Director, Operational Readiness

About Riot Platforms

Riot’s (NASDAQ: RIOT) vision is to be the world’s most trusted platform for powering and building digital infrastructure. Riot’s mission is to empower the future of digital infrastructure by positively impacting the sectors, networks, and communities that we touch. We believe that the combination of an innovative spirit and strong community partnership allows us to achieve best-in-class execution and create successful outcomes.

Who we are

At Riot, we’re building the future of digital infrastructure. Our team members have unparalleled opportunities to work on groundbreaking initiatives. Through technical excellence and strategic execution, Riot has positioned itself as a leader in the industry driving advancements that continue to set new benchmarks in digital infrastructure. 

We are trailblazers. Problem solvers. People who thrive in fast paced environments, communicate clearly, and bring relentless focus to efficiency and execution.

About the role

We are looking for a Director, Operational Readiness to join our Central Operations team at Riot Platforms. In this role, you will execute the operational readiness process across Riot’s data center portfolio — conducting site readiness assessments, coordinating pre-commissioning and acceptance testing, verifying that staffing, tooling, documentation, and training are all in place prior to go-live, and supporting customer deployments from an operational readiness standpoint. You will work directly with construction, engineering, and site operations teams to close readiness gaps and ensure that no deployment goes live without passing the readiness gate. This is a hands-on role with direct impact on Riot’s ability to deliver on its customer and operational commitments.
Travel up to 50% for site readiness assessments, commissioning events, and customer deployment support across Texas and Kentucky locations.

What You'll Do

• Execute site readiness assessments against defined frameworks, evaluating people, process, and technology readiness prior to any new deployment or site activation
• Administer the Go-Live Gate Process, tracking readiness criteria across all active deployments and escalating gaps that require resolution before approval to proceed
• Coordinate pre-commissioning and acceptance testing activities in collaboration with construction, engineering, and operations teams, ensuring all systems are validated prior to operational handoff
• Maintain and execute the Site Readiness Checklist and Commissioning Runbook for each deployment, adapting to site-specific requirements while adhering to standard process
• Support the Customer Readiness Framework by verifying that staffing, SLAs, documentation, access controls, and support processes are confirmed and in place prior to customer go-live
• Maintain the Readiness Scorecard for all active deployments, providing accurate and timely status updates to leadership and stakeholders
• Identify readiness gaps early and coordinate with Standards & Governance, Technical Training, and site teams to resolve issues before they become go-live blockers
• Serve as a key operational liaison with construction and project management teams during the transition from build to operate
• Document lessons learned from each deployment to continuously improve the readiness process and inform future gate criteria
• Support the development of the broader Operational Readiness function as the team and portfolio scale

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of experience in data center operations, commissioning, or critical infrastructure project coordination, with direct involvement in site activations or large-scale deployments
• Hands-on experience executing commissioning and integrated systems testing (IST) processes in a data center or mission-critical facility environment
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent deployment readiness workstreams, track open items, and drive closure under schedule pressure
• Strong working knowledge of data center systems including power distribution, cooling, network infrastructure, and building management systems
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams spanning construction, engineering, IT, and operations in a deployment or handoff context
• Familiarity with customer-facing operational requirements including SLA documentation, access management, and support readiness for colocation or HPC environments
• Experience with project management tools and methodologies; PMP certification a plus
• Familiarity with data center standards including Uptime Institute Tier standards, TIA-942, ASHRAE, and NFPA
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field
• Certifications preferred: PMP, CDCP, Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Specialist, or equivalent industry credentials

Compensation and Benefits 

• Competitive Salary: Base salary range $170,000 – $200,000 (commensurate with experience) + bonus + sign-on equity grant.
• Long-Term Growth: Eligible to participate in Riot’s equity incentive programs and share in the success you help build.
• 401(k) with Immediate Vesting: Generous company match
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options that include 100% employer-paid premiums.
• Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy free gym memberships, pet insurance, childcare discounts, and more to support your life both in and out of work.

Riot is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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