Executive: Operations

To be responsible for the Development and Operations of our Data Centre facilities across Africa that ensures confidence in the ADC brand that is recognised on a global stage.  Leads the operations and development teams which includes the infrastructure, facilities, engineering, construction and commercial teams. Responsibilities include strategic investment management and project execution for developing and operating of existing and new Data Centres located in Africa. Oversees all global design and standards, ensuring data centre design consistency across the Group and compliance to the latest customer demands. Operationally achieve best in industry international accreditation as well as developing and managing the capital and operational expenditure budgets for each facility.

Prioritising the evolution of the customer experience while operationally moving ahead of the curve, the Executive ensures that specialist skills and knowledge compliment the uptime and service excellence of each facility thus ensuring that the ADC brand is remarked upon as a centre of excellence.

Key Performance Area

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Based on existing capacity, conducts market assessments and customer demand, define a development plan per market. Identify all development plan opportunities (Expansion, New Build or Acquisition
• Continually develop Pan African Data Centre Operations to such a degree that ADC will be recognized globally as an Industry leader in Data Centre service excellence
• To define a best-in-class Data Centre Operations strategy across Africa as well as review and manage existing capacity/inventory

Risk management

• Develop an operational risk matrix and appropriate indicators, so as to align the risk management approach across all regions
• Highlight risks caused by delayed investments in maintenance capex

Customer Excellence

• Support OPCO/ Projects and activities and IT, Operations Engineering teams. Align team and scope implementation activities.
• Develop processes, staff to manage project delivery, feasibility across the OPCos/ DCs. Ensure staff use systems and tools effectively

Quality, Health, Safety & Environment

• Implements and monitors the QHSE management system in each county and achieve international accreditations such as ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001,etc
• Reviews the requisite health, safety and environmental tests and signs off the annual document review for policies and procedures each year

People Management

• Act as a role model demonstrating the values and behaviours needed to support the development of a single integrated culture
• Align all data centre management teams and install ADC core values and coach behaviours expected of them that are to be passed onto their respective subordinates.
• Develop the necessary plan/s to ensure that Business Units within Operations meets their agreed goals and objectives, meet staff on a pre-agreed basis, identify and agree key performance areas, key objectives/tasks and action plans

Managing CAPEX, OPEX and budgets

• Balance the directions of Capex spends between maintenance and investment, to achieve adequate return
• Analyse each Country Data Centre CAPEX and OPEX budgets within Africa and align (where possible) to achieve savings by utilising suppliers and efficiencies from economies of scale etc.
• Ensure technical and development motivations, budget, purchase requisition and purchase order approvals are submitted accurately and on time.

Operational Excellence (Business Continuity)

• Works closely with the Operations Leadership team to achieve operational excellence in accordance with ADC's business requirements and local legislations around safety, sustainability, risk, policies, compliance and governance.
• To implement best in industry Incident Management plans for all countries within Africa

Formal Qualifications

• Relevant engineering degree - Bachelor's Degree Engineering

Job Related Experience

• Minimum 10 years' experience in Data Centre Senior Management
• Minimum 10 years' experience in Data Centre Operational Management
• Minimum 10 years' experience in Data Centre Customer Service Excellence
• Minimum 10 years' experience in Critical Engineering Environments
• Minimum 10 years' experience in QHSE Management Systems
• Minimum 10 years' experience in Supplier Contract Management