios.
- Strong understanding of mission-critical data center infrastructure, including:
- Electrical distribution
- Mechanical cooling systems
- Power generation
- Building automation systems
- Facility operations
- Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong financial acumen, including capital planning and budget management. Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred
- Experience managing operational data center infrastructure.
- Experience transitioning projects from construction into operations.
- Professional Engineer (PE), PMP, or equivalent certification.
- Experience leading global teams. Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier Standards, NFPA, ASHRAE, IEEE, and other applicable industry standards.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Leadership
- Executive Communication
- Portfolio Management
- Capital Program Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Customer Focus
- Operational Excellence
- Infrastructure Lifecycle Management
- Risk Management
- Financial Stewardship
- Vendor Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Change Leadership
- Decision Making Collaboration and Influence
Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Safe execution of all projects with zero preventable incidents.
- On-time and on-budget delivery of capital projects.
- Improved data center reliability and operational resilience.
- Effective management of infrastructure lifecycle replacement programs.
- Customer satisfaction with infrastructure enhancements and special project execution.
- Reduction of operational risk through proactive modernization initiatives.
- Consistent executive reporting and portfolio transparency. Continuous improvement of project delivery processes and organizational performance.
Scope
The Senior Director oversees a diverse portfolio of post-construction projects supporting operational data centers, including customer-driven modifications, infrastructure modernization, lifecycle asset replacement, operational enhancements, compliance initiatives, and strategic capital improvements. The role is accountable for project governance, execution excellence, financial performance, and cross-functional coordination across multiple regions, ensuring data centers continue to evolve safely and efficiently throughout their operational lifecycle.
#LI-KT1
Position Summary
The Senior Director of Special Projects is responsible for leading the planning, governance, and execution of capital and operational projects across operational data centers after initial construction and commissioning are complete. This role serves as the strategic owner for all post-handover infrastructure projects, ensuring facilities continue to evolve to meet customer demand, operational requirements, technology advancements, and asset lifecycle needs.
The Senior Director partners closely with Data Center Operations, Engineering, Capacity Planning, Real Estate, Design & Construction, Supply Chain, Finance, Product, and Customer organizations to deliver projects safely, on schedule, within budget, and with minimal impact to production environments.
This leader develops standardized execution strategies, establishes project governance, and builds a high-performing organization capable of managing a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, mechanical, electrical, customer-driven, and facility enhancement projects across a global data center portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and lead the global strategy for post-construction capital projects across operational data centers.
- Establish governance, prioritization frameworks, and execution standards for all special projects.
- Build and lead a geographically distributed organization of project managers and technical leaders.
- Drive continuous improvement through standardized processes, metrics, reporting, and lessons learned. Partner with executive leadership to align project priorities with business objectives and long-term infrastructure strategy.
Portfolio Management
Lead the execution of projects including:
- Customer-specific infrastructure requests
- Rack infill and capacity expansion
- Rack refresh and modernization programs
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) asset replacement and end-of-life programs
- Facility infrastructure upgrades
- Power and cooling enhancements
- Design modifications and engineering improvements
- Operational resiliency projects
- Capacity optimization initiatives
- Building infrastructure enhancements
- Commissioning and recommissioning efforts
- Final construction project closeouts and punch list completion
- Deferred scope execution
- Compliance-driven improvements
- Sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives
- Emergency infrastructure recovery projects Technology refresh initiatives
Project Delivery
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and with minimal operational disruption.
- Establish standardized project planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and change control processes.
- Oversee contractor and vendor performance across multiple programs.
- Manage project financial performance, forecasts, and capital expenditures. Drive schedule adherence and executive-level reporting.
Operational Partnership
- Serve as the primary executive interface between Construction, Operations, Engineering, and customers for post-handover projects.
- Coordinate maintenance windows and project execution with operational teams.
- Balance customer commitments with operational risk and infrastructure availability. Resolve complex cross-functional issues that impact project delivery.
Asset Lifecycle Management
- Develop long-term infrastructure renewal strategies.
- Prioritize replacement of aging mechanical and electrical assets.
- Manage lifecycle planning for critical facility infrastructure. Coordinate capital planning with Finance and Asset Management teams.
Customer & Business Support
- Lead execution of customer-requested modifications and expansions.
- Support new product introductions requiring infrastructure changes.
- Deliver projects that improve customer experience, capacity, reliability, and operational efficiency. Ensure commitments to internal and external stakeholders are met.
Governance & Compliance
- Maintain compliance with corporate engineering standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Ensure projects follow change management, commissioning, quality assurance, and safety processes.
- Develop executive dashboards and portfolio health reporting.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Business, or related field.
- 15+ years of progressively responsible experience managing large-scale infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, or capital construction programs.
- 8+ years leading large technical organizations.
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar capital portfolios.
- Strong understanding of mission-critical data center infrastructure, including:
- Electrical distribution
- Mechanical cooling systems
- Power generation
- Building automation systems
- Facility operations
- Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong financial acumen, including capital planning and budget management. Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred
- Experience managing operational data center infrastructure.
- Experience transitioning projects from construction into operations.
- Professional Engineer (PE), PMP, or equivalent certification.
- Experience leading global teams. Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier Standards, NFPA, ASHRAE, IEEE, and other applicable industry standards.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Leadership
- Executive Communication
- Portfolio Management
- Capital Program Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Customer Focus
- Operational Excellence
- Infrastructure Lifecycle Management
- Risk Management
- Financial Stewardship
- Vendor Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Change Leadership
- Decision Making Collaboration and Influence
Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Safe execution of all projects with zero preventable incidents.
- On-time and on-budget delivery of capital projects.
- Improved data center reliability and operational resilience.
- Effective management of infrastructure lifecycle replacement programs.
- Customer satisfaction with infrastructure enhancements and special project execution.
- Reduction of operational risk through proactive modernization initiatives.
- Consistent executive reporting and portfolio transparency. Continuous improvement of project delivery processes and organizational performance.
Scope
The Senior Director oversees a diverse portfolio of post-construction projects supporting operational data centers, including customer-driven modifications, infrastructure modernization, lifecycle asset replacement, operational enhancements, compliance initiatives, and strategic capital improvements. The role is accountable for project governance, execution excellence, financial performance, and cross-functional coordination across multiple regions, ensuring data centers continue to evolve safely and efficiently throughout their operational lifecycle.
#LI-KT1
See All 46 Operations Director Jobs in Nashville
Find roles in Nashville that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Director JobsOperations Director Job Market in Nashville
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Human Resources
- Accounting & Auditing
Operations Director Jobs in Nashville: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a operations director job in Nashville?
Focus your search on Nashville's dominant sectors: healthcare administration, hospitality and entertainment, logistics and distribution, and manufacturing. Employers in the Gulch, Midtown, and the Cool Springs corridor hire most actively. Candidates who stand out typically bring cross-functional P&L ownership, change management experience, and familiarity with high-growth or multi-site operations, skills Nashville employers prioritize given the city's rapid expansion over the past decade.
Which companies hire operations directors in Nashville?
Employers hiring operations directors in Nashville right now include HCA Healthcare, Alvarez & Marsal, and Vanderbilt University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Nashville's hiring mix tends toward large health systems, hotel and entertainment groups, regional distribution companies, and mid-size manufacturers with multiple facilities across the metro area.
Are there remote operations director jobs in Nashville?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role: operations directors managing physical facilities, supply chains, or service teams are almost always on-site, while those overseeing analytics, vendor relations, or shared-services functions can often work remotely. About 71% of operations director openings tied to Nashville are remote or hybrid as of July 2026. The most remote-compatible work tends to involve corporate strategy and reporting rather than floor-level or multi-site operations.
How can I get a operations director job in Nashville with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Nashville is moving up through an operations manager or senior manager role within a local health system, hotel group, or distribution company, where internal promotion to director is common. Nashville's large hospitality employers and regional logistics firms regularly develop talent from within. Building familiarity with process improvement methodologies and gaining multi-team oversight experience in a Nashville-based role puts you in the strongest position for a director-level move.
Which industries hire the most operations directors in Nashville?
Nashville operations director roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Nashville's identity as a healthcare hub anchors consistent demand, while the city's booming hospitality, live events, and logistics sectors add substantial volume as the metro continues to grow.
Related Jobs in Tennessee
See All 46 Operations Director Jobs in Nashville
Find roles in Nashville that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Director Jobs