OPT Data Center Manager Jobs
Data Center Manager jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with degrees in computer science, information systems, or electrical engineering. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Employers typically sponsor H-1B visas for strong performers in this operationally critical, hard-to-fill role.
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Get Access To All JobsABOUT THE ROLE
As a CBRE Data Center Manager, you will manage the team responsible for providing preventative maintenance and repair services to a client or small building.
This job is part of the Critical and Technical Services job function. They are responsible for technical maintenance services in critical client environments.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Provide formal supervision to employees. Monitor the training and development of staff. Conduct performance evaluations and coaching. Oversee the recruiting and hiring of new employees.
- Coordinate and manage the team's daily activities. Establish work schedules, assign tasks, and cross-train staff. Set and track staff and department deadlines. Mentor and coach as needed.
- Manage the relationship with the client while working with other stakeholders to meet all MSA requirements.
- Responsible for ensuring the completion of configuration management, work orders, preventative maintenance, and repairs within the agreed SLA timeframe.
- Resolve unforeseen circumstances that occur and inform the client or Sr. management when needed.
- Verify facility infrastructure equipment installations are within the agreed SLA timeframe.
- Oversee Information Technology equipment power installations, relocation and decommission requests.
- Check daily routine cleanup of the data halls and review findings.
- Confirm all deployments are installed to applicable internal, manufacturer, and industry standards.
- Ensure that all records are updated following any changes made. Ensure that documentation is also kept up to date for all applicable processes.
- Prepare Method Statements and Risk Assessments and present to Sr. management.
- Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Influence parties of shared interests to reach an agreement.
- Apply knowledge of own discipline and how own discipline integrates with others to achieve team and departmental objectives.
- Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve day-to-day and moderately complex issues which may or may not be evident in existing systems and processes.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred with 3-5 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
- Experience in the areas of staffing, selection, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measuring, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention preferred.
- Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive, complicated, and difficult information, convey performance expectations and handle problems.
- Leadership skills to motivate team impact on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the job discipline and department.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Extensive organizational skills with a strong inquisitive mindset.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
CANDIDATE ACCOMMODATIONS: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
ABOUT THE ROLE
As a CBRE Data Center Manager, you will manage the team responsible for providing preventative maintenance and repair services to a client or small building.
This job is part of the Critical and Technical Services job function. They are responsible for technical maintenance services in critical client environments.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Provide formal supervision to employees. Monitor the training and development of staff. Conduct performance evaluations and coaching. Oversee the recruiting and hiring of new employees.
- Coordinate and manage the team's daily activities. Establish work schedules, assign tasks, and cross-train staff. Set and track staff and department deadlines. Mentor and coach as needed.
- Manage the relationship with the client while working with other stakeholders to meet all MSA requirements.
- Responsible for ensuring the completion of configuration management, work orders, preventative maintenance, and repairs within the agreed SLA timeframe.
- Resolve unforeseen circumstances that occur and inform the client or Sr. management when needed.
- Verify facility infrastructure equipment installations are within the agreed SLA timeframe.
- Oversee Information Technology equipment power installations, relocation and decommission requests.
- Check daily routine cleanup of the data halls and review findings.
- Confirm all deployments are installed to applicable internal, manufacturer, and industry standards.
- Ensure that all records are updated following any changes made. Ensure that documentation is also kept up to date for all applicable processes.
- Prepare Method Statements and Risk Assessments and present to Sr. management.
- Lead by example and model behaviors that are consistent with CBRE RISE values. Influence parties of shared interests to reach an agreement.
- Apply knowledge of own discipline and how own discipline integrates with others to achieve team and departmental objectives.
- Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve day-to-day and moderately complex issues which may or may not be evident in existing systems and processes.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- Bachelor's Degree preferred with 3-5 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a combination of experience and education will be considered.
- Experience in the areas of staffing, selection, training, development, coaching, mentoring, measuring, appraising, and rewarding performance and retention preferred.
- Ability to guide the exchange of sensitive, complicated, and difficult information, convey performance expectations and handle problems.
- Leadership skills to motivate team impact on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the job discipline and department.
- In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office products. Examples include Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
- Extensive organizational skills with a strong inquisitive mindset.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
CANDIDATE ACCOMMODATIONS: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at recruitingaccommodations@cbre.com or via telephone at +1 866 225 3099 (U.S.) and +1 866 388 4346 (Canada).
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Data Center Manager
Emphasize 24/7 operational responsibility
Data center managers who own uptime metrics and incident response are harder to replace. Frame your experience around SLA compliance, mean time to recovery, and infrastructure availability percentages. Operational accountability makes sponsorship conversations much easier to initiate.
Get your certifications in order before applying
CompTIA Server+, CDCP, or Cisco CCNA credentials signal technical depth employers expect at the manager level. Certified candidates reduce employer uncertainty about OPT gaps and demonstrate long-term commitment to the field before the interview even starts.
Target colocation and cloud infrastructure companies
Equinix, Digital Realty, and hyperscale cloud providers run structured sponsorship programs for data center roles. These organizations hire internationally at scale and have established legal and HR processes that make OPT and H-1B transitions significantly more straightforward.
Document your STEM OPT eligibility clearly
Data Center Manager roles almost universally qualify under STEM OPT extension categories tied to computer science and engineering CIP codes. Confirm your degree qualifies, then communicate your 36-month authorization window upfront so employers aren't guessing about your timeline.
Quantify infrastructure scale you've managed
Employers want specifics: rack counts, kilowatt capacity, server counts, or number of technicians supervised. Managers who can articulate the scale of infrastructure they've overseen are taken more seriously and face fewer objections when raising visa sponsorship needs.
Address sponsorship directly in the second interview
Raising visa sponsorship too early can stall conversations, but waiting until an offer creates friction. The second interview, once mutual interest is established, is the right moment to confirm the company sponsors H-1B visas and has done so for similar roles.
Data Center Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Center Manager role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Yes, in most cases. Data Center Manager positions typically fall under computer science, information systems, or electrical engineering CIP codes, all of which qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. To confirm eligibility, verify that your degree program appears on the official STEM Designated Degree Program List and that your employer is E-Verify enrolled, which is required for STEM OPT.
How do I find Data Center Manager jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Browse Migrate Mate to filter Data Center Manager openings by OPT sponsorship willingness. Colocation providers, enterprise IT departments, and cloud infrastructure companies are the most active sponsors for this role. Searching by employer type rather than just job title helps surface companies with established international hiring programs rather than those sponsoring for the first time.
Do employers require prior management experience, or can new OPT graduates qualify?
Most Data Center Manager roles expect two to five years of hands-on infrastructure experience before moving into management. New OPT graduates typically enter as data center technicians or operations analysts first. If you're applying directly after graduation, focus on roles with 'junior manager' or 'team lead' in the title, or target smaller facilities where the management scope is more entry-level.
What happens to my OPT status if I change employers as a Data Center Manager?
You can change employers on OPT, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days and update your SEVIS record. For STEM OPT, the new employer must also be E-Verify enrolled and you'll need a new Form I-983 training plan signed by the new employer before you begin work. There is no grace period for working without authorization between jobs.
Are Data Center Manager roles considered specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, when the position requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific technical field such as computer science, information systems, or electrical engineering. Generic management experience alone isn't sufficient for H-1B specialty occupation classification. Employers should ensure the job description specifies the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge to strengthen the H-1B petition.