Operations Readiness Manager

Zerra develops and operates hyperscale data centre campuses across Australia, Japan and India, delivering capacity at scale into markets driven by the growth of cloud and AI. Zerra's flexible campus developments support hyperscale and neocloud organisations, enabling some of the world's fastest-scaling technology businesses to grow with certainty and ambition. 

At Zerra, we empower exceptional people to challenge convention, drive innovation and make a real impact in digital infrastructure. Our culture fuses entrepreneurial agility with global expertise, enabling our teams to deliver results that matter. 

We believe that diverse perspectives, inclusive leadership and equitable opportunities are essential to building stronger teams and better outcomes. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and empowered to thrive. 

Zerra is part of AGP, an independently owned investor and asset manager that develops and operates real assets across the energy, digital and real estate sectors. 

Western Downs Digital Park 
Western Downs Digital Park (WDDP) is a master-planned digital and energy precinct in regional Queensland, developed and operated by Zerra. Planned across multiple delivery phases, WDDP brings together AI-ready data centres, energy infrastructure and a purpose-built campus environment. 

Located close to major power infrastructure within the Western Downs Special Industry Area, WDDP represents a major investment in Queensland's digital future and an opportunity to help deliver the critical infrastructure supporting the continued growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence. 

• 5+ years proven experience leading complex operations mobilisations
• Current Australian driver's licence and the ability to obtain relevant security and background clearances.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in contract management systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Analytical mindset with ability to interpret data and drive insights.
• Ability to work across cross functional groups within an organization
• Ability to understand the wider picture whilst devoting attention to detail
• Proactive, diligent, able and willing to think ahead.

Desirable Qualifications and Certifications 

• Tertiary qualification in electrical or mechanical engineering, facilities or operations management or a relevant trade qualification with substantial critical-environment experience.
• Project or programme management credentials (e.g. PMP or PRINCE2).
• Facilities management accreditation (e.g. IFMA or IWFM).

Reporting to the Senior Operations Director, the Operations Readiness Manager is responsible for coordinating mobilisation of initial and future expansion operations of the site. Collaborating across Operations, Design, Development, Legal and Finance teams to ensure: 

• Transition Management – Define and implement the roadmap between project delivery into steady-state operations. 
• Cross-Functional Coordination - Align stakeholders across engineering, construction, supply chain, quality assurance, finance and training departments. 
• Risk Management - Identify and manage potential risks to the success of day 1 operations for each handover. 
• Process Optimization - Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and adopt continuous improvement frameworks. 
• Foster strong relationships with vendors and internal teams to support operational excellence and strategic objectives.

Responsibilities 
Program Management

• Own the operational readiness plan for each phase of the campus, ensuring Zerra DC from first energisation through to day-1 operations and Customer requirements are achieved subsequent expansions.
• Define readiness gates, entry and exit criteria, and acceptance milestones with Design, Development and Commissioning teams.
• Maintain the master readiness schedule and report status, risks and critical path to the Senior Operations Director.

Project Interface

• Represent operations in project design reviews, ensuring maintainability, operability and safety in design requirements are captured before construction.
• Review and comment on commissioning documentation - test scripts, IST scenarios and witness plans.
• Participate in project risk and change control forums, assessing the operational impact of design changes, variations and schedule movement.
• Ensure appropriate involvement of operations during commissioning witness and handover activities with the delivery team, including punch-list closeout and acceptance of assets into operations.

Operations Handover

• Ensure that all required information is received in a timely manner from the project – i.e. O&M Manuals, vendor training, spares, licences, reports and certifications as required.
• Ensure standard operating procedures, methods of procedure and emergency operating procedures are in place and trained ahead of each handover.
• Establish the asset register, CMMS setup, maintenance strategy and spares holdings prior to operational acceptance.
• Ensure critical-environment governance - change control, permit to work and site access - is in place and understood before day 1.
• Capture lessons learned from each handover and fold them into the readiness playbook for future phases.

People Commissioning

• Work with the wider operations team to build the site training matrix and competency framework, covering critical-environment awareness, site-specific systems, vendor training and safety qualifications.
• Ensure all operations personnel are trained, assessed as competent and authorised on the relevant systems before they are rostered onto live load.
• Run readiness drills and scenario exercises - emergency response, failure simulation and shift handover - to validate team capability ahead of day 1.

Relationship Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for operational contract queries.
• Facilitate regular vendor performance reviews and feedback sessions.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure contract terms align with operational needs.