Sector Director - Mission Critical (Data Centre Focus)

WSP in the Middle East; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 400,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a Sector Director for Data Centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves defining regional strategy, leading diverse teams, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality consulting services. Candidates should have 15+ years of experience in data centre projects and a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks in the Middle East. This position offers the opportunity to shape the mission-critical sector's growth and establish exceptional client relationships.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in mission-critical/data centre projects, at least 5 years in leadership.
• Experience within Middle East regulatory frameworks (UAE/KSA).
• Proven P&L ownership and client management experience.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the regional strategy for mission-critical data centres.
• Strengthen client relationships to ensure satisfaction.
• Oversee delivery of high-quality consulting services.

Skills

Leadership

Client engagement

Business development

Strategic thinking

Technical knowledge of data centres

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline

Master's degree in relevant field (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

Strategic Leadership Overview: Lead WSP’s Middle East Mission Critical Sector as the Sector Director, with a primary focus on Data Centres while owning the strategy and growth across a broader portfolio of mission-critical sub-sectors. In this highly visible leadership role, you will define the regional vision for Mission Critical, shape sub-sector strategies, and expand WSP’s market presence in the rapidly evolving mission-critical infrastructure landscape. Your leadership will directly influence growth performance, strengthen strategic client relationships, and elevate WSP’s Mission Critical portfolio — establishing repeatable, high-performance solutions across data centres and adjacent mission-critical environments where uptime, resilience, speed-to-commissioning, and operational continuity are paramount. You will oversee the delivery of high-quality consulting services, lead strategic initiatives, ensure exceptional client satisfaction, and achieve key Profit & Loss (P&L) performance targets.

Responsibilities

• Vision & Strategy: Define and execute the regional strategy for mission-critical data centres, aligning with WSP’s global vision and Middle East priorities. Own the Mission Critical sector architecture and sub-sector strategies (with data centres as the primary focus), including value proposition, priority accounts, partner strategy, capability roadmap, and a repeatable go-to-market plan for each sub-sector. Establish clear scorecards and governance to track pipeline, conversion, margin, delivery performance, and sector maturity.
• Cross-Business Collaboration: Champion collaboration across Advisory, Engineering, Sustainability, and Digital practices to deliver integrated solutions that maximize value for clients.
• Market Expansion: Position WSP as the partner of choice for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centre clients, while advancing regional and multi-sector priorities across the Mission Critical portfolio.
• Client Engagement: Strengthen relationships with key clients and stakeholders, ensuring exceptional satisfaction and trust in WSP’s delivery capabilities.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee the delivery of high-quality consulting and engineering services, ensuring projects meet mission-critical standards for resilience, efficiency, and sustainability across data centres specifically.
• P&L Accountability: Drive financial performance by achieving key Profit & Loss (P&L) targets, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring sustainable growth.
• Business Development: Lead strategic initiatives to expand WSP’s footprint in the Middle East data centre market, securing new opportunities and partnerships.
• Quality, Safety & Operations (QSO): Uphold WSP’s commitment to quality, safety, and operational excellence, setting the tone for industry-leading standards in mission-critical delivery.
• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, inspire, and manage a diverse team of technical and strategic consultants and subject matter experts. Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture centered on growth, technical excellence, strategic advisory services and accountability across business lines and global regions.
• Emerging Technologies & Future-Ready Solutions: Drive innovation and future-ready solutions across mission-critical data centres, leveraging advanced technologies, sustainable practices, and integrated digital strategies to ensure resilience, efficiency, and long‑term market leadership in the Middle East.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Architecture, or a closely related technical discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, ICT/Telecoms, Fire & Life Safety, or similar)
• Master’s degree in engineering management, Business Administration, Data Centre Engineering, or a relevant technical field (preferred)
• 15+ years of experience in mission-critical/data centre projects, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong understanding of: Data centre MEP/HVAC systems, Electrical redundancy / Tier levels, Uptime Institute standards, Cooling and energy optimisation strategies, Commissioning processes & operational readiness, Mission‑critical resilience and risk engineering
• Experience working within Middle East regulatory frameworks (UAE/KSA at minimum).
• Proven track record in business development, client management, and P&L ownership.
• Strong technical understanding of data centre design, construction, and operations.
• Experience leading senior technical experts, sector teams, or multi-disciplinary delivery teams.

Core Leadership Capabilities

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience with P&L or division-level budget ownership.
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale, complex projects simultaneously under aggressive timelines.
• Deep understanding of data center-specific design considerations, including redundancy factors and industry regulatory frameworks.
• Evidence of building culture, driving accountability, and setting governance structures.