[Hiring] Vice President of Operations @RL People

Role Description

Build the operational foundation for a new generation of data center asset recovery. The GPU retirement market is evolving rapidly, but many existing ITAD operations were built around traditional enterprise hardware and desktop fleets. This is an opportunity to build something purpose-built for the next generation of AI infrastructure.

We are looking for a senior operations leader who can build and operationalise a specialist GPU and AI accelerator retirement model from the ground up. This is not a role focused on simply managing an established playbook. You will be responsible for creating the operational infrastructure, vendor ecosystem, compliance processes and documentation standards needed to execute complex data center decommissioning engagements consistently.

You will work across GPU deinstallation, logistics, secure destruction, secondary market recovery, export compliance and customer reporting, with significant involvement in the first customer engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage a specialist vendor network covering GPU deinstallation, logistics, secure destruction and secondary market resale.
• Establish vendor agreements, insurance requirements, chain-of-custody protocols and operational standards.
• Develop and maintain relationships with GPU secondary market brokers, ensuring independent market-rate benchmarking.
• Integrate ECCN 3A090 export-control requirements into the operational process and ensure compliance is consistently maintained.
• Drive the R2v3 certification process, including application, audit preparation and implementation.
• Develop the operational capability statement and supporting processes required for customer engagements.
• Take ownership of on-site operations during initial customer engagements, ensuring asset registers, chain-of-custody and documentation standards are maintained.
• Ensure all customer deliverables are completed to the required standard, including asset registers, compliance records, destruction certificates, recovery-value reconciliation and ESG reporting.
• Conduct an operational handover across the existing ITAD business and document active engagements, vendor relationships and SOPs.
• Introduce consistent pre- and post-engagement processes across ITAD operations.
• Support commercial teams with operational input into proposals and customer requirements.
• Maintain operational costs within agreed budgets.

Qualifications

• Proven experience overseeing data center hardware decommissioning, specifically GPU or AI accelerator hardware such as H100, A100 or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of data center environments and the operational requirements involved in GPU/server deinstallation.
• Practical experience working with ECCN 3A090 export-control requirements and associated classification, verification and documentation processes.
• Experience working with certified data destruction providers and managing per-device destruction documentation.
• Proven ability to build and manage specialist vendor networks from scratch.
• Experience managing chain-of-custody processes and documentation to an audit or compliance standard.
• Comfortable operating in a build-stage environment where processes and infrastructure are still being developed.
• Willingness to be hands-on and on-site during initial customer engagements.
• Able to operate independently and take ownership without relying on a large existing team.

Requirements

• Desirable: R2v3 certification or experience managing an R2v3-certified operation.
• Experience working within a data center operator, hyperscaler or cloud provider.
• Familiarity with Scope 3 ESG/carbon reporting for hardware retirement.
• Existing relationships within the GPU or AI accelerator secondary market.

Benefits

• Opportunity to build an operational model from the ground up rather than inherit an established process.
• Direct ownership of the operational foundation for a specialist GPU and AI hardware recovery offering.
• Exposure to hyperscalers, AI labs, neoclouds and the rapidly developing AI infrastructure ecosystem.
• Significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape vendors, processes, compliance and operational standards.
• Health insurance, PTO and retirement benefits.
• COBRA subsidy available immediately.
• Clear, defined performance milestones with transparent bonus criteria.