Deputy Technical Director (Malaysia)

Woh Hup Group; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Woh Hup Group in Malaysia seeks a Deputy Technical Director to lead the technical delivery of Data Centre projects in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. The role covers C&S, Architectural and M&E disciplines, ensuring engineering integrity, safe execution and on-time handover.

You will oversee design coordination, procurement, and commissioning, guiding Discipline Managers and teams across regional projects while liaising with clients and authorities to meet stringent requirements.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of technical/design leadership and delivery in construction/commissioning, preferably data centre or critical projects.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams (C&S, Arch, M&E) across design coordination and site execution.
• Experience managing consultant/subcontractor procurement and contract negotiation.
• Experience leading matrixed teams across multiple concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall technical and operational delivery of Data Centre projects from design through construction, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Provide technical leadership across C&S, Architectural and M&E systems including structural works and building envelope/finishes.
• Oversee coordination/integration of disciplines to ensure constructability and operational functionality.
• Review/approve major technical submissions, design changes and value engineering initiatives.
• Provide leadership of construction activities ensuring safety and compliance with designs.
• Oversee QA/QC to meet project specs and client/regulatory standards.
• Lead commissioning and CX activities, ensuring IST and handover readiness.
• Identify/mitigate technical, design, constructability and operational risks.
• Manage Discipline Managers and teams, allocating resources by demand and priority.
• Act as key liaison with clients, consultants, contractors and authorities on technical matters.
• Manage procurement of technical consultants/subcontractors, including scopes and bid evaluation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Problem solving

BIM knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Professional registration (advantage)

Tools

BIM

Job description

We are expanding our leadership team to support our growing portfolio of projects in Malaysia:

• 1 position based in Kuala Lumpur
• 1 position based in Johor Bahru

Each Technical Director will provide technical leadership and oversight for projects within their respective location. Candidates are encouraged to indicate their preferred location (Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru) when applying.

Job Summary:

The Deputy Technical Director is responsible for the technical delivery of Data Centre projects within their region, covering C&S, Architectural and M&E disciplines. The role carries primary accountability for engineering integrity and coordination across all three disciplines, as well as the operational delivery of works through construction, testing, commissioning and handover, ensuring projects are engineered soundly and delivered safely, on schedule, within budget and to client requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall technical and operational delivery of Data Centre projects within the region, from design through construction, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Provide technical leadership across C&S, Architectural and M&E systems, including structural works, building envelope/finishes, and critical infrastructure (power, cooling, fire protection, ELV, BMS, EPMS).
• Oversee coordination and integration of C&S, Architectural and M&E works to ensure constructability, operational functionality and efficient execution.
• Review and approve major technical submissions, design changes, engineering proposals and value engineering initiatives.
• Provide leadership and oversight of construction activities across disciplines, ensuring works are executed safely and in accordance with approved designs.
• Oversee QA/QC activities to ensure compliance with project specifications, client requirements and regulatory standards.
• Lead commissioning and CX activities, ensuring testing, IST and handover requirements are properly planned and executed.
• Identify, assess and mitigate technical, design, constructability and operational risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead and manage Discipline Managers/Senior Managers, production teams and coordinators within the region, allocating resources across projects based on demand and priority.
• Act as key liaison with clients, consultants, contractors and authorities on technical matters across disciplines.
• Manage procurement of technical consultants and subcontractors, including scopes, bid evaluation and contract negotiation, in compliance with governance frameworks.
• Provide regular reporting to Head of Malaysia on technical status, delivery risk and commissioning readiness.
• Support tender reviews, technical evaluations and engineering solutions development for new Data Centre opportunities.
• Ensure safety, quality and operational excellence across all project activities within the region.

Requirements:

Education & Certification

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil/Structural, or Building Services Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• Professional engineering/architectural registration an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience spanning technical/design leadership and construction/commissioning delivery, ideally in Data Centre or mission-critical projects.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary teams (C&S, Archi, M&E) across both design coordination and site execution.
• Experience managing consultant/subcontractor procurement and contract negotiation.
• Experience managing teams under a matrix reporting structure across multiple concurrent projects.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of Data Centre design across structural, architectural and M&E systems, including commissioning and reliability requirements.
• Working knowledge of BIM for design coordination and VDC concepts.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills across design and execution issues.