Associate Director – Design Management (Data Centre & Mission Critical)

About the role

The Associate Director will provide senior technical leadership for a portfolio of data centre and mission‑critical infrastructure projects, establishing design standards and ensuring successful delivery from concept through handover.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design management function across data centre and mission‑critical projects from concept through handover.
• Establish and continuously improve design standards, reference designs and technical documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory, customer and performance requirements.
• Manage the full design lifecycle, including feasibility, basis of design, detailed design, IFC, construction support, commissioning and handover.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (civil, structural, architectural, MEP, ICT, security) and oversee BIM model coordination, clash detection and information exchange.
• Drive value‑engineering, sustainability and energy‑efficiency initiatives, monitoring PUE, WUE and green‑building criteria.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil/Structural Engineering or related discipline; Chartered Engineer status highly desirable.
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in engineering design and design management of data centre or mission‑critical infrastructure.
• Proven ability to lead consultants, contractors and internal stakeholders, and to make technical decisions in demanding programme and commercial environments.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience with cost‑benefit analysis, value engineering and risk management.

Required skills

• Deep knowledge of data‑centre standards (Uptime Institute Tier, TIA‑942, ISO) and sustainability metrics (PUE, WUE).
• Expertise in critical MEP systems: HV/LV power distribution, UPS, standby generation, cooling infrastructure, BMS and fire protection.
• Proficiency with BIM, digital engineering, design coordination and technical assurance processes.
• Experience with design governance, change management and value‑engineering methodologies.