Data Center Facilities Manager

The role 

The Facilities Manager leads a multidisciplinary team of technicians and contractors, oversees maintenance and capital projects, manages vendor performance, and drives operational excellence through continuous improvement, sustainability initiatives, and proactive risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Critical Facilities Operations

• Lead the day-to-day operation of all critical facility infrastructure.
• Ensure the availability and reliability of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems.
• Maintain compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and uptime objectives.
• Oversee 24/7 operational support, including incident response and escalation.
• Ensure all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs), and Method of Procedures (MOPs) are current and followed.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop Critical Facilities Engineers and Technicians.
• Manage shift schedules, staffing, training, and performance evaluations.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate contractor and vendor activities to ensure quality and compliance.

Maintenance & Asset Management

• Develop and oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Manage maintenance planning through the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Monitor equipment lifecycle performance and develop replacement strategies.
• Ensure maintenance activities minimize operational risk and downtime.

Infrastructure Management

Oversee the operation and maintenance of:

• Electrical distribution systems (MV/LV)
• UPS systems and battery plants
• Standby diesel generators
• Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
• Chillers and chilled water systems
• CRAH and CRAC units
• Air Handling Units (AHUs)
• Pumps and hydronic systems
• Heat exchangers
• Building Management System (BMS)
• Fire detection and suppression systems
• Security and access control systems

 

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with Finnish occupational safety legislation, EU directives, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Manage Permit to Work (PTW), Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and contractor safety programs.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Prepare for and support regulatory inspections and internal audits.

Financial & Vendor Management

• Develop and manage the facilities operating budget.
• Review maintenance contracts and service agreements.
• Monitor vendor performance against established KPIs.
• Support procurement of equipment and facility services.

Reporting

• Track and report key operational metrics, including:
  • Infrastructure availability
  • Preventive maintenance completion
  • Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
  • Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)
  • Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
  • Energy consumption
  • Safety performance
• Prepare operational reports for senior leadership.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Master's degree is an advantage but not required.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience in critical facilities or mission-critical operations.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience managing technical teams.
• Experience in hyperscale data centers, colocation facilities, hospitals, power generation, or industrial operations is highly desirable.

Technical Knowledge

Strong knowledge of:

• Critical electrical infrastructure
• HVAC and cooling systems
• Chilled water and hydronic systems
• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
• Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Reliability and maintenance best practices
• Risk assessment and root cause analysis
• Commissioning and integrated systems testing

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Occupational Safety Card (Työturvallisuuskortti).
• Hot Work Card (Tulityökortti).
• First Aid (EA1) certification.
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Specialist (ATS) or similar critical facilities certification.
• Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent) is an advantage.
• Fluent English is required; Finnish language skills are beneficial.

Leadership Competencies

• Safety leadership
• Strategic planning
• Team development
• Decision-making under pressure
• Operational excellence
• Vendor and stakeholder management
• Budget management
• Continuous improvement
• Excellent written and verbal communication