Design Director

Location: Melbourne (with occasional travel as required)
Department: Engineering, APAC

Company Overview

Our client is a leading provider of digital infrastructure, delivering highly efficient and secure wholesale, colocation, and cloud data centres globally. Their facilities meet the highest standards in availability, security, connectivity, and physical resilience, enabling rapid growth for hyperscale and enterprise companies.

Role Overview

As Design Director, you will lead and shape the strategic direction of the design function across multiple projects and markets within the APAC region. You will provide visionary leadership, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Your role is pivotal in aligning design strategies with business objectives and technological advancements to drive best‑in‑class outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the overarching design vision and strategy, ensuring alignment with broader business goals and industry best practices.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of design managers and engineers, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Represent the organisation in high‑level technical meetings with clients, consultants, contractors, and vendors, advocating for design quality and innovation.
• Oversee the development of engineering and design briefs across multiple projects, ensuring consistency and alignment to company standards.
• Collaborate with delivery teams and senior leadership to appoint and manage key engineering/design consultants and equipment vendors.
• Drive the establishment and management of design deliverables, schedules, budgets, and risk management protocols for all projects under your remit.
• Lead engineering/design review forums at a strategic level, ensuring issues are proactively identified and resolved.
• Partner with procurement and technology teams to champion new technologies and long‑lead equipment initiatives that enhance project outcomes.
• Identify and implement organisation‑wide cost‑saving opportunities and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and grow relationships with key industry stakeholders, including regional consultants, contractors, and vendors.
• Promote and champion safety best practices throughout all stages of project delivery, leading by example and supporting organisational safety goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelors degree or higher in Engineering, Project Management, or a built environment discipline.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in construction or engineering development, with at least 8 years in design leadership roles.
• Proven expertise with multiple large‑scale data centre projects or similarly complex infrastructure developments.
• Deep understanding of data centre engineering principles, best practices, and detailed knowledge of design and construction processes.
• Demonstrated leadership of teams using BIM, 3D design tools, and implementation of 4D/5D design methodologies.
• Strong strategic thinker with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across diverse cultural and geographic regions.

Ideal Attributes

• Calm under pressure and adept at managing multiple high‑priority tasks simultaneously.
• Culturally sensitive and experienced in leading diverse, cross‑regional teams.
• Detail‑oriented with a commitment to quality and high standards.
• Collaborative leadership style, able to shift between strategic and hands‑on roles as needed.
• Forward‑thinking problem solver who anticipates challenges and mitigates risks before they arise.

Why Join

• Engage with an industry leader offering competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Join a vibrant culture that values recognition, passion, and fun.