Technical Director - Data Centre

Purpose:
The newly created role will spearhead the development and growth of data centre business in Singapore and SEAsia region. He/She will provide direction on technical authority, governance, and delivery excellence for data centre projects, covering feasibility studies, site assessments, multi‑disciplinary design, commissioning, and operational readiness.
This position requires excellent technical engineering knowledge coupled with solid people leadership, negotiating and communication skills. 

Key Responsibility Areas:
We are seeking a capable and experienced data centre design lead who is highly skilled in balancing client satisfaction with internal delivery, focusing on defining complex project scopes, leading cross-functional teams, managing budgets/risks, ensuring quality, and strategic stakeholder communication. This includes mentoring juniors and driving service improvement for the consultancy service, acting as the central point for project success, bridging client needs with technical execution.

Responsibilities:
1. Client Delivery & Account Stewardships

• Lead the end-to-end delivery for a global data center customer account (feasibility, site selection and due diligence, concept & detailed design, peer reviews, commissioning support)
• Serve as the primary technical and relationship lead, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk are proactively managed
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams (MEP, civil/structural, architectural, fire, acoustics, sustainability, digital engineering/BIM)

2. Technical Solutions & Innovation

• Oversee development of high performance, resilient and efficient technical solutions (power topologies, cooling strategies, controls/BMS/EPMS, redundancy, sustainability).
• Champion liquid/advanced cooling readiness, energy optimization, and 24/7 reliability design thinking for AI era densities.
• Drive digital delivery (BIM/Revit/Navisworks), analytics, and computational design; promote DFMA/modular delivery where feasible.

3. Market Development & Growth

• Develop and execute a go to market plan to bring in new data center accounts (hyperscalers, colocation, enterprise, REITs/developers)
• Partner with BD/Marketing on pipeline creation, client presentations, proposals, RFPs, and thought leadership
• Track market trends (policy, power, cooling, sustainability) and shape advisory offerings (due diligence packs, investment/risk memos)
• Support WSP offices that currently do not have dedicated data center capability—provide solutioning, peer reviews, and project recovery as needed

4. People & Culture

• Manage and mentor team members; foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop succession plans, teaming arrangements for mission critical talent.

5. Financial Management & KPIs

• Manage the budget, resource forecasts, and utilization; report KPIs to the Sector Lead (e.g., win rate, margin, DSO, delivery quality, client satisfaction/NPS, talent development metrics).
• Implement risk registers and lessons learned mechanisms across the portfolio.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical / Mechanical Engineering (or related discipline); advanced degree a plus
• Significant experience in data center design/engineering, with delivery leadership on large/complex mission critical projects
• Demonstrated capability in MEP power and cooling strategies, controls/BMS/EPMS, and commissioning
• Proven track record in client stewardship and business development in the data center sector
• Strong project governance, QA/QC, risk management, and stakeholder communication skills
• Professional registration (e.g., PE, CEng, or local equivalent)
• Experience with modular/DFMA, liquid cooling, energy storage/UPS strategies, and sustainability frameworks (PUE/WUE/GMDC where applicable)

Health, Safety, Quality and Wellbeing

• Embody behaviours that support a strong health and safety culture.
• Take reasonable steps to ensure personal health and safety, as well as that of others affected by activities.
• Comply with safety rules, procedures, and instructions issued by the company or authorized persons.
• Make proper use of facilities, equipment, and clothing provided for protection.
• Identify significant hazards associated with activities and eliminate them where possible.
• Reduce and control remaining risks to prevent harm.
• Participate in necessary health and safety training.
• Take note of health and safety information and instructions provided.
• Rectify health and safety problems or defects where safely and reasonably possible.
• Report issues if unable to rectify them.
• Foster good working relationships and embrace diversity and inclusion.
• Support employees' overall wellbeing to create a healthy and productive workplace.

Self-Development

• Take the lead to establish personal career experiences, development and performance goals through regular and relevant Thrive conversations.
• Keep up-to-date with developments in your professional area.
• Make use of expert collaboration opportunities such as PANS to develop and maintain a network of technical/professional support and excellence.
• Achieve and/or maintain professional registrations/licences relevant to your role.
• Update the Capabilities Database for sharing capabilities and qualifications within the business.
• Regularly reflect on the contribution you make to your team culture to embrace diversity, strive for excellence and demonstrate our Guiding Principles

About WSP Asia
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in over 50 countries and employs approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in Asia’s team of 3,500 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, advisory, digital services, project management and mission critical sectors.