DATA CENTRE OPERATIONS DIRECTOR (MALAYSIA) [Job Code 2606112A]

Summary:

The Data Centre Operations Director will oversee the end-to-end operational lifecycle, excellence, and 100% uptime of a flagship, multi-building hyperscale data centre campus alongside an expanding portfolio of other regional sites across Malaysia. This executive role bridges physical
plant engineering with hands-on technical services, leading both Facility Management (critical infrastructure) and Technical Services (deployment and smart-hands support) teams across the entire country portfolio.
The Director is fully responsible for the operational integrity, financial performance, risk mitigation, and long-term scalability of the 400MW+ flagship campus and all associated sites, ensuring strict adherence to 24/7/365 client Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Responsibilities:

  • Portfolio Leadership & Strategic Oversight
    • Multi-Site Management: Provide strategic direction and daily operational oversight for the 400MW+ flagship hyperscale campus and all additional data centre sites within the Malaysian portfolio to ensure strict adherence to tenant SLAs.
    • Team Integration: Direct, mentor, and lead a 24/7 multi-disciplinary team across all locations, including Facility Management (critical infrastructure) and Technical Services (deployment and hands-on support) personnel.
  • Infrastructure, Uptime & Service Delivery
    • Portfolio Uptime: Ensure 24/7/365 operational reliability and 100% uptime of critical physical plant infrastructure across all sites, including power distribution (UPS, generators, switchgear) and cooling systems (chillers, HVAC).
    • Infrastructure Scaling: Direct the transition of individual phases and new site developments from construction and commissioning to live operations, ensuring seamless integration into the broader ecosystem
    • Technical Services Delivery: Oversee the Technical Services team across the portfolio in executing client deployments, provisioning cross-connects, managing structured cabling, and delivering exceptional “smart-hands” technical support.
  • Utility & Stakeholder Diplomacy
    • Regulatory & Utility Liaison: Serve as the primary liaison with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), water authorities, and Malaysian government bodies (MIDA / MDEC) to secure and manage high-capacity power and resource requirements for the campus and expanding sites.
    • Client Management: Act as the primary operational representative during client reviews and compliance audits, maintaining exceptional relationships across the client portfolio.
  • Incident, Crisis & Risk Management
    • Portfolio Escalation: Act as the ultimate escalation point for major infrastructure or technical incidents across all operational sites, leading swift resolution efforts under pressure during system failures or maintenance windows.
    • Root-Cause Analysis: Lead comprehensive root-cause analysis (RCA) and implement robust preventative measures following any critical incident to minimize operational risk to live environments.
  • Financial & Capacity Optimization
    • Financial Management: Own the operational P&L for the campus and associated sites, managing multi-million dollar OPEX / CAPEX budgets while optimizing energy procurement and vendor contract performance.
    • Efficiency & Sustainability: Monitor and optimize data centre capacity, space utilization, and environmental efficiency across all sites. Drive technical strategies to optimize Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), specifically managing high-density cooling solutions for AI workloads.
    • Lifecycle Management: Develop and oversee rigorous preventative and corrective maintenance schedules for all critical facility assets and technical equipment across the entire asset portfolio.
  • Compliance & Governance
    • Standards Adherence: Ensure all sites meet global and local compliance standards, including ISO 27001, SOC2, BOMBA (Fire Safety), and Malaysia’s Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL).

Requirements:

  • Education & Certifications
    • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, IT, Facilities Management, or a related field.
    • Professional certifications such as CDCP (Certified Data Centre Professional), CDFOM (Certified Data Centre Facilities Manager), CDMS, or specialized certifications from the Uptime Institute are highly preferred.
  • Experience
    • Minimum 15 years of experience in data centre operations or mission-critical facilities.
    • At least 8 years in a senior leadership role with a proven track record of managing large-scale, multi-building critical infrastructure facilities or multi-site data centre portfolios (with individual campus experience of at least 100MW).
  • Technical Knowledge
    • Critical Systems: Deep knowledge of Electrical & Mechanical systems (including HV/MV substations, Chilled Water Systems, Cooling Towers, and High-Density Liquid Cooling), IT infrastructure, and critical environment standards.
    • Malaysian Regulations: Thorough understanding of Malaysia’s Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and fire safety (BOMBA) regulations.
  • Soft Skills & Core Competencies
    • Crisis Management: Proven track record of managing high-stress critical incidents calmly and effectively, with strong decision-making capabilities under pressure across a distributed environment.
    • Commercial & Strategic Acumen: Strong commercial background with an exceptional ability to translate complex technical and operational performance into clear, business-oriented terms for clients and executive stakeholders.
    • Communication: Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a demonstrated knack for managing diverse technical and support teams across multiple locations.

EA Licence No: 22C1055

EA Personnel Registration No: R2095104