Senior Manager, Operations

We are seeking a seasoned and versatile professional to take on a multi-functional role within the Data Center Operations team. The successful candidate will serve as:

1.      A Change Advisory Board (CAB) Approver responsible for evaluating and authorizing changes that impact DC Operation’s infrastructure.

2.      A Trainer for the upskilling the Data Center Operations Team.

3.      A Team Lead (Operations) in the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to drive continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and standardization in DC systems across the Keppel’s Assets.

4.      Working with cross functional team to Invest, Build & Operate in target market.

This is a strategic role ideal for someone with strong technical expertise, a passion for knowledge transfer, and leadership capabilities to influence and align with best practices across business units. This position will lead the operations and readiness strategy across multiple mission-critical data center sites in APAC, India, and Australia. This role ensures seamless operational continuity and supports the pre-operational readiness of target countries. The incumbent will work closely with investment, tech solution, and project build teams to align facility operations with business growth, compliance, and technical standards.

Key Responsibilities:

1.           CAB Approver Responsibilities: A formal body that evaluates proposed changes in (OT) facility environments to ensure minimal risk and business disruption. CAB Approvers assess changes for feasibility, risk, impact, and alignment with policies.

• Review and approve change requests affecting the facility infrastructure of data centers
• Assess risks, business impact, compliance, and technical feasibility of changes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure safe and efficient execution of changes
• Maintain documentation of approvals and ensure alignment with change management policies
• Participate in regular & off-hours CAB meetings and provide technical input

2.           Trainer of DC Facilities Systems: An expert responsible for educating and upskilling team members through structured programs, hands-on sessions, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, ensuring operational excellence and compliance with standards.

• Develop and deliver training programs on critical facility systems, including UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, grounding, and safety protocols
• Conduct onboarding training for new hires and regular upskilling for existing staff
• Organize practical workshops, simulations, and walkthroughs of critical systems
• Evaluate training effectiveness and update content as needed based on new technologies or standards
• Maintain a knowledge base of SOPs, manuals, and troubleshooting guides.

3.           Team Lead (Operations) – Centre of Excellence (CoE): A team who provides leadership, best practices, research, support, and/or training in a focused area. In this context, the CoE for Data Centers aims to standardize and innovate in Electrical, Mechanical, Safety, General Facility management systems design, operation, and maintenance.

• Lead initiatives to establish and maintain best practices for DC facility system design, operation, and maintenance
• Collaborate with Technical Solution, Innovative members, Project management, Operations, Compliance, and other stakeholders to define standards and templates (e.g., for Basic of Design and tender specs)
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation by evaluating new technologies and methodologies
• Facilitate knowledge sharing across regions and departments
• Monitor KPIs and metrics to assess the effectiveness of CoE activities and improvements

Operational Readiness for Target Countries

• Support operational readiness assessments for new market entry or facility expansion in target countries.
• Collaborate with the investment team on feasibility studies, risk assessments, and infrastructure due diligence.
• Work with the project build team to ensure facilities are designed for efficient operations from Day 1.
• Establish and activate Operations Day-0 to Day-1 transition plans including staffing, SOPs, vendor onboarding, and tooling.
• Provide guidance on regional regulatory requirements, permitting, and local operational best practices.
• Manage and develop on-site teams and country-level Operations Leads.
• Drive regional training, succession planning, and performance management programs.
• Provide inputs to OPEX and CAPEX planning.
• Deliver regular operational reports, KPIs, and regional performance insights to senior leadership.

• Manage contracts and performance of third-party service providers across regions.
• Standardize SLAs and ensure accountability in service delivery.

• Partner with the Tech Solution Team to ensure operational inputs are considered during solution design and client onboarding.
• Align closely with Project Delivery to review design and construction progress, ensuring handover to operations meets required standards.
• Support investment decisions with insights on operational costs, constraints, and regional risks.

• On live DC, oversee 24/7 operations data centers, ensuring uptime, SLA delivery, and compliance.
• Implement and standardize operational procedures across multiple geographies for consistency and control.
• Lead site-level operational audits, performance tracking, and optimization plans.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field. Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in data center operations with a focus on electrical systems.
• Certified in ITIL (preferably v4) with experience in Change Management processes.
• Proven experience in training or mentoring technical staff.
• Experience in leading or contributing to a Center of Excellence is a strong advantage.
• Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders.