Data Centre Malaysia Country Head

Our client, a fast growing data centre company, with good funding and ambitious plans, is seeking a Malaysia country head. 

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**Job Title:** Malaysia Country Head 

 

**Job Purpose**

The Country General Manager (GM) is the most senior leader in Malaysia, holding end-to-end accountability for the country's business performance and the safe, reliable operation of the company's data center site(s). This role leads local execution across critical facilities operations, customer service delivery, corporate governance, and financial discipline. The GM is the primary representative for the company with local stakeholders—including customers, government authorities, utilities, and industrial parks—while ensuring close alignment with regional and HQ teams to uphold global standards and strategic objectives.

**Key Responsibilities**

**1) Country Leadership & Business Performance**

- Lead the local operating model, ensuring effective execution across all operational and corporate functions.

- Set clear priorities, establish performance standards, and drive accountability through KPIs and structured management reviews.

- Act as the senior local face of the company, protecting its reputation through professional and consistent stakeholder engagement.

**2) Data Center Operations & Critical Environment Excellence**

- Own operational outcomes for the site(s), ensuring 24x7 mission-critical readiness, reliability, and operational rigor.

- Enforce best-practice operational governance, including change management, MOP/SOP/EOP compliance, incident escalation, and RCA/CAPA processes.

- Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs, contractor management, asset lifecycle planning, and operational risk.

- Support project execution by coordinating local site access, approvals, and resources for capacity additions and customer installations.

**3) Customer Operations & Service Delivery**

- Lead customer operations to achieve strong SLA performance and ensure timely resolution of operational issues.

- Oversee customer onboarding, site access governance, work authorization, and planned maintenance notifications.

- Maintain strong customer relationships through credible operational reporting and reliable on-the-ground service execution.

**4) Corporate Administration, Finance & Controls**

- Ensure strong corporate governance, including local policy adherence, delegation of authority, documentation standards, and internal controls.

- Lead country-level budgeting and expense management, driving cost efficiency without compromising safety or reliability.

- Oversee local procurement and vendor governance, including contract execution, performance management, and renewals within delegated authority.

- Partner with regional/HQ finance teams to ensure effective financial administration.

**5) Legal, Compliance, Tax & Regulatory Interface**

- Ensure full compliance with local regulations, including corporate filings, licenses, labor law, tax coordination, and statutory reporting.

- Manage relationships with local regulators and coordinate responses to government requests, inspections, and compliance matters.

- Work with internal legal and external counsel to manage contracts, mitigate risks, and ensure decisions protect the company’s interests.

**6) Security & Business Continuity**

- Own local physical security and crisis readiness, including emergency response plans, drills, and business continuity coordination.

- Maintain strong site security governance covering access control, visitor management, and contractor oversight, aligned with customer and compliance expectations.

**7) People Leadership & Culture**

- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing local team across operations and corporate functions.

- Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and development plans; ensure adequate 24x7 operational coverage.

- Foster a culture of safety, customer focus, integrity, and continuous improvement.

**8) Reporting, Governance & Cross-Functional Coordination**

- Provide structured reporting to regional leadership on operational performance, financial execution, key risks, and country priorities.

- Coordinate effectively with HQ/regional teams to leverage shared services and expertise while maintaining strong local ownership.

- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across reliability, customer experience, compliance, and cost efficiency.

**Requirements**

- 10+ years of leadership experience in data centers, critical facilities, or other high-reliability environments, with increasing scope of responsibility.

- Proven track record managing 24x7 mission-critical operations with a strong safety culture and incident discipline.

- Strong business management skills, including budgeting, cost control, vendor governance, and performance reporting.

- Practical knowledge of country-level corporate operations, including compliance, tax/finance coordination, contracting, and internal controls.

- Excellent stakeholder management skills with customers, utilities, regulators, landlords, and strategic suppliers.

- Strong communication and decision-making skills under pressure; high integrity and ownership mindset.

- Willingness to travel locally and regionally as required.

**Education & Academic Background**

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Business, Finance, Law, or a related discipline.

- Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus.

**Preferred Qualifications**

- Experience in a global data center operator or colocation environment serving hyperscale or enterprise customers.

- Experience leading country operations in a matrix organization with regional/HQ shared services.

- Familiarity with operational best practices and governance frameworks (change management, audit readiness, reliability programs).

- Certifications in critical environment operations, facilities management, EHS, or project management are a plus.