Senior Director, Design Management APAC

Global Data Centers Americas, Inc.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

NTT Global Data Centers APAC is seeking a Senior Director of Design Management to lead a team of design managers and oversee design development on APAC data center projects from kickoff to construction administration.

The role requires extensive experience in large-scale data center design, cross-country coordination, and a proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and design consultants while driving innovation and value engineering.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in large-scale APAC data center design and engineering.
• Deep understanding of data center complexity and delivery across multiple countries.
• Proven multinational leadership experience and ability to drive cost-conscious design decisions.
• Strong executive presence and track record in rapid growth environments.
• Excellent safety, time, cost and quality deliverables alignment with budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design management teams across APAC projects.
• Oversee selection of design consultants and manage contracts and scope.
• Collaborate with Product, Sales, Operations to align design with business goals.
• Ensure compliance with design standards and value engineering initiatives.
• Prepare project reports on budget, schedule and scope objectives.

Skills

Data center design

APAC experience

Leadership

Budget delivery

Stakeholder mgmt

Job description

Make an impact at NTT Global Data Centers

Join NTT Global Data Centers and be part of a team that drives innovation and sustainability in the digital world. With over 150 data centers across more than 20 countries globally, we offer unparalleled opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology and transformative projects. Experience a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive workplace where your ideas are valued, and your growth is supported.

Your role at a glance

The Senior Director of Design Management is responsible for leading a team of Design Managers and overseeing design development on all NTT Global Data Centres- APAC projects, from design kick-off through the production of Construction Documents and performance of Construction Administration. This effort involves coordination between internal staff and outside consultants including Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineers.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• The Senior Director of Design Management assigns projects and tasks to individual Design Managers, monitors their progress and ensures alignment with project budgets and schedules.
• They are also responsible for leading the design consultant selection effort.
• The ideal candidate will be a creative, detail-oriented problem solver with excellent communication skills that can achieve high quality standards while carefully considering cost and feasibility factors. This person should possess good judgment to meet project objectives, with the ability to collaborate and manage the accountabilities of a diverse interdisciplinary team focused on creating and maintaining the best Data Centre environments in our industry.
• Oversee the preparation and execution of Architectural and Engineering Consultant Agreements defining Scope of Work, Scope of Services and Fees based on Owner's Project Requirements, design standards, and system specifications.
• Innovate and lead value engineering and design rationalisation assessments, disruptive changes in the context of applying new technologies which enable our sustainability goals, all where applicable and required, to support time to market and reduced cost of construction efforts while ensuring the integrity of NTT GDC APAC design principles are maintained.
• Collaboration with Product Team, Sales/ Sales Engineering, and Operations as to product to build, options and timeline, and provide solutions to meet project goals.
• Support technical pre-sales consulting, client negotiation and technical assessments, including but not limited to identifying and documenting client specific design solutions, addressing technical assessments and supporting development of client briefs to enable timely assessment and approval of lease agreements.
• Support Construction and Procurement leadership in assessing, developing, and executing varying Procurement models including but not limited to Traditional, Design and Build and Management Contracting routes.
• Communicate status of projects to both internal and external stakeholders on an ad-hoc and formal basis. Ensure all stakeholders are up-to-date with regards to design schedule and potential issues. Prepare monthly project reports regarding the budget, schedule and scope objectives of assigned projects.
• Ensure compliance with NTT GDC standards on all projects and assure that these standards are up-to-date with industry best practices and meet the company's business objectives (Emphasis on value-engineering).
• Assist in the preparation and review of budgets and forecasts related to anticipated design and construction expenditures.
• Develop and maintain vendor relationships (Contractors, Architects, Engineers, Consultants, etc.) to provide cost-effective services for NTT GDC APAC data centre projects.

Requirements - Professional Skills

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in large scale APAC wide critical facilities (Data Center) design and technical engineering.
• Excellent understanding of the complexity of data centers and demonstrable experience of design and delivery of large-scale data center facilities across multiple countries.
• Recognized industry leader; strong executive presence; solid track record of strategic accomplishments in companies experiencing rapid growth and expansion where constant challenges are the norm.
• Multinational leadership experience, willingness to reconsider constantly innovative ways to reduce cost through creative design. Should not be constrained by traditional processes.
• Fully understands the priorities around safety, time, cost, and quality with a strong emphasis on delivery to budget.
• Commercially astute with a strong business acumen, appreciating the responsibilities of Design in the context to the whole business strategy.

Requirements - Soft Skills

• Cultural fit is crucial; motivated to work at a company that focuses on customers, excellence, talent, teamwork, and success.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, able to communicate and collaborate at all levels and clea