Head of Facilities Management

Overview

This role is responsible for establishing and leading the Facilities Management (FM) function, overseeing data center operations across the APAC region, and ensuring excellence in infrastructure reliability, service delivery, and strategic growth. The position requires strong technical expertise, proven leadership, and a business driven mindset to secure new opportunities and support organizational expansion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Identify and secure new FM projects and business opportunities.

• Demonstrate strong commercial acumen in budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.

• Support commercial teams with proposal development, technical assessments, site reviews, and customer presentations.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with C level stakeholders and key customers.

2. Department Leadership & Development

• Set up the FM department, including operational processes, workflows, and performance standards.

• Lead, mentor, and develop high performing engineering and technical teams operating on a 24/7 schedule.

• Recruit, train, and retain talent to support long term organizational growth.

• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

3. Facilities & Data Center Operations

• Standardize operations and maintenance processes across all APAC data center sites.

• Oversee routine and emergency operations for critical infrastructure such as switchgear, generators, UPS systems, PDUs, chillers, cooling towers, CRAHs, and BMS systems.

• Plan, implement, and optimize Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and other efficiency initiatives.

• Manage site capacity planning, forecasting, and resource optimization.

4. Operational Leadership

• Oversee all aspects of data center facility management, IT infrastructure interface, and service delivery.

• Develop and implement operational policies, standards, and procedures to ensure compliance and efficiency.

• Lead cross functional teams to deliver high quality installation, commissioning, and maintenance activities.

5. Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Drive infrastructure improvement projects from concept to completion, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.

• Implement best practices, SOPs, and preventive maintenance strategies to enhance operational performance.

• Monitor site performance metrics and analyze trends to identify optimization opportunities.

6. Service Delivery & Quality Assurance

• Ensure strict adherence to SLAs and KPIs for internal and external stakeholders.

• Strengthen service quality, uptime, and incident response processes.

• Implement automation, workflow improvements, and efficiency tools to enhance customer experience and productivity.

7. Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with safety standards, environmental requirements, and regulatory frameworks (e.g., ISO, MAS, BCA).

• Lead business continuity planning and disaster recovery initiatives.

• Conduct audits, self-assessments, and risk mitigation plans for operational resilience.

8. Team Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and mentor high performing teams across operations and service functions.

• Serve as a key liaison between internal departments, vendors, and clients.

• Represent the organization at industry events and support regional alignment initiatives.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Minimum 10 years of experience leading critical facilities operations across multiple data centers or telecommunications environments.

• Strong technical knowledge of MEP systems and mission-critical infrastructure.

• Proven leadership experience managing large operational teams and complex projects.

• Strong understanding of ITIL practices, compliance frameworks, and operational risk management.

Skills & Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong hands on operational expertise.

• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong business mindset with experience in budgeting and performance optimization.

• Analytical, proactive, and able to work under pressure, especially during emergencies.

• Adaptable to fast paced, lean, and rapidly evolving environments.