Director, Engineering Standards & Safety

Job description

Make an impact at NTT Global Data Centers Join NTT Global Data Centers and be part of a team that drives innovation and sustainability in the digital world. With over 150 data centers across more than 20 countries globally, we offer unparalleled opportunities to work on cutting-edge technology and transformative projects. Experience a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive workplace where your ideas are valued, and your growth is supported. Your role at a glance The Director, Engineering Standards and Safety is a global role, that leads the global function that defines how engineering work is performed safely and consistently across data center operations. The role owns engineering standards, technical methods, operating boundaries, asset-acceptance criteria and the governance of technical deviations and risk acceptances. This director leads a multidisciplinary team covering electrical, mechanical, controls, fire and life safety, and related engineering disciplines. The discipline standards engineers carry the primary research, evidence development, consultation and drafting workload. The Director sets priorities, challenges the evidence and retains final approval and governance authority. The function works with Field Engineering, Operations, Design, Construction, Commissioning, vendors and corporate safety teams to convert technical risk and operating experience into practical global requirements. Regional teams remain accountable for executing engineering work. Clear standards and safety controls help operating teams run critical facilities safely and efficiently, maintain reliable infrastructure, reduce avoidable environmental impact and provide consistent technical support to clients. What we are looking for KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Set the global strategy, priorities and operating model for Engineering Standards & Safety. Set the standards-development portfolio and research priorities, assign accountable discipline engineers and ensure work is proportionate to risk and business need. Review and approve engineering standards, technical methods and analytical models developed through documented research and cross-functional consultation. Ensure discipline engineers engage Field Engineering, site Operations, vendors and other experts, reconcile material input and maintain a traceable technical basis for each recommendation. Define technical operating limits, system boundaries and escalation requirements for electrical, mechanical, controls, fire and life-safety systems. Establish engineering acceptance criteria for assets and systems entering operation, in partnership with Design, Construction, Commissioning and Operations. Define validation frameworks for reliability analysis, energy analysis, technical-capacity analysis and control-strategy design. Own the governance process for technical deviations and engineering risk acceptances, including approval authorities, evidence requirements, review periods and escalation thresholds. Define engineering safety requirements for energized work, arc-flash risk, breaker coordination and other high-risk engineering activities. Establish global control-system and alarm philosophy, including control-sequence principles, setpoint governance, alarm requirements, point naming, tagging and metadata standards. Establish fire and life-safety engineering requirements and assurance methods in partnership with corporate safety, regional teams and authorities having jurisdiction. Monitor adoption of standards, identify systemic compliance gaps and sponsor corrective actions without assuming regional execution ownership. Ensure standards reflect operating experience, incident learning, regulatory requirements, recognized industry practices and changes in technology. Chair or sponsor governance forums that resolve cross-region technical questions, approve material exceptions and assign clear decision ownership. Build and lead a high-performing global team through workforce planning, hiring, coaching, performance management and succession planning. Communicate engineering requirements, material risks and decisions to senior leaders in clear technical and business terms. Manage the function's priorities, resources, external technical support and budget in line with approved business plans. ROLE AND DECISION SCOPEKE Owns Global engineering standards, methods and technical governance for operating facilities. Technical operating boundaries and asset-acceptance criteria. Engineering-safety requirements within the function's remit. Control and alarm philosophy and related naming, tagging and metadata standards. The engineering deviation and risk-acceptance framework. Assurance methods for adoption and continued suitability of standards. Approves New and materially revised global engineering standards. Standards-development priorities and the evidence required before a proposal enters formal approval. Technical deviations and engineering risk acceptances within delegated authority. Validation methods used to demonstrate compliance with engineering requirements. Function priorities, resources and technical-governance forums. Recommends or Escalates Material engineering risks that exceed delegated authority or risk tolerance. Investment or remediation needed to close systemic standards and safety gaps. Changes to enterprise policy, design standards or operational practices owned by other functions. Regulatory, safety or technical matters requiring executive or legal review. Outside This Role's Scope Regional execution of engineering studies, projects or routine engineering work. Real-time facility control, uptime management and operational response. Incident command or coordination. Definition of performance KPIs owned by Optimization & Analytics. Maintenance scheduling, work-order management or local procedure approval. Physical meter, asset or network maintenance. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Regional Field Engineering directors and discipline managers Site and regional Operations leadership Reliability, Optimization & Analytics and Technical Capacity leaders Design, Construction, Commissioning and Capital Projects Corporate and regional Health, Safety, Security and Environment teams Sustainability, Legal, Risk, Finance and Procurement Equipment manufacturers, engineering consultants and insurers Regulators, standards bodies and authorities having jurisdiction KNOWLEDGE & ATTRIBUTES Deep knowledge of engineering principles used in mission-critical or data center facilities, with strong working knowledge across electrical, mechanical and controls systems. Strong knowledge of engineering risk management, technical assurance, change control and standards governance. Knowledge of energized-work safety, arc-flash analysis, short-circuit and breaker-coordination principles. Knowledge of control sequences, building-management systems, electrical power-management systems, alarm philosophy and operational technology interfaces. Working knowledge of fire detection, suppression and life-safety engineering requirements. Ability to translate codes, regulations, operating experience and technical analysis into clear, usable global standards. Ability to evaluate complex technical evidence, make risk-based decisions and explain the basis for those decisions. Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across regions and cultures. Strong organizational leadership, workforce planning, coaching and performance-management skills. Ability to influence senior stakeholders and resolve ownership or technical conflicts without relying on direct authority. Clear written and verbal communication, including standards, executive briefings and technical decision records. Ability to balance safety, reliability, operability, efficiency, cost and long-term asset health. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Required Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, controls, fire-protection or a related engineering discipline, or equiv