Associate - Design Manager Data Centre - Dubai

Role Overview

Associate - Design Manager Data Centre in Dubai at Ramboll. This role owns end-to-end project delivery for large, multidisciplinary data centre and mission-critical facility projects, responsible for scope definition, schedule management, integrated design quality, client engagement, and commercial success.

Company Overview

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company founded in Denmark. The organization has more than 1,500 experts working across 15 offices in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa, including Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Ramboll is a people-focused organization committed to knowledge sharing and collaboration across competence areas and geography, with strong investment in employee development and tailored career paths.

Role Purpose

Lead complete lifecycle ownership of data centre and mission-critical facility projects from concept development and team assembly through detailed design delivery, construction support, commissioning coordination, and project close-out. Serve as primary client interface, lead all technical disciplines, manage resource planning and allocation, track financial performance and profitability, and ensure expectations are met and relationships are strengthened.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement

• Act as the primary project interface with clients and senior stakeholders, leading project design review meetings and executive steering committee sessions.
• Continuously engage clients on deliverables, priorities, risks, and schedule and budget performance, proactively surfacing issues and managing expectations.
• Resolve scope ambiguities, change requests, and conflicts between client needs and project constraints.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through clear communication, demonstrated progress, and reliable delivery.

Design Management & Leadership

• Initiate and setup the project, tools, schedule, introduce the teams, create the workstreams, draft and monitor the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Lead and oversee all technical disciplines: Mechanical (HVAC, cooling, fire protection), Electrical (MV/LV systems, UPS, generators), ELV/IBMS (controls, security, monitoring), Architecture (planning, compliance), Structural (foundations, loads), and Civil (site development, utilities).
• Manage and coordinate third-party consultants and stakeholders in the project.
• Establish communication processes and ensure the highest level of quality and coordination between disciplines.
• Establish and maintain a structured coordination process.
• Identify and resolve complex cross-discipline conflicts at early design stage (concept and schematic) before they become costly rework.
• Ensure all discipline outputs (Single Line Diagrams, P&IDs, layouts, specifications) are coordinated, integrated, and constructible before client submission.
• Review design for buildability and operability.
• Lead and motivate the multidisciplinary project team.
• Create a collaborative team culture.
• Mentor engineers and develop high-performing teams.

Technical Oversight & Design Quality

• Review key design deliverables across all disciplines to ensure compliance with TIA-942, Uptime Tier standards, ASHRAE, NFPA/NBC fire codes, and local UAE regulations.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams in solving complex technical challenges and ensuring design solutions are optimal, integrated, and aligned with project objectives.
• Manage BIM coordination workflow.
• Ensure quality standards are maintained across all project stages.

Risk Management

• Identify and assess technical, schedule, budget, and commercial risks at project inception and continuously throughout delivery.
• Develop mitigation strategies for identified risks and track mitigation status.
• Identify delays early and implement corrective actions.

Schedule & Change Management

• Develop and maintain the master project schedule incorporating all disciplines, design stages, client reviews, and permitting milestones.
• Track schedule performance and identify delays early.
• Manage change requests and scope variations using formal change control process and quantify impact.
• Communicate schedule status and risks to client.

Financial & Resource Management

• Provide information to the project manager regarding monthly reporting on project budget versus actual, timesheets, and utilization.
• Produce monthly Earned Value Management (EVM) reports.
• Monitor resource utilization efficiency.
• Provide all related input for monthly P&L reports.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Communicate with exceptional verbal and written English.
• Communicate effectively with C-suite clients, internal senior leadership, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrate accountability and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrate client-facing skills and manage senior stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications & Experience

• BE (Bachelor of Engineering) in Mechanical, Electrical, or Building Services, or equivalent.
• 8+ years of project management or design management experience, with at least 5 years managing data centre or mission-critical facility projects.
• Proven track record of delivering large, multidisciplinary projects on schedule and within budget.
• Experience managing teams of engineers across multiple disciplines and geographies.
• Demonstrated ability to identify schedule and budget risks early and implement corrective actions.
• Hands-on experience in hyperscale or mission-critical data centre projects.
• Experience with global project delivery across multiple geographies and time zones.
• Knowledge of UAE regulatory landscape and authority approval processes (DEWA, ADDC, Civil Defence).

Skills & Competencies

• Strong working knowledge across multiple disciplines: HVAC and mechanical systems, electrical power systems, ELV/IBMS, architecture, and structural design.
• Understanding of data centre design processes.
• Extended knowledge of current data centre requirements, AI infrastructure, and construction methods.
• Ability to review and understand design outputs: Single Line Diagrams, P&ID drawings, system layouts, BIM models, equipment schedules, and technical specifications.
• Understanding of how design decisions cascade across disciplines.
• Familiarity with data centre standards and requirements: TIA-942, Uptime Institute Tier III/IV, ASHRAE 90.4, fire codes, and UAE regulatory landscape.
• Experience with BIM workflows and coordination (Revit, Navisworks, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with Uptime Institute certification processes (ATD, ATS, CAP, ICCA).

Additional Information

• PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent certification strongly preferred.
• Experience with integrated project delivery (IPD) or collaborative design methodologies is a plus.
• Investment in your professional development.
• Access to experienced leaders guided by Ramboll's Leadership Principles.
• Recognition as a valued individual.
• Opportunity to work with colleagues, clients, and projects across the organization.
• A challenging and interesting workday characterized by continuous learning and collaboration.
• Opportunity to develop and influence your own area of responsibility.