Africa Data Centre Delivery Lead

WSP Global Inc.; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP Global Inc. in Africa seeks an Africa Data Centre Delivery Lead to shape and grow our data centre business across the continent, coordinating multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, structural, ICT and sustainability disciplines.

You will build executive relationships with hyperscalers, developers and investors, lead major data centre programmes from pursuit to commissioning, and drive delivery excellence, governance and value across diverse markets.

Qualifications

• Minimum NQF 8 degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Project Management or related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years' experience delivering major mission-critical, data centre or complex infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design and delivery teams.
• Strong understanding of hyperscaler and colocation client requirements.
• Experience working across multiple countries and cultures.
• Strong commercial, contractual and financial management skills.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and client engagement capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of major data centre programmes and projects across Africa and selected global markets.
• Provide executive oversight from pursuit and project mobilisation through design, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Ensure delivery excellence across all project phases and disciplines.
• Act as the primary escalation point for strategic project, commercial and delivery risks.
• Drive consistency in project execution, governance and reporting.
• Ensure projects achieve client requirements for programme, cost, quality, resilience and sustainability.
• Lead and coordinate integrated teams comprising mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, ICT, fire engineering, sustainability and project management specialists.
• Mentor Project Directors, Design Managers, Discipline Leads and emerging leaders.
• Support succession planning and capability development within the data centre team.
• Facilitate collaboration between African teams and WSP's global data centre community.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key clients.
• Act as senior client sponsor for major data centre programmes.
• Lead engagement with hyperscalers, colocation providers, developers, contractors and investors.
• Provide strategic guidance throughout the development and delivery lifecycle.
• Drive client satisfaction, repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Position WSP as a trusted advisor in mission-critical infrastructure delivery.
• Ensure effective integration of all technical disciplines throughout project delivery.
• Champion best practices in mission-critical design and delivery.
• Drive innovation, digital delivery and BIM-enabled project execution.
• Promote lessons learned and knowledge sharing across projects.
• Support development of standardised delivery frameworks, design approaches and quality systems.
• Ensure successful coordination of design, construction and commissioning activities.
• Provide oversight of project financial performance, resource planning and risk management.
• Monitor programme delivery metrics, utilization, profitability and client satisfaction.
• Support pursuit strategies and commercial negotiations on major opportunities.
• Ensure effective contract administration and change management.
• Drive proactive identification and mitigation of technical, commercial and delivery risks.
• Support forecasting, business planning and strategic investment decisions.
• Represent WSP at industry forums, conferences and client events.
• Contribute to thought leadership in data centre and mission-critical infrastructure delivery.
• Support strategic pursuits and key client opportunities.
• Identify emerging trends in AI infrastructure, cloud expansion, liquid cooling, sustainability and energy resilience.
• Strengthen WSP's position as a leading delivery partner for data centre development in Africa and globally.
• Develop partner ecosystems for specialist capabilities that are not core to P&B.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Delivery excellence

Education

NQF 8 degree in Engineering/Architecture/Construction Management/PM

Job description

WSP Global Inc. in Africa seeks an Africa Data Centre Delivery Lead to shape and grow our data centre business across the continent, coordinating multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, structural, ICT and sustainability disciplines.

You will build executive relationships with hyperscalers, developers and investors, lead major data centre programmes from pursuit to commissioning, and drive delivery excellence, governance and value across diverse markets.