Account Lead - Data Centre Solutions at CBRE Excellerate

About the role

Johannesburg | Site-based | Data Centre Solutions | Travel to Nigeria and Kenya required

• We are seeking an experienced Account Lead to join our Data Centre Solutions team in Johannesburg. This is a site-based leadership role responsible for the management, performance and development of a critical environment portfolio across five sites, with travel required to Nigeria and Kenya.
• The successful candidate will provide operational, commercial and client leadership across the portfolio, ensuring that contractual commitments are met and exceeded. The role requires a strong customer focus, excellent leadership capability and the ability to maintain trusted relationships with key client stakeholders, regional teams, direct reports and service partners.
• This role is ideally suited to a technically strong leader with 5 to 7 years’ experience in critical environments. Data centre experience is considered first prize, and an engineering or technical background is strongly recommended.

What you will bring:

• Minimum of 5 to 7 years’ experience in critical environments, technical facilities management, engineering operations or complex operational service delivery.
• Data centre experience is highly advantageous and would be considered first prize.
• Engineering or technical background strongly recommended; mechanical or electrical engineering experience would be advantageous.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to lead site teams, direct reports, contractors and service providers across multiple locations.
• Strong customer relationship management skills, with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Commercial acumen, including exposure to P&L, budgets, revenue and profit delivery, WIP, debt, cost control, contract growth and financial reporting.
• Good understanding of critical infrastructure such as mechanical and electrical services, HVAC, cooling, power, UPS, generators, BMS and related building systems.
• Strong knowledge of health, safety, risk and compliance requirements within critical environments.
• Highly organised, detail focused and able to manage multiple priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong reporting and stakeholder engagement capability.
• Must be based in Johannesburg and able to work on site; this is not a remote role.
• Willingness and ability to travel to Nigeria and Kenya as required.

What you will be doing:

• Lead operational delivery across five data centre / critical environment sites, ensuring service continuity, reliability and performance.
• Act as the key account lead for the client, maintaining strong relationships, managing expectations and resolving escalations effectively.
• Ensure contractual commitments, service levels, KPIs and operational standards are met and exceeded.
• Provide leadership to site teams, regional stakeholders, direct reports, contractors and subcontractors across the portfolio.
• Take responsibility for account financial performance, including revenue, profit delivery, WIP, debt, cost reduction and contract growth.
• Identify and develop opportunities to expand services, add projects, increase turnover and support contract retention or re-tender success.
• Ensure company and client policies, processes and governance requirements are communicated and implemented across the account.
• Ensure healthy and safe working conditions and effective implementation of company, client and statutory health and safety requirements.
• Drive a strong customer focus across all operational activities and ensure effective engagement with key client contacts.
• Monitor operational risks, incidents and service issues, ensuring timely escalation, corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Provide accurate reporting on operational performance, financial performance, risks, issues, opportunities and account progress.
• Create a learning environment by supporting training, development planning and capability building within the team.
• Promote and maintain the RISE values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence.
• If you are an experienced critical environments leader with strong customer relationship skills and the ability to lead complex, multi-site operations, we would like to hear from you

Closing Date 10 July 2026