Position Overview
Vantage is actively seeking an experienced Design Manager to strategically lead and enhance design and engineering efforts in the construction and development delivery process, with an initial focus on projects in the Zurich region of Switzerland.
As an integral part of the EMEA Development Group, the core objective of the Design team is to drive design innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement. Our mission is to enable the delivery of cost-effective and high-quality infrastructure, while ensuring that projects are always completed safely and on time. With a commitment to operational excellence, we specialize in pioneering technical design solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.
The Design Manager will assume comprehensive ownership of the design life cycle, managing engineering teams, overseeing procurement processes, and serving as the primary point of contact for department leaders. This role demands a professional with extensive data center design management experience and a proven track record in complex engineering projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Design Leadership: Spearhead the development, review, maintenance, and enhancement of design packages, standards, and specifications, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and fostering innovation.
- Client Relationship Management: Cultivate robust client relationships as a support function to the sales team, leading technical meetings and 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, guiding 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, ensuring alignment of OFCI design with executed designs 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 end-users/customers, 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 insights 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
- Bachelor’s degree in construction management, building services engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution preferred. Alternative, relevant education or experience such as military service or exceptional experience/training may be considered.
- Experience in data center design management or equivalent leadership roles.
- Proficiency in data center design and familiarity with European construction markets.
- Strong knowledge of critical cooling and power infrastructure within data center projects.
- Familiarity with building codes and fire ordinances.
- Fluent in English.
- Willingness to travel.
As the Design Manager, you will be instrumental in advancing the design and engineering excellence of Vantage's data center projects, contributing to the growth and success of our organization. Your technical acumen, leadership skills, and dedication to innovation will shape the future of data center development in the region.
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.