Acceptance Handover Manager - DC/Facility

Norconsult Telematics; Dubai; On-site; AED 380,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Norconsult Telematics is seeking an Acceptance Handover Manager to plan, manage, and control the acceptance and handover process for data centre and critical building projects. You will ensure all works are inspected, tested, and verified, leading to handover with complete documentation and an ready operations team.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, at least 10 years in construction/testing/handovers, and fluency in Arabic with strong English

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum of ten years in construction, testing and commissioning, or handover of major projects.
• Data centre and mission-critical facilities experience is essential.
• Arabic fluency with strong English communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and control acceptance and handover for data centre and technical buildings.
• Review FAT/SAT/IST plans to ensure alignment with criteria.
• Coordinate and witness acceptance tests for critical infrastructure.
• Manage snagging, punch-listing, and close-out documentation.
• Chair acceptance meetings and track actions to closure.
• Prepare and issue acceptance certificates and handover packs.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Arabic language

English communication

QA/QC documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical or mechanical engineering

Job description

Responsible for planning, managing, and controlling the acceptance and handover process for the data centre and technical buildings project, ensuring that all completed works and systems are inspected, tested, and verified against the contractual, design, and performance requirements before acceptance, and that the facility is handed over with complete documentation, closed punch lists, and a fully prepared operations team. The Acceptance Handover Manager acts as the focal point between construction, testing and commissioning, and operations, and reports progress, readiness, and risks to the Sr. Project Manager.

Job Description & Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage the project acceptance and handover plan, defining the stages, acceptance criteria, responsibilities, and documentation requirements for each system and facility area.
• Review contractor testing and commissioning plans, method statements, and Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs) to ensure alignment with the acceptance criteria and contractual requirements.
• Coordinate and witness factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and integrated systems tests (IST) for critical infrastructure, including power, cooling, fire detection and suppression, and ELV/BMS systems.
• Verify that completed works comply with the approved drawings, specifications, and contract requirements prior to initiating the acceptance process.
• Manage the snagging and punch-list process, including inspections, categorisation and assignment of items, progress tracking, and verification of close-out.
• Control the compilation and review of acceptance and handover documentation, including test records, calibration certificates, warranties, As-Built drawings, O&M manuals, spare parts lists, and training records.
• Chair and attend acceptance and handover meetings with contractors, consultants, the client, and operations teams, and track agreed actions through to closure.
• Plan and coordinate partial and phased handovers, and manage the interfaces between construction, testing and commissioning, and operations activities.
• Ensure that training of the client's operations and maintenance staff is planned, delivered, and documented as part of the handover requirements.
• Prepare and issue acceptance certificates, handover packs, and close-out reports for client review and sign-off.
• Maintain the acceptance and handover register and report readiness, risks, and outstanding items to the Sr. Project Manager.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in construction, testing and commissioning, or handover of major projects, including at least five (5) years in acceptance or handover management for data centres, mission-critical facilities or mega infrastructure projects.
• Sound knowledge of data centre critical systems and their testing and acceptance requirements, including MV/LV power distribution, UPS and generator systems, precision cooling, fire detection and suppression, and ELV/BMS systems.
• Practical experience with staged commissioning and integrated systems testing for mission-critical facilities.
• Strong command of QA/QC documentation, handover procedures, and defects liability period management.
• Recognised commissioning or project management certification (e.g., CxA, PMP) is an advantage.
• Fluency in Arabic, with strong English communication and stakeholder management skills