Discipline Lead Data Centers
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Skills
About the role
WSP is one of the most diverse consulting firms in Africa. To further our strategic business execution plan, we are seeking leaders that share our guiding principles – we value our people and our reputation; we are locally dedicated with international scale; we are future focused and challenge the status quo; we foster collaboration in everything we do and we have an empowering culture and hold ourselves accountable. We are committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment.
A little more about your role…
We are looking for an exceptional Africa Data Centre Delivery Lead to help shape and grow our Data Centers business across Africa.
This is a pivotal leadership role for an experienced data centre professional who can bring together multidisciplinary expertise across mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, ICT, sustainability, project management and advisory services, while building strong relationships with hyperscalers, colocation providers, developers and investors..
Your responsibilities will include:
1. Data Centre Delivery Leadership
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.
2. Multidisciplinary Team Leadership
Lead and coordinate integrated teams comprising mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, ICT, fire engineering, sustainability and project management specialists.
Create a culture of collaboration, accountability and delivery excellence.
Align resources across offices, regions and global delivery centres.
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.
3. Strategic Client Leadership
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.
4. Technical Integration & Delivery Excellence
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.
5. Programme Governance & Commercial Management
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.
6. Industry Leadership & Market Development
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.
Manage collaboration with:
Financial and commercial advisors
Property economists
Digital technology providers
ESG specialists
Asset management specialists
Valuation and transaction specialists
Lead joint pursuits and integrated offerings.
Health and Safety
Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behaviour consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you
Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm
Embracing, displaying and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is always maintained
What we'll be looking for you to demonstrate…
Essential
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.
Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary design and delivery teams.
Proven track record delivering large-scale data centre programmes from concept through commissioning.
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.
Preferred
Professional registration relevant to discipline.
Experience working in African and international data centre markets.
Experience leading geographically distributed teams.
Knowledge of commissioning, operational readiness and mission-critical systems.
Experience delivering projects for hyperscale, colocation or cloud service provider clients.
Success Measures
Safe delivery of projects.
Client satisfaction and repeat business.
Programme profitability and commercial performance.
On-time, on-budget delivery.
Growth and development of multidisciplinary teams.
Improvement in delivery consistency and quality across the portfolio.
Key Competencies and Generic Skills
Business Building
Entrepreneurial mindset.
Growth orientation.
Commercial acumen.
Strategic thinking.
Market Leadership
Executive presence.
Relationship building.
Influencing and negotiation.
Thought leadership.