Project Director - AI Data Centre Automation

Role Overview

This pivotal role acts as a strategic consultant to the client's automation and IT leadership, defining the scope and packaging of automation and AI for expansive AI data centres exceeding 1 GW capacity at global or regional scales. The Project Director ensures clarity, coordination, and market readiness of requirements while directing the integration of AI management systems that automate operations both within individual data centres and across campus environments. Serving as the Project Management Consultant (PMC) technical lead for automation, this position harmonizes input from designers, operators, and vendors, crafting comprehensive roadmaps that connect overarching strategic goals to technical execution within hyperscale data centre settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the client's lead to encapsulate strategic goals into high-level automation and AI requirements tailored for AI data centre campuses.
• Interpret automation needs for the AI data centre and assist in establishing a Central Command Centre managing BacNet, command centre networks, incident management, cybersecurity, and utilities administration.
• Contribute to the creation of strategic documents related to automation technology references and AI development roadmaps.
• Coordinate review processes, facilitating design and technical sessions to gather and address feedback from clients, designers, and operators.
• Embed automation workflows within PMC controls and reporting mechanisms.
• Incorporate automation milestones, deliverables, and risk factors into PMC scheduling tools, dashboards, and risk registers.
• Deliver clear, non-technical updates on progress and issues to the client's governance bodies, focusing on impact analyses, alternatives, and decision points.

Required Qualifications

• Hold a bachelor's degree in Construction, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or related disciplines.
• Possess over 20 years of experience in technology infrastructure and automation projects, including a minimum of 10 years within mission-critical data centre environments.
• Have at least 5 years of specialized experience working with AI data centres or hyperscale facilities with 500MW or greater capacity.
• Demonstrated history in PMC or advisory roles for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience translating strategic executive directives into actionable technical requirements and comprehensive roadmaps.
• Profound expertise in data centre automation encompassing Building Management Systems (BMS), Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM), and integrated control platforms.
• Skilled in BACnet protocol and command centre network design.
• Understand AI infrastructure needs at both facility and campus levels.
• Knowledgeable in cybersecurity and incident management pertaining to critical infrastructure.
• Familiar with utilities management across multi-site operations and principles of Central Command Centre design and function.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with data centre campuses developed at or above the 1GW scale.
• Background engagement with hyperscale clients such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, or Meta.
• Hands-on involvement with AI and machine learning infrastructure deployments.
• International or cross-regional project exposure.