Senior Director, DC Operations

DayOne; Campus (IL); On-site; USD 98,120 - 171,710; Full time

Job summary

DayOne is seeking a Director to lead Malaysia-based campus operations, guiding mobilization of new data centre sites, overseeing construction, commissioning and handover to on-site teams, and ensuring governance with global standards.

You will manage the on-site leadership team, drive operational excellence, risk management and performance reporting to regional leadership, and coordinate with stakeholders to uphold safety, compliance, and seamless transitions.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in a relevant engineering or facilities field.
• 15+ years of experience with 10+ years in data centre operations.
• Proven track record in regional or subregional leadership and policy development.
• Strong knowledge of building services, critical infrastructure, and facility management.
• Experience with risk, change, and capacity management in large-scale operations.
• Experience in project, program, contract and vendor oversight.
• Background in EHS management and technical audit compliance is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Malaysia data centre operations, including budgets and cost modelling.
• Report to APAC Regional Data Centre Operations Director on performance, projects and risks.
• Lead subregional change management and drive governance with global standards.
• Direct on-site leadership teams and ensure compliance with methodologies and policies.
• Oversee mobilization of new facilities from construction to turnover and handover.
• Maintain rigorous communication with stakeholders during all phases of project delivery.
• Support audits and maintain certifications (TIA-942, Uptime, ISO standards, LEED).
• Coordinate onboarding with customers and ensure SLA alignment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Risk management

Change management

Capacity management

Vendor oversight

Policy development

Operational governance

Leadership communication

Facility management tools

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, Facilities Management, or a related field

Job description

Join DayOne – Shaping the Future of Data Infrastructure

DayOne is a global leader in the development and operation of high-performance data centers. As one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, we’ve built a robust presence across Asia and Europe — and we’re just getting started.

As we expand into new international markets, we’re looking for talented, driven individuals to join us on this exciting journey. This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to be a key contributor to our dynamic team and help shape the future of global data infrastructure.

If you're passionate about innovation, technology, and growth, we invite you to be part of DayOne’s next chapter.

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.

DayOne is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

If you're ready to grow with one of the fastest-moving companies in the data center industry, apply now and be part of our global journey.