Director, Safety Operations

At Rowan Digital Infrastructure, we are transforming data center delivery for speed and scale. Our mission is to deliver best-in-class data center solutions to hyperscale customers who share our commitment to sustainability, and to do so with an unwavering focus on efficiency, quality, and flexibility. Our data center solutions are tailored to our customers’ needs and delivered by our exceptional end-to-end team. Rowan is assembling a strategic portfolio of data center sites in Tier 1 markets across the United States at various stages of development, and we’re looking for incredible and passionate people to help us advance our company and our commitment to building a more sustainable future.

Rowan is backed by Quinbrook, a leading investor in the energy transition, and Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

Ready to join us in transforming the future of data centers and sustainability? Apply now to explore exciting career opportunities at Rowan Digital Infrastructure and be a part of our mission to revolutionize data center delivery.

Role Summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is seeking a Director, Operations Safety to lead operational safety performance, risk management, and program execution across its growing portfolio of data center facilities, including commissioning, energization, facility turnover, and ongoing operations.

Reporting to the Director, Safety Strategy & Operational Excellence, this role leads and develops Campus Safety Managers, establishes clear performance expectations, and prioritizes safety resources and initiatives based on operational risk and business needs. Working closely with the Energy Marshal Lead and Energy Marshals, the Director ensures consistent execution of Rowan’s safety strategy, effective critical risk management, and accountability for operational safety outcomes across assigned campuses.

Partner with Data Center Operations, Construction, Commissioning, and Engineering leadership to integrate safety into maintenance planning, Methods of Procedure (MOPs), change management, contractor activities, equipment servicing, and high-risk work, while verifying critical controls and maintaining clear operational ownership.

Travel: 30% with occasional travel to Rowan job site locations and for team gatherings

Location: Denver, CO (3-day hybrid in-office)

Compensation: $176K - $215K (Offers Bonus & Variables)

Essential Responsibilities

Operations Safety Strategy & Execution

• In partnership with Data Center Operations leadership and the Director, Safety Strategy & Operational Excellence, lead execution of the enterprise safety strategy across operational campuses and commissioning-to-operations transitions, establishing clear priorities, measurable objectives, and accountability for implementation

• Lead development and implementation of scalable operational safety practices, processes, responsibilities, and performance expectations aligned with Rowan’s enterprise safety standards and portfolio growth

• Prioritize operational safety initiatives and resources based on risk exposure, facility complexity, operational requirements, and business impact, including energized electrical work, complex LOTO, and simultaneous maintenance activities

• Coordinate with Operations to anticipate planned maintenance, outages, and other high-risk work; align Campus Safety Manager coverage and coordinate Energy Marshal support through the established organizational structure

• Use Good Catches, field observations, workforce feedback, critical-control verification, and other field intelligence to identify emerging exposures and direct preventive actions

• Evaluate recurring events, high-potential near misses, and SIF precursors to identify systemic risk, prioritize corrective actions, resolve execution barriers, and escalate significant unresolved issues

Energization, Turnover & Operational Readiness

• Lead operational safety readiness assurance in partnership with Commissioning, Operations, Engineering, Construction, and Energy Marshal leadership; identify gaps in procedures, interfaces, and critical controls during overlapping activities, energization, and facility turnover, and verify that safety gaps are addressed through established readiness and approval processes

Electrical Safety & Hazardous Energy Control

• Partner with Energy Marshals, Commissioning, and Operations leadership to integrate electrical safety and hazardous energy control requirements into operational planning and high-risk activities

• Support coordination of safety responsibilities during energization, commissioning, maintenance, and transitions to operational ownership

• Identify emerging electrical safety risks, evaluate the effectiveness of field controls, and collaborate with responsible teams to address gaps and strengthen safety performance

Campus Safety Leadership

• Establish effective partnerships between Campus Safety Managers, Rowan Operations leadership, and third-party operations providers, including their onsite safety representatives, to align safety expectations, coordinate risk management, verify critical controls, and drive accountability for safety performance

• Lead, coach, and develop Campus Safety Managers, setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and holding the team accountable for campus-level safety implementation, contractor oversight, incident response, and critical-control verification

• Integrate Campus Safety Managers with local Operations leadership while maintaining consistent functional alignment with Rowan Safety

• Plan campus safety staffing, hiring support, technical capability development, and succession based on facility complexity, operational risk, and portfolio growth; build a high-performing team culture of ownership and continuous learning

Operational Safety Programs & Contractor Management

• Integrate safety requirements into maintenance planning, methods of procedure (MOPs), risk assessments, work permits, contingency plans, and emergency preparedness for live critical infrastructure, including electrical distribution, UPS and battery systems, generators, and mechanical equipment

• Provide owner-level safety oversight of vendors, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), service providers, and contractors, challenging work methods, qualifications, and high-risk controls while maintaining their responsibility for safe execution

• Partner with Operations and Procurement on contractor qualification, onboarding, work planning, and performance reviews; verify timely incident notification, investigation quality, corrective-action effectiveness, and escalation of persistent safety deficiencies

SIF Prevention & Critical Risk Management

• Embed SIF prevention and critical-control principles in operational and transition activities; apply risk-based field assurance and critical-control verification to high-energy and other high-risk exposures

• Use incidents, high-potential near misses, Good Catches, field observations, and verification results to identify systemic risk, escalate ineffective controls, and confirm corrective action effectiveness before affected work resumes

• Oversee learning from significant operational incidents and high potential near misses, and share verified lessons across campuses to strengthen enterprise programs

Operations Safety Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the implementation of Rowan's safety programs across commissioning and operations, monitor performance against established safety objectives and KPIs, and drive accountability for addressing identified risks and performance gaps. Partner with Safety Systems & Analytics on dashboards, risk trends, assurance measures, and data quality rather than duplicating enterprise analytics ownership

• Use field feedback, performance data, and technology-enabled insights to evaluate program effectiveness, prioritize improvement actions, and communicate operational risks, progress, and recommended decisions to Safety and Operations leadership

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Operations leadership to integrate safety into operational planning, maintenance, and risk decisions; collaborate with Construction, Commissioning, Engineering, Procurement, and enterprise Safety to resolve cross-functional challenges and support safe facility transitions

• Coordinate interfaces and decision-making among Campus Safety Managers, the Energy Marshal Lead and Energy Marshals, project teams, and Operations, consistent with the established organizational structure

• Influence operational leaders and external partners, including where direct authority does not exist; reinforce stop-work expectations, timely risk escalation, emergency-response coordination, and accountability. Provide risk-based recommendations to senior Safety and Operations leadership on critical exposures, resource priorities, and performance improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, Construction Management, or related field preferred

• 10+ years of progressive safety experience, including safety leadership in operational data centers or other live mission-critical facilities; direct experience in operational data center environments is required

• Demonstrated experience managing safety risks associated with live critical infrastructure, facility maintenance, electrical systems, vendor activities, and high-availability operations

• Strong working knowledge of electrical safety, hazardous energy control, LOTO, commissioning and energization interfaces, contractor safety, and operational risk management

• Experience leading safety professionals or specialized safety functions across multiple facilities or complex operations

• Ability to translate enterprise strategy into scalable programs, clear accountability, and effective field execution; strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills

• Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHST, or equivalent is preferred

Preferred Experience

• Experience in hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center operations; familiarity with facility turnover, critical equipment maintenance, and 24/7 operations. Knowledge of NFPA 70E, applicable OSHA requirements, SIF prevention, critical controls, Human and Organizational Performance principles, and operational readiness is highly desirable

Fueled by Excellence & Collaboration

At Rowan, we are a distributed team united by a common mission to transform data center delivery. Across our two offices, we offer a hybrid work environment supported by teamwork, technology, and in-office gathering time to help you be successful. We are headquartered in downtown Denver, Colorado and have an office in Seattle, Washington. Our team of talented and passionate individuals is spread out across the U.S.

Here to support you

At Rowan, we want to make sure you can do great work. We offer competitive benefits focused on helping you be and achieve your best.

• Hybrid working environment

• Team building and educational opportunities

• Generous benefits package including robust health benefits and a 401(k)-company contribution

• Unlimited PTO

• RTD ECO pass or parking reimbursement

• Competitive compensation, bonus, and an incentive plan

• Relocating for this role? We offer relocation assistance on a case-by-case basis to help make your transition smooth

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rowan Digital is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all aspects of our workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.