What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, National Labs position at ePlus inc.?
Overview
As Director, National Labs, you will lead the vision and strategic direction, as well as oversee the day-to-day operations for our multi-site innovation and engineering labs. The Director will lead governance processes, manage vendor relationships, and drive operational excellence across all lab environments, reinforcing the organization's commitment to market leadership and customer impact. These labs, located across key facilities including our Customer Innovation Center (CIC) and AI Experience Centers, are designed to showcase the latest technologies from top-tier manufacturers and service providers. The successful candidate will have strong business acumen and managerial leadership experience, technical background, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
YOUR IMPACT
The essential functions of this position include:
Governance, Strategic and Stakeholder Alignment
The initial base salary range for this position is expected to be between $150,000 and $200,000. The final base salary offered will be determined by multiple factors, including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, depth of experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, our compensation structure may include other components such as commissions and discretionary bonuses.
ePlus offers a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility, employee stock purchase program, and various paid time off benefits such as vacation, sick time, and personal leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an offer of employment is extended. ePlus Benefits highlights can be viewed here .
If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
Notice to Recruiting Agencies: ePlus only accepts unsolicited resumes when presented directly by a candidate. Unsolicited resumes submitted to ePlus from any other source will be considered ePlus property and will not qualify for any placement or referral fees. ePlus will only pay such fees in connection with a valid written agreement between ePlus and the referring agency, and then only after providing advance written approval to the referring agency to submit resumes in connection with a particular opportunity.
Physical Requirements
While performing this role, you will engage in both seated and occasional standing or walking activities. We provide reasonable accommodations, in accordance with relevant laws, to support success in this position.
By embracing our values, you will contribute to our collective mission of making a positive impact within our organization and the broader community. We understand that this job description serves as a guide and is not an employment contract.
CORPORATE VALUES
Respectful communication and cooperation : We prioritize respectful communication, fostering an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Teamwork and employee participation : Collaboration and teamwork thrive through diverse perspectives, both within our teams and in our interactions with our customers.
Work/life balance that supports our employees’ varying needs : We value the well-being of our employees, recognizing that a healthy work-life balance is pivotal to our collective success.
Embracing communities : We embrace and support the communities that nurture us. Our employees' dedication to fostering positive change is a source of immense pride for us.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING
We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate or allow discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
ePlus is dedicated to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture that represents diversity, enables inclusion, and makes our employees feel comfortable bringing their full, unique selves to work.
#IND1
As Director, National Labs, you will lead the vision and strategic direction, as well as oversee the day-to-day operations for our multi-site innovation and engineering labs. The Director will lead governance processes, manage vendor relationships, and drive operational excellence across all lab environments, reinforcing the organization's commitment to market leadership and customer impact. These labs, located across key facilities including our Customer Innovation Center (CIC) and AI Experience Centers, are designed to showcase the latest technologies from top-tier manufacturers and service providers. The successful candidate will have strong business acumen and managerial leadership experience, technical background, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
YOUR IMPACT
The essential functions of this position include:
Governance, Strategic and Stakeholder Alignment
- Align Lab Strategy with Business and Partner Goals closely with ePlus Strategy and (Channel Partner) Alliances teams to create a vision and ensure lab initiatives support broader business objectives and strategic vendor partner relationships, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and market leadership.
- Oversight of Governance Processes to Ensure Delivery of Lab Objectives and ROI: Lead the development and execution of governance frameworks to ensure lab initiatives deliver measurable ROI and align with broader business and partner objectives.
- Support Joint Go-to-Market Efforts: Contribute to the development and execution of co-branded demo content and lab experiences that meet vendor requirements and enhance partner engagement, while elevating customer experience.
- Manage Vendor Equipment and Relationships: Oversee vendor relationships, including loaner programs, equipment procurement, and lifecycle management, ensuring timely availability and compliance with partnership agreements.
- Oversee Nationwide Lab Operations: Lead the daily management of technology labs across multiple sites, ensuring consistent performance, security, and operational excellence.
- Maintain and Optimize Lab Infrastructure: Ensure all hardware and software assets are properly maintained, regularly updated, and fully functional to support customer demonstrations, training, as well as internal engineering development needs.
- Standardize and Scale Lab Processes: Develop and implement scalable processes that enable efficient use of lab resources by both on-site and remote teams across the organization.
- Ensure Lab Readiness and Alignment: Maintain lab environments that are reliable, presentable, and aligned with strategic business objectives for both internal stakeholders and customer-facing initiatives.
- Manage Lab Access and Resource Allocation: Prioritize incoming requests, coordinate lab scheduling, and manage task execution to maximize lab utilization and efficiency.
- Uphold Security and Compliance Standards: Enforce rigorous standards for data security, privacy, and regulatory compliance, ensuring all lab systems operate within corporate and industry guidelines.
- Design and Deploy Demo Environments: Collaborate with internal stakeholders to architect and deploy robust, scalable demo environments that showcase key technologies and solutions from leading OEMs and partners.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with subject matter experts and field-facing teams—including Strategy, Alliances, Sales, Services, and Engineering—to develop compelling, real-world demo content that supports customer engagements and channel initiatives.
- Demo Lifecycle Management: Coordinate demo schedules, monitor performance, and ensure all packaged demos are consistently operational, reliable, and aligned with business objectives.
- Oversee Lab Financials: Manage lab budgets across multiple locations, including allocations for hardware, software, travel, and facilities, ensuring cost-effective operations.
- Asset Lifecycle Management: Track and maintain lab assets—such as servers, networking equipment, and storage systems—through their full lifecycle, from acquisition to decommissioning.
- Infrastructure Planning: Collaborate with facilities teams to coordinate space utilization, power distribution, and cooling requirements to support current and future lab needs.
- Support Lab Expansion Initiatives: Lead infrastructure planning and execution for lab expansion into colocation environments (e.g., Digital Realty, Equinix), ensuring scalability and operational continuity.
- Prepare and Maintain Demo Environments: Ensure lab environments are fully prepared and optimized for customer demonstrations, aligning with solution objectives and technical requirements.
- Deliver Engaging Customer Experiences: Support and, when needed, lead customer-facing demonstrations, ensuring a professional, polished, and technically sound experience.
- Enable Field and Partner Teams: Provide hands-on support to internal teams during customer engagements, ensuring demo reliability and alignment with sales and partner strategies.
- Maintain Comprehensive Lab Records: Document all lab processes, configurations, inventory, and readiness procedures to ensure operational transparency and repeatability.
- Generate Operational Reports: Provide regular updates on lab utilization, asset health, space planning, and infrastructure status to support strategic planning and resource optimization.
- Deliver Actionable Metrics: Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to lab usage, equipment lifecycle, and operational efficiency to inform leadership decisions.
- Support Vendor Transparency: Share usage data and performance metrics with vendor partners to maintain alignment, demonstrate value, and strengthen collaborative relationships
- Lead and guide team members, fostering growth through mentoring, coaching, and development, while ensuring effective communication and collaboration.
- Promote an environment of inclusivity and respect, valuing diverse perspectives and encouraging open dialogue among all team members.
- Collaborate on strategic initiatives, leveraging your expertise to drive innovation and positive change within the organization.
- Cultivate a proactive approach to conflict resolution, striving for amicable solutions and escalating concerns as needed.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Industry certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CISSP, or equivalent are highly desirable.
- 10 years of experience in the following areas: Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, or Data Center Infrastructure (experience with Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Dell, and HP platforms and technologies preferred).
- 2 years of experience managing demo labs, including equipment setup and software configuration.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships across internal teams and external partners.
- Experienced in managing priorities and driving results in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
- 5-7 years of proven experience as a people manager, managing large-scale cross-functional projects, and allocating resources effectively to achieve business goals.
- Experience developing go-to-market strategies with cross-functional teams.
- Familiarity with emerging technologies such as AI and cloud.
- Experience with colocation management and lab expansion planning.
- Understanding of compliance, information security, and data privacy requirements in lab environments.
The initial base salary range for this position is expected to be between $150,000 and $200,000. The final base salary offered will be determined by multiple factors, including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, depth of experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. In addition to the base salary, our compensation structure may include other components such as commissions and discretionary bonuses.
ePlus offers a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility, employee stock purchase program, and various paid time off benefits such as vacation, sick time, and personal leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an offer of employment is extended. ePlus Benefits highlights can be viewed here .
If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
Notice to Recruiting Agencies: ePlus only accepts unsolicited resumes when presented directly by a candidate. Unsolicited resumes submitted to ePlus from any other source will be considered ePlus property and will not qualify for any placement or referral fees. ePlus will only pay such fees in connection with a valid written agreement between ePlus and the referring agency, and then only after providing advance written approval to the referring agency to submit resumes in connection with a particular opportunity.
Physical Requirements
While performing this role, you will engage in both seated and occasional standing or walking activities. We provide reasonable accommodations, in accordance with relevant laws, to support success in this position.
By embracing our values, you will contribute to our collective mission of making a positive impact within our organization and the broader community. We understand that this job description serves as a guide and is not an employment contract.
CORPORATE VALUES
Respectful communication and cooperation : We prioritize respectful communication, fostering an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Teamwork and employee participation : Collaboration and teamwork thrive through diverse perspectives, both within our teams and in our interactions with our customers.
Work/life balance that supports our employees’ varying needs : We value the well-being of our employees, recognizing that a healthy work-life balance is pivotal to our collective success.
Embracing communities : We embrace and support the communities that nurture us. Our employees' dedication to fostering positive change is a source of immense pride for us.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING
We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate or allow discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
ePlus is dedicated to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture that represents diversity, enables inclusion, and makes our employees feel comfortable bringing their full, unique selves to work.
#IND1
Salary : $150,000 - $200,000