Senior Manager Data Center Projects - UAE National

About This Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Manager Data Center Projects to lead the delivery of complex data center projects. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in hyper-scale or mission-critical environments and will be responsible for managing all phases of the data center lifecycle—planning, designing, building, testing & commissioning, and handover.

This role requires strong technical expertise and project management skills to ensure that all key milestones are met, and that the data center is delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with certification standards.

Responsibilities :

Project Execution & Lifecycle Management

Drive the end-to-end execution of data center projects, ensuring alignment with business and technical requirements.

Lead and coordinate all phases of the data center lifecycle:

• Planning : Define project scope, conduct feasibility studies, and develop resource and execution plans.
• Designing : Review and validate architectural, electrical, mechanical, and low-voltage system designs.
• Building : Monitor construction progress, ensure quality control, and enforce compliance with safety and technical standards.
• Testing & Commissioning : Lead integrated systems testing (IST) and ensure operational readiness.
• Handover : Ensure complete documentation, training, and seamless transition to operations.
• Review and validate detailed designs for:
• Electrical systems : MV/LV distribution, UPS, generators, PDUs.
• Mechanical systems : Chillers, CRAC units, FWUs, HVAC ducting.
• Low-voltage systems : Fire suppression, CCTV, access control, structured cabling.
• Ensure compliance with Tier III/IV standards, local authority regulations, and client-specific requirements.
• Collaborate with consultants and design teams to resolve technical discrepancies and optimize layouts for scalability, efficiency, and maintainability.

Construction Oversight

• Supervise on-site construction activities, ensuring adherence to approved drawings, method statements, and HSE protocols.
• Monitor installation of critical infrastructure systems and ensure alignment with project milestones.
• Conduct regular site inspections, quality audits, and progress reviews.

Testing & Commissioning (T&C)

• Develop and execute comprehensive IST plans for all MEP and IT systems.
• Coordinate and witness Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) for major equipment.
• Validate system performance under redundant and failover conditions to ensure uptime and resilience.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation including: As-built drawings, Test reports, O&M manuals and change orders
• Ensure compliance with: Uptime Institute Tier Certification, TIA-942, ASHRAE, NFPA
• Local authority and regulatory standards
• Support internal and external audits and certification processes (e.g., ISO 27001).

Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Act as the technical liaison between clients, contractors, OEMs, and internal teams.
• Manage vendor deliverables, procurement schedules, and ensure timely delivery of long-lead items.
• Lead technical meetings, issue resolution sessions, and project status updates.

Operational Readiness & Handover

• Ensure all systems are fully commissioned, documented, and transitioned as per operational requirements.
• Support the development and review of: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) and Method of Procedures (MOPs)
• Provide training and knowledge transfer to operations and maintenance teams.

Qualification and Job specific skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering or a related field.
• More than 15 years of experience in data center project Engineering, preferably in hyperscale or mission-critical environments.
• Strong understanding of data center infrastructure systems (power, cooling, cabling, fire suppression, BMS).
• Familiarity with AutoCAD, Revit, or other design and modeling tools.
• Expertise in data center infrastructure, including networking, storage, and server administration
• In-depth knowledge of best practices for data center design, build and T&C.
• Proven experience with data center automation and orchestration tools
• Strong project management skills
• Experience with Tier III or Tier IV certified data centers.
• Knowledge of sustainability and energy efficiency best practices.
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications