Watch Commander #1 - Integrated Operational Security & Crisis Management

the company northmark compute & cloud (nmc²) is backed by dedicated leadership and investment, with a clear mission as it operates at the bleeding edge of technology. Its goal is to scale and enhance the high-performance computing (hpc) and cloud infrastructure that supports its clients' research, production, and delivery, enabling breakthroughs that shape the industries of tomorrow. Its engineers build critical infrastructure to eliminate friction in scientific research, simulations, analysis, and decision-making, accelerating discovery and driving faster innovation.

the watch commander is the senior on-shift authority for the facility's security and operations watch floor in spartanburg county, sc, responsible for the safe, secure, and continuous operation of a critical infrastructure campus during their assigned shift. The site operates islanded power generation systems and houses sensitive, high-availability computing workloads across a tier-class data center. Reporting to the director of integrated operational security & crisis management, the watch commander holds real-time command of the watch floor , directing security and operations personnel, monitoring all life-safety and security systems, executing established procedures, and acting as the first-line incident commander for any event that arises during their shift.

Watch commanders form the core leadership cadre for the future-state enterprise operations centre (eoc), providing round-the-clock command continuity across the enterprise.

• hold real-time command of the security and operations watch floor for the duration of the assigned shift, maintaining continuous situational awareness across all monitored systems, personnel, and facility conditions.
• direct and supervise all on-shift security officers, console operators, and response staff , assigning posts, managing breaks and coverage, and ensuring every position is staffed to standard at all times.
• conduct structured, documented shift handovers at the start and end of each watch, ensuring complete continuity of awareness regarding open incidents, system status, ongoing works, and outstanding actions.
• develop and implement incident, emergency, and sop action plans for the site-wide environment, ensuring plans are current, comprehensive, and aligned with the facility's crisis response framework and broader emergency management standards.
• be available to deploy on a tdy (temporary duty) basis to support executive protection and security details for company leadership and operations as needed, potentially including travel outside the home site.
• meet and maintain all requirements for private armed security licensure in the state of south carolina, including any applicable sled registration, training, and certification standards, ensuring continuous eligibility to carry out armed security functions as required by the role.
• monitor and respond to alarms and indicators across access control, cctv, intrusion detection, fire and life-safety, power generation status, and data centre environmental systems, escalating per established thresholds.
• maintain accurate, contemporaneous logs of all shift activity, events, decisions, and notifications in the operations log and incident management systems.
• act as the first-line incident commander for any security, safety, or operational event occurring during the shift, initiating the appropriate response under nims/ics principles until relieved by the director or senior leadership.
• execute the facility's crisis response framework, incident action plans, and standard operating procedures accurately and decisively under pressure.
• activate internal cascade lists, notification trees, and escalation protocols promptly, ensuring leadership and external partners are alerted within defined time frames.
• coordinate the initial on-site reception and integration of responding external agencies, ems, law enforcement, fire, and hazmat teams.
• ensure all shift activity is conducted in strict accordance with security policies, sops, permit-to-work systems, and access control standards.
• enforce access management protocols for the sensitive computing environment, verifying authorisations, supervising escorted access, and maintaining audit-ready records of all entries to controlled areas.
• conduct regular floor checks, post inspections, and patrol verifications to confirm procedures are being followed and standards upheld.
• lead, motivate, and develop the on-shift team, setting clear expectations, providing real-time coaching, and maintaining high standards of professionalism, alertness, and conduct.
• conduct pre-shift briefings covering current threats, ongoing works, system status, and the day's operational priorities, ensuring every team member starts the watch fully informed.
• deliver and reinforce ongoing training, drills, and scenario exercises during the shift to sustain readiness and embed correct response behaviours.
• maintain awareness of all ehs conditions on the watch…