Executive Director

Overview

Executive Director – Data Centre Business Unit

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision, business plan, and growth objectives for the Data Centre Business Unit.
• Provide executive leadership across all functions, ensuring the successful delivery of hyperscale and colocation data centre projects.
• Hold overall accountability for the business unit's financial performance, including revenue growth, profitability, forecasting, budgeting, and cost control.
• Lead business development initiatives, identifying new market opportunities and securing strategic partnerships with clients, investors, and key industry stakeholders.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with hyperscale operators, developers, consultants, EPC contractors, technology partners, and government entities.
• Oversee the performance of multidisciplinary teams across project management, engineering, construction, commercial, procurement, and operations functions.
• Ensure projects are delivered in line with contractual obligations, programme milestones, quality standards, and client expectations.
• Drive operational excellence through the implementation of best practices, governance frameworks, and robust risk management processes.
• Champion a culture of safety, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across the business unit.
• Lead organisational planning, workforce development, succession planning, and the recruitment and retention of high-performing talent.
• Provide strategic oversight of major bids, contract negotiations, and commercial agreements.
• Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and competitive activity to inform business strategy and maintain market leadership.
• Represent the organisation at executive forums, industry events, and client engagements to strengthen brand presence and industry relationships.
• Deliver regular performance reporting and strategic recommendations to the Board and Executive Leadership Team.

Requirements

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline. A Master's degree or MBA would be advantageous.
• A minimum of 15 years' experience within the construction, engineering, or digital infrastructure sectors, including significant exposure to mission-critical facilities and data centres.
• Proven experience leading a business unit, division, or major operational function with full P&L responsibility.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing growth strategies within the data centre, mission-critical, or major infrastructure sectors.
• Extensive experience managing complex stakeholder environments and maintaining relationships at C-suite and executive levels.
• Strong commercial acumen with expertise in contract negotiations, financial management, and business performance optimisation.
• Track record of successfully leading large multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects and geographical locations.
• Comprehensive understanding of data centre delivery models, including hyperscale and colocation environments.
• Middle East experience is highly desirable, with an understanding of regional market dynamics and procurement practices.
• Familiarity with hyperscale client standards and delivery expectations, including those of AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta, or Oracle, would be advantageous.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, influencing, and decision-making skills, with the ability to inspire teams and drive organisational success.
• This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-growth business at the centre of the Middle East's digital transformation agenda.
• The successful candidate will have the platform to shape strategy, expand market presence, and deliver world-class data centre infrastructure that will support the region's future economic and technological ambitions.