Data Centre Project Manager / Director – Asia Pacific (APAC)

Location: Asia (Key hubs: Singapore / Tokyo / Hong Kong / Jakarta / Mumbai)

Rotation: Standard Local / Expat Package (or negotiable rotation based on candidate location)

Contract Type: Full-Time / Contract (Long-term)

Start Date: ASAP – 2 to 3-year project duration

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Data Centre Project Manager / Director to oversee and drive the delivery of a large-scale, hyperscale data centre facility in Asia. The successful candidate will take end-to-end accountability for the project lifecycle, ensuring construction, engineering, and commissioning phases are executed safely, on schedule, and within budget.

⚠️ CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Direct, hands-on experience in Data Centre construction and delivery is absolutely mandatory for this role. Candidates without a proven track record in mission-critical environments will not be considered.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity to steer a critical infrastructure development alongside world-class general contractors, engineering firms, and hyperscale clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Direct and oversee the entire project lifecycle of a hyperscale or large colocation data centre from ground breaking through to handover.
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for the client, local authorities, subcontractors, and vendor teams.
• Schedule & Budget Control: Manage multi-million dollar project budgets, monitor KPIs, track milestones, and implement mitigation plans for any potential delays.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Align civil, structural, architectural (CSA), and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) teams to ensure seamless construction progress.
• Quality & Safety Assurance: Enforce strict Tier-standard quality controls and ensure absolute compliance with local environmental, health, and safety (EHS) regulations.
• Commissioning Oversight: Work closely with the commissioning management team to ensure successful progression from Level 1 through Level 5 integrated systems testing (IST).
• Risk & Change Management: Identify project risks early, manage the change order process, and implement commercial solutions to safeguard project delivery.

Candidate Requirements

• DATA CENTRE EXPERIENCE (ESSENTIAL): Minimum 3+ years of project management experience specifically leading hyperscale or large-scale colocation data centre construction builds.
• Mission-Critical Expertise: Deep understanding of heavy MEP infrastructure unique to data centres, including high-voltage power distribution, generators, UPS systems, and chilled water / liquid cooling setups.
• Regional Experience: Previous experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects within major Asian data centre markets is highly desirable.
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a related field. PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent certification is a strong plus.
• Communication Skills: Fluent in English (written and spoken). Proficiency in a regional Asian language (e.g., Mandarin, Japanese, Bahasa, Hindi) is highly advantageous to facilitate local subcontractor coordination.
• Leadership Presence: Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and team-building capabilities in a diverse, multicultural environment.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

Nick Rands