Senior Director, DC Operations

The Director will focus on the mobilization of new sites, including critical phases of construction, operations and team building, to ensure a smooth transition to steady-state operations. A primary focus of this role is people management, providing direct leadership to all Malaysia-based Campus Operations Directors and Managers to drive consistency, governance, and compliance with global standards.  

This position plays a pivotal role in upholding the highest standards in a fast-paced environment while providing regular high-level visibility to regional leadership. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategic Leadership & Reporting 

• Provide strategic leadership for all data centre operations within the Malaysia subregion, including maintenance standards, cost modelling, and strategic reviews. 

• Provide detailed reports to the APAC Regional Data Centre Operations Director, covering operational performance, project updates, and risk assessments. 

• Review and manage Malaysia-specific Operational CapEx and OpEx budgets to ensure financial efficiency. 

• Participate in and lead subregional change management initiatives to support organizational growth. 

• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all operational matters in Malaysia, driving sustainability and efficiency. 

People Management & Governance 

• Directly manage and lead the Malaysia-based on-site leadership team, including Campus Operations Directors and Managers. 

• Ensure all campus teams comply with global data centre operation methodologies, standards, and policies. 

• Build and onboard the on-site teams for new Malaysia sites, ensuring proper training and smooth handovers. 

• Drive a culture of operational excellence and consistency across all Malaysia campuses. 

Operational Excellence & Mobilization 

• Lead the subregional operations team during the start-up and transition phases of new data centres. 

• Manage activities necessary for the transition of new facilities to on-site teams, including testing, commissioning, and site mobilization. 

• Maintain rigorous communication and collaboration during all phases of new builds to ensure alignment between construction and operations. 

• Identify and mitigate construction activities that could impact live data centre operations. 

• Oversee site acceptance through turnover walks and coordinate with stakeholders during testing and commissioning phases. 

Compliance, Risk & Quality Control 

• Ensure all operational documentation in Malaysia remains current and complies with the company’s global standards and procedures. 

• Support internal and external audits to maintain technical certifications, including TIA-942, Uptime, ISO 50001, ISO 14001, and LEED. 

• Lead capacity management and support comprehensive risk assessments across all regional operations. 

• Monitor operational performance data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), preparing benchmarks across Malaysia sites to identify and implement improvements. 

• Coordinate with customers to ensure smooth onboarding and alignment of all service-level requirements (SLAs). 

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Education: Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, Facilities Management, or a related field.  

• Experience: Minimum 15 years of relevant work experience, with at least 10 years in a data centre environment. 

• Leadership: Proven track record in strategic leadership for subregional or regional operations, including policy development and team management.  

• Technical Expertise: Strong expertise in building services, data centre critical infrastructure, and facility management tools.  

• Management Skills: Strong knowledge of risk management, problem management, change management, and capacity management.  

• Project & Vendor Oversight: Experience in project management, program management, contract management, and vendor management.  

• Safety & Compliance: Background in environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management and technical audit compliance is a plus.