Vice President Data Center Design and Engineering

Job Description

Appealing Points:

• High-Impact Leadership Role: Lead the design and engineering strategy for a comprehensive portfolio of data center projects across Japan, with significant influence on both local execution and global alignment.
• Cross-Functional & International Exposure: Collaborate with global teams and stakeholders across construction, operations, procurement, and finance, while utilizing bilingual skills in Japanese and English in a culturally dynamic environment.
• Career Growth & Strategic Vision: Shape long-term hiring and performance strategies, mentor project teams, and contribute to companies innovation-driven approach in Japan’s rapidly evolving data center market.

Annual salary: 16 million and above

Job Description:

• The VP/Director of Design & Engineering in Japan is a leadership role responsible for providing the strategy and direction for design & engineering of data centers. This role requires a blend of operational excellence, project management expertise, and strong leadership skills to ensure that the organization consistently meets and exceeds customer expectations while driving efficiency, quality, and innovation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and engineering aspects of a comprehensive program of data center projects across multiple sites in Japan, ensuring alignment with global standards and strategies.
• Coordinate and integrate global design and engineering strategies and standards into the Japan data center program, ensuring a seamless and efficient execution.
• Manage and mentor a team of project managers, providing guidance, support, and ensuring the successful delivery of projects on time and within budget.
• Utilize strong knowledge of the Japan data center market to inform design and engineering decisions, including consultants, hyperscaler data center requirements, and construction costs and schedules.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including construction, operations, procurement, and finance to ensure a holistic approach to project execution.
• Leverage extensive experience with large-scale capital program projects that emphasize standard repeatable design and engineering to enhance procurement efficiency and predictability of schedules.
• Monitor project progress via critical path scheduling, identifying potential risks and issues, and implementing proactive strategies to ensure successful project delivery through project reports. This includes developing metrics to visualize and measure project performance.
• Foster relationships with external partners, stakeholders, and consultants to stay informed about industry trends and best practices, and to establish a robust network within the data center ecosystem.
• Prepare and present regular reports and updates to senior leadership, outlining project status, milestones, and key performance indicators.
• Performance-manage design and engineering team by developing clear key performance indicators.
• Develop long-term hiring strategy and lead hiring effort within the engineering team.
• Perform effective daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual business reviews.

Job Qualification:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Japanese and English fluency is mandatory.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in leadership roles within data mission critical design and engineering. Data center experience is a plus.
• Proven experience managing and leading teams of project managers in complex, multi-site projects.
• In-depth knowledge of the Japan data center market, including design and engineering consultants, mission critical requirements, and construction cost and schedule dynamics.
• Strong familiarity with large-scale capital program projects that emphasize standardized design and engineering for procurement efficiency and schedule predictability.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for identifying and mitigating project risks.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills to foster connections within the industry.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing project needs and evolving industry trends.
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools.

Language Skills: Fluent level Japanese (N1)  and Business level English

Company Description:

Company is a global data center business committed to being a positive force for technology, people, and the planet. Company is now part of the digital infrastructure platform of Ares Management Corporation, a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes