Data Center Operations & Reliability Lead

CBRE Group, Inc.; Louisiana; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE Group, Inc. is seeking a Data Center Manager to lead the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) critical infrastructure team responsible for preventive maintenance, routine operations, and emergency repairs in mission-critical client environments.

You will manage on-site client relationships, ensure uptime, and align maintenance activities with strict MSAs and SLAs while guiding a team of engineers and technicians through staffing, performance reviews, and cross-training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred with 3–5 years of relevant experience in critical infrastructure.
• Experience in data center/critical facilities environments.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead facility engineers and technicians; supervise performance and development.
• Oversee maintenance, emergency repairs, and SLA/MSA adherence.
• Manage on-site client relationships and cross-functional coordination.
• Verify infrastructure equipment installations and IT power deployments.
• Prepare RAMS and risk mitigation plans for activities.
• Maintain accurate documentation and standards compliance.

Skills

Team leadership

Operations management

Client management

RAMS writing

Data center basics

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CMMS

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Role

As a CBRE Data Center Manager, you will manage the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) critical infrastructure engineering team responsible for providing critical preventative maintenance, routine operations, and emergency repair services. This job is part of the Critical and Technical Services job function. You will be directly responsible for ensuring technical maintenance services meet the strict operational requirements of mission-critical client environments, safeguarding infrastructure uptime, and managing on-site client relationships.

Shift Schedule - start time 6am or 7am (3-4-4-3 Rotation):

• Week 1: Work 3 days (12-hour shifts) followed by 4 days off.
• Week 2: Work 4 days (12-hour shifts) followed by 3 days off. Includes 4 hours of planned overtime.

What You’ll Do

• Technical Team Leadership: Provide formal supervision, training, and development for facility engineers and technicians. Conduct performance evaluations, handle recruiting, and manage staff schedules, task assignments, and cross-training.
• Operations & SLA Compliance: Oversee configuration management, work orders, preventative maintenance, and emergency repairs. Ensure all technical tasks are completed within strict Master Services Agreement (MSA) and Service Level Agreement (SLA) timeframes.
• Client & Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary on-site operational point of contact for the client. Collaborate with external stakeholders to meet all operational milestones and contractual agreements.
• Critical Infrastructure Oversight: Verify that facility infrastructure equipment installations (e.g., UPS, chillers, generators) are completed on time. Oversee IT equipment power deployments, power allocations, hardware relocations, and decommissioning requests.
• Risk & Method Statements: Author, review, and prepare technical Method Statements and Risk Assessments (RAMS) for all maintenance and operational activities. Present these risk-mitigation plans to senior management and clients for approval before execution.
• Data Hall Standards: Oversee daily routine cleanups, environmental controls, and space audits of the data halls. Review findings to maintain strict industry compliance regarding air purity and operational standards.
• Incident Resolution: Act as the escalation point to resolve unforeseen critical infrastructure incidents. Swiftly communicate issues and resolution status to senior management and the client.
• Documentation & Standards: Confirm all deployments adhere to internal, manufacturer, and industry compliance standards. Maintain precise, up-to-date documentation and records for all technical processes and facility changes.
• CBRE Values & Culture: Lead by example by modeling behaviors consistent with CBRE RISE values. Influence diverse stakeholders to reach agreements and maintain high operational efficiency.

What You’ll Need

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's Degree preferred with 3–5 years of relevant experience managing critical infrastructure (e.g., data centers, hospitals, power plants). A combination of experience and education will be considered.
• Critical Environment Expertise: Proven understanding of data center infrastructure, including HVAC/cooling, electrical distribution, backup generators, and UPS systems.
• People Management: Experience in staffing, team selection, technical training, performance mentoring, and staff retention.
• Communication Skills: Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive, complicated, and highly technical information, clearly convey operational expectations, and handle high-pressure infrastructure problems.
• Leadership & Influence: Strong leadership skills to motivate technical teams and optimize the efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of the department.
• Software Proficiency: In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook) and familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).

Disclaimers:

•Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

•We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.