Critical Facilities Manager - Data Center

CSS; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CSS is seeking a Critical Facilities Manager for our Philadelphia data center to lead 24x7 operations, supervise technicians and vendors, and ensure reliability of electrical, mechanical, plumbing, life safety, and building controls.

You will drive preventive and emergency maintenance, manage CapEx and OpEx budgets, and oversee Change Control, SOP, ERP documentation, and safety compliance to maximize uptime and efficiency. Strong leadership, planning, and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years in critical facilities management or related field.
• Experience with data center infrastructure and building automation systems preferred.
• Strong leadership and vendor-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations and maintenance of mission-critical data center equipment.
• Oversee vendors, subcontractors, and field staff to ensure uptime.
• Develop and implement preventive and emergency maintenance programs.
• Manage CapEx/OpEx budgets and cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure safety, compliance, and change control processes.

Skills

Leadership

Planning & scheduling

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Technical degree in Mechanical/Electrical/HVAC

Tools

MS Project

AutoCAD

FM software

Job description

As the Critical Facilities Manager - Data Center, you will be responsible for leading the daily operations and maintenance of mission-critical infrastructure within a 24x7 data center environment. You will oversee a team of technical staff and vendors, ensuring the reliability, safety, and efficiency of all building systems, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and life safety. You will drive preventative and emergency maintenance programs, enforce operational standards, and support strategic planning to maintain uptime and optimize performance. Additionally, you will be responsible for vendor management, change control implementation, and adherence to safety and compliance protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-site field coordination, supervision, and project management support for the operation of a data center.
• Manage mission critical equipment and systems used to operate and maintain a data center, including life safety, mechanical, plumbing, and power systems.
• Manage preventative and emergency maintenance schedules, procedures, inspections, and maintenance activities for building systems and critical equipment.
• Oversee maintenance providers, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure proper installation of equipment and delivery of maintenance services.
• Troubleshoot emergencies, equipment problems, and technical issues, and organize and oversee resolutions to maintain uptime and operational reliability.
• Report discrepancies and operational trends to the operations team and clients, and provide technical support related to redundancy, reliability, maintainability, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage facility CapEx and OpEx budgets, including forecasting, financial planning, vendor expenditures, maintenance costs, and infrastructure improvement projects to support reliable facility operations.
• Assist in updates and development of standard practices, Change Control Programs, Method of Procedure (MOP), Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and Emergency Recovery Procedure (ERP) documentation consistent with data center operations.
• Administer onsite Critical Facility Work Rules, vendor onboarding and familiarization, safety inspections, administrative policies and procedures, and Scope of Work standards.
• Manage spare parts inventory needs, reporting development, and Life Cycle Replacement Strategy planning for critical systems.
• Provide on-call support (24x7) as required.

Qualifications

• High School Degree or Equivalent required; Bachelors Degree preferred
• Technical Degree in Mechanical, HVAC or Electrical Field, military critical equipment training or other related field preferred
• 5+ years of experience as a Critical Facilities Manager or other relevant experience
• Technically proficient in planning and scheduling and exhibit excellent organizational skills
• Strong communication skills, the ability to lead coordination meetings, and actively facilitate progress in order to achieve scheduled goals
• Knowledge of construction planning, mechanical or electrical systems necessary, building controls, fire systems, and security systems preferred
• Knowledge of building automation systems preferred
• Electrical/HVAC certification preferred
• Ability to work cooperatively with internal administration groups, and effectively negotiate with customers and contractors to reach mutually acceptable terms and conditions preferred
• Proficiency with MS Excel, MS Word, MS Project. Knowledge of AutoCAD is a plus

Working Environment

Data Center - The data center work environment is a highly secure, physically demanding, and structured operation, characterized by its loud, controlled temperature conditions and 24/7/365 uptime. The environment demands a high attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills to manage and troubleshoot critical equipment during regular operation and in emergency situations. Lifting up to 50 lbs, regular bending, stooping, climbing and long periods of walking / standing will be required.

Physical Expectations

• Work may require excessive bending or stooping.

• Employee required to walk long distances repeatedly throughout the day.