CME Site Manager – Data Centre, Damascus

About the role

Norconsult Telematics is looking for a CME Site Manager based in Damascus to oversee civil, mechanical and electrical works at a data centre site, from contractor mobilisation through commissioning and handover. The goal is to ensure the mission-critical facility is built to the approved design, on programme and safely. The ideal candidate has proven mission-critical construction experience in the Middle East and strong knowledge of the local market and codes.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee on-site assurance of all CME works, from civil and structural elements through to power, cooling and fit-out.
• Monitor contractor progress against the site programme and report slippage early, and verify installed works against approved design and drawings, raising deviations as non-conformance reports.
• Manage the daily site routine, confirm work fronts are ready and clear practical obstacles.
• Witness QA/QC inspections against acceptance checklists and confirm punch and snag items are closed out before handover.
• Witness factory and site acceptance tests for major plant such as UPS, generators and chillers, and coordinate the commissioning sequence from Level 1 through Level 5 integrated systems testing.
• Hold the contractor to the site health, safety and environment regime, including method statements, permits to work and controlled access to high-risk rooms.
• Chair site progress meetings, record decisions and actions, and maintain a live issues log.
• Confirm as-built drawings, test records and O&M packs are complete against the target Uptime Tier, and track resource use and site delivery performance, escalating risks to the Senior Project Manager.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or a closely related construction discipline.
• Minimum 6 to 8 years in CME or building-services construction, including time as senior on-site construction manager and at least one mission-critical facility taken through commissioning and handover.
• Experience with data centres, telecom or other mission-critical facilities strongly preferred, with familiarity with critical power and cooling commissioning.
• Awareness of sanctions regimes (US OFAC, EU and UN) affecting operations in Syria, and knowledge of the local market and codes.

Required skills

• Working knowledge of Uptime Institute Tier classifications (Tier III or IV), TIA-942, and fire and electrical codes such as NFPA and ASHRAE.
• Able to read civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings, including single-line diagrams.
• Competence in safe isolation, lock-out/tag-out and permit-to-work control around live switchgear and battery rooms; NEBOSH or IOSH preferred.
• Project Management Professional certification and Primavera P6 or MS Project are an advantage; strong English reporting is required, and Arabic is required for daily coordination with local contractors.