Senior Design Manager

About Vantage Data Centers Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

About Vantage Vantage designs, builds and operates resilient, sustainable digital infrastructure for the world’s leading technology companies with a relentless focus on our customers’ experience. Our vision is to be the leading hyperscale data centre provider globally, making a positive and sustainable impact in the communities in which we operate. Our core values are Trust, Accountability, Respect and Agility.

Position Overview As integral part of the EMEA Development Group, the core objective of the Design team is to drive design innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement to enable the delivery of cost-effective and high-quality infrastructure, delivered safely and always on time. Striving for operational excellence, we specialize in pioneering technical design solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Vantage is actively seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager for the London (LHR) market to strategically lead and enhance design and engineering efforts in the construction and development delivery process. The role involves holistic ownership of the design life cycle, managing engineering teams, overseeing procurement processes, and serving as the primary point of contact for department leaders. The Senior Design Manager will foster seamless collaboration across functions, drive uniformity in product delivery, and work closely with the Design Program Office team to improve processes and tackle engineering challenges. This role requires a professional with extensive data center design management experience and a proven track record of excellence in complex engineering projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Design Leadership: Spearhead the development, review, maintenance, and enhancement of design packages, standards, and specifications, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and foster innovation.
• Client Relationship Management: As a support function to the sales team, cultivate robust client relationships through leadership in technical meetings, providing comprehensive updates on design progress, risks, blockers, changes, and priorities to the Vantage Regional Development Director and Leadership Team.
• Strategic Procurement and Vendor Management: Provide strategic oversight to procurement and regional project leads, leading the selection of local partners for design development, contract oversight, and Value Engineering (VE) implementation in alignment with organizational goals.
• Continuous Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in design, procurement, and construction processes to optimize Operations delivery. Lead change management initiatives with consultants and contractors to enhance overall efficiency.
• Quality Assurance and Risk Management: Proactively anticipate, report, and mitigate design and engineering quality, risks, and opportunities through regular on-site inspections. Ensure OFCI design alignment with executed design within the region
• Team Development: Conduct regular meetings with design teams, provide feedback, and foster a culture of continuous improvement through Lessons Learned meetings.
• Technical Interface: Utilize advanced technical expertise to interface with the end user/ customer, ensuring strict compliance with project requirements, codes, and specifications.
• Design Brief: Take full ownership of design briefs, including design baselines, outlining clear and site-specific design inputs, constraints, assumptions, and requirements, aligned with customer and regional needs
• Cost Management: Actively provide insight into potential cost implications arising from project and design-based development.
• Benchmarking and Quality: Drive benchmarking initiatives for internal regional alignment and ensure the highest design and construction quality standards.
• Coordination and Integration: Proactively manage all design changes proposed by internal departments and third parties, ensuring seamless integration.

Skills, Knowledge, And Experience …