FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about data center careers and hiring — experience and English, salaries and career paths, our track record, and fees and roles for employers.

Is there a recruitment agency that specializes in data centers?
Yes. SEDC Partner is one of the few recruitment agencies specialized in data centers (plus energy and sustainability). We connect directly with hyperscalers, data center operators and owner companies, and introduce public and confidential roles across facility design, construction management, project management (PM), commissioning (Cx), facility management (FM) and chief electrical engineers. ¥14.7M average placed salary, 200+ cumulative placements, JDCC member, fully bilingual (JP/EN).
Can I step up from construction management, chief electrical engineer or building maintenance into data centers?
Yes. These are core to DC construction, power and operations, and experience with extra-high voltage, denken licenses and construction management is highly valued. Typical step-ups include construction management → owner's PM, building maintenance → DC facility manager, and chief electrical engineer → power/MEP lead — often with a significant salary increase.
What is the typical salary range in the data center industry?
It varies by role and seniority, but specialist high-class roles can reach ¥10–20M or more. SEDC Partner's average placed salary is ¥14.7M, centered on facility managers, owner's PMs, commissioning and VP/director roles. Ranges vary with experience, qualifications and English ability.
How much can my salary increase through SEDC Partner?
Based on our track record, the average salary increase after placement is +32%. Because specialist talent is scarce relative to demand, correctly positioning your adjacent experience often yields a significant raise. We share a concrete estimate in your career consultation.
What do data center facility managers (FM) and owner's PMs do, and what do they earn?
FMs keep a DC's power, cooling and security running 24/7 to meet SLAs. Owner's PMs work on the owner side, leading construction projects and managing quality, cost and schedule (QCD). Both are high-class roles, with experienced positions reaching ¥12–20M or more.
How do chief electrical engineer (denken / extra-high voltage) qualifications apply in data centers?
MW-class DCs receive power at extra-high voltage, so licensed chief electrical engineers are essential for substation safety supervision. Denken (class 3–1) and EHV experience is highly valued for DC electrical lead, FM and commissioning roles, with strong salary upside.
(For employers) Why hire data center talent through SEDC Partner, and which roles?
Our sector focus means fast technical understanding of requirements and direct access to scarce high-class talent. We cover the full stack from executives (CEO, VP, director) to owner's PM, FM, commissioning, facility design, construction management and electrical — Japanese and foreign-affiliated, including English-required roles.
(For employers) How do fees work, and can we use freelancers?
Permanent placement (SEDC Recruitment) is success-based: a fee applies only when a hire is made (rate proposed by role and conditions). For short-term or project needs, we also offer freelance/contract matching (SEDC Freelance). Please get in touch.
I'm considering hyperscalers or colocation providers — what roles and careers are available?
Hyperscalers and colocation/DC operators continuously generate roles in owner's PM, FM, commissioning, facility design, construction management and operations as DCs are built and expanded. We work exclusively with these operators and owners and match you by language requirement and career goals.
Can I move into the data center industry without prior DC experience?
Yes. Even without data center experience, if you have a background in electrical or HVAC construction management, building maintenance, plant engineering or telecom infrastructure, there are many roles where you'll be valued as immediately effective or high-potential. DC-specific operating processes and equipment are typically something employers help you catch up on through on-the-job training and structured programs.
Can I change jobs into data centers without speaking English?
Yes, you can. At Japanese operators — and even at the Japan arms of foreign-affiliated developers — there are plenty of roles in site operations, construction management and domestic vendor control that are completed entirely in Japanese. Many people also build their English on the job after joining, and there are numerous cases of significant salary increases in roles with no English requirement.
I've heard foreign companies fire people quickly — is that true?
That's not the case. Even at foreign-affiliated firms, an employment contract with the Japan entity is strictly governed by Japan's Labor Contract Act and Labor Standards Act, so dismissal without reasonable cause is not legally possible. Many DC developers and hyperscalers are also making large, long-term investments and site rollouts in the Japanese market, offering a stable environment in which to build a lasting career.
Are the work locations only suburbs like outside Tokyo's 23 wards, Inzai or Keihanna?
It depends on the role and the type of data center.
・By role:operations roles that maintain and inspect equipment are based on-site at the data center, while project management (PM), design, business development and head-office functions typically move between a central head office or remote work and site visits.
・By DC type:megawatt-class "hyperscale data centers" used by cloud providers sit in suburban areas (outside Tokyo's 23 wards, Inzai in Chiba, Keihanna) due to land and power constraints, whereas "urban colocation data centers" that serve as network hubs are numerous in central Tokyo (Otemachi, Shinagawa) — so even operations roles can be based in the city center.
What are SEDC Partner's strengths and track record?
SEDC Partner is a top-tier Japanese recruitment and executive search firm focused exclusively on three areas — data center, energy and sustainability.
・Key results:¥14.7M average placed salary, +32% average salary increase after placement, and 200+ cumulative placements — one of the largest track records in DC recruitment in Japan.
・CXO / high-class line:a pipeline into executive layers including CEO, country manager, Vice President (design, construction, operations, procurement, commissioning), facility manager and project manager (PM).
・Trust:a member of the Japan Data Center Council (JDCC), providing full bilingual (Japanese/English) support.
Why choose SEDC Partner over other recruitment agencies?
The reasons are "one of Japan's largest sets of specialist roles," "exclusive and confidential positions," and "neutral advice."
・End-to-end coverage:without juggling several large agencies, you can compare almost every data center operator in the industry through us alone, and we explain each company's culture, pros and cons objectively.
・Direct line to executives and investors:we build pipelines not only with Japan HR desks but directly with overseas headquarters executives (CEO/VP), funds and investors, so we handle many exclusive roles that never reach the open market. Even where no opening exists, we create new positions around a company's business challenges.
What kinds of roles and backgrounds move into the data center industry?
A wide range of specialists from construction, real estate and engineering move in and thrive.
・Industries of origin:real estate developers, general contractors, subcontractors (electrical/HVAC), design firms, EPC contractors, building management companies, security companies and more.
・Roles and fields where people excel:facility design, cost estimation, procurement, construction management, commissioning (Cx), facility management (FM), EHS and physical security. If you have hands-on experience in any of these, you can be highly valued as an immediately effective candidate.
I haven't decided whether to change jobs — can I just gather information or get career advice?
Of course. We welcome those still at the information-gathering stage with no fixed timing, as well as discussions aimed at a career step six months to a year ahead. We hold "15–30 minute online casual meetings" at any time to share an assessment of your current market value, the latest salary benchmarks at each company, hiring trends and company cultures.
Is facility management (FM) only shift work (night shifts)?
It varies by the company's business model and the seniority of the role, and there are many day-shift-centered positions.
・Hyperscalers and owner companies:at the large operators and owner companies we mainly support, day-to-day on-site first response is often outsourced to partner firms, so in-house FM positions are basically day shift.
・Companies that keep staffing in-house:even where a shift system is in place, the managers and leads who supervise shift members work day shifts, within a tiered structure where each member covers the rotation.
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