Head of Mission Critical Senior Technical Director📣 Job Ad

About the Role

WSP is seeking a Head of Mission Critical Senior Technical Director to lead its Middle East Mission Critical Sector, with a primary focus on Data Centres. This senior leadership position involves defining the regional vision, shaping sub-sector strategies, and expanding WSP's market presence within the mission-critical infrastructure landscape. The role is based in Riyadh and is a full-time position. This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for driving growth, strengthening client relationships, and enhancing WSP's Mission Critical portfolio by establishing repeatable, high-performance solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the regional strategy for mission-critical data centres, aligning with global and Middle East priorities.
• Develop and own the Mission Critical sector architecture and sub-sector strategies, including value proposition, priority accounts, partner strategy, capability roadmap, and go-to-market plans.
• Establish scorecards and governance to track pipeline, conversion, margin, delivery performance, and sector maturity.
• Champion cross-business collaboration across Advisory, Engineering, Sustainability, and Digital practices to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Position WSP as a leading partner for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centre clients.
• Strengthen relationships with key clients and stakeholders to ensure exceptional satisfaction and trust.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality consulting and engineering services, ensuring adherence to mission-critical standards for resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Drive financial performance by achieving key Profit & Loss (P&L) targets, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring sustainable growth.
• Lead strategic initiatives to expand WSP's footprint in the Middle East data centre market.
• Uphold WSP's commitment to quality, safety, and operational excellence.
• Lead, inspire, and manage a diverse team of technical and strategic consultants, fostering a collaborative and accountable culture.
• Drive innovation and future-ready solutions across mission-critical data centres, leveraging advanced technologies and integrated digital strategies.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Architecture, or a closely related technical discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, ICT/Telecoms, Fire & Life Safety, or similar).
• Master’s degree in engineering management, Business Administration, Data Centre Engineering, or a relevant technical field (preferred).
• Over 10 years of experience required, with specific mention of 15+ years in mission-critical/data centre projects, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong understanding of data centre MEP/HVAC systems, electrical redundancy/Tier levels, Uptime Institute standards, cooling and energy optimization strategies, commissioning processes, operational readiness, and mission-critical resilience and risk engineering.
• Experience working within Middle East regulatory frameworks (UAE/KSA at minimum).
• Proven track record in business development, client management, and P&L ownership.
• Strong technical understanding of data centre design, construction, and operations.
• Experience leading senior technical experts, sector teams, or multi-disciplinary delivery teams.

Core Leadership Capabilities

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience with P&L or division-level budget ownership.
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale, complex projects simultaneously under aggressive timelines.
• Deep understanding of data center-specific design considerations, including redundancy factors and industry regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability in building culture, driving accountability, and setting governance structures.

Role Context

This position is based in Riyadh and operates on a full-time basis. The role requires a strategic leader to oversee and grow WSP's mission-critical infrastructure services, with a significant emphasis on data centres. The objective is to ensure the delivery of resilient, efficient, and sustainable solutions in a rapidly evolving market.