Commissioning Manager – Data Centres

Cumming Group is an international project and cost management consultancy delivering innovative solutions in construction, real estate, and infrastructure. With a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and performance excellence, we support some of the world's most respected clients across diverse range of sectors.

The Commissioning Manager (CxM) is responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing all commissioning activities associated with the delivery of mission‑critical data centre projects. The role ensures that all building services, electrical, mechanical, and integrated systems are commissioned in full compliance with contractual requirements, applicable standards, service level agreements (SLAs), and project commissioning plans.

Key Responsibilities

Commissioning Governance & Safety

• Ensure commissioning activities are planned and executed in accordance with a world ‑class safety program , including:
• Contractor site safety plans and procedures
• HSE Assurance Plans
• Global Construction Safety Standards
• Requirements associated with commissioning within critical data centre environments
• Ensure commissioning agents (CxAs), contractors, and vendors comply with all project safety requirements.
• Promote safe testing practices, method statements, and permit‑to‑work controls during all commissioning activities.
• Ensure adherence to the latest approved Commissioning Plan of Record (CxPOR) and all documents incorporated by reference.
• Drive the overall commissioning strategy, scope definition, and commissioning schedule in alignment with the master project programme.
• Work collaboratively with design, construction, and operations stakeholders to ensure commissioning requirements are embedded early in the design process.
• Support development, review, and refinement of commissioning procedures and standards to suit data centre operational requirements.

Technical & QA/QC Oversight

• Review construction drawings, specifications, and submittals from a commissioning perspective.
• Monitor RFIs and submittals related to commissioning and support timely resolution.
• Conduct site inspections to verify construction readiness, QA/QC compliance, and commissioning pre‑requisites.
• Manage the full commissioning process, including:
• Development and approval of commissioning scripts and test procedures
• Scheduling and coordination of commissioning activities
• Execution, witnessing, and documentation of tests
• Coordinate commissioning agents (CxAs), contractors, and vendors to:
• Execute commissioning in accordance with the CxPOR
• Validate system performance against the Basis of Design, Specifications, Drawings, and Sequences of Operation
• Attend and actively monitor Commissioning Levels 2 through 5 , including Factory Witness Testing (FoK), integrated systems testing, and resiliency testing.

Tools, Systems & Documentation

• Ensure the effective use of the Automated Commissioning Management System (ACxMS) for:
• Development, review, and approval of commissioning scripts
• Execution tracking and result documentation
• Issue tracking and reporting
• Provide guidance and oversight to vendors and contractors to ensure correct and consistent use of commissioning tools and platforms.
• Own and manage the Issue Resolution Log (IRL) , ensuring issues are:
• Identified, documented, and risk‑assessed
• Assigned to responsible parties
• Tracked through to verified closure
• Identify risks, schedule impacts, and constraints to commissioning activities and elevate as required.
• Support change management related to commissioning scope, sequencing, or testing strategy.

Turnover & Operations Readiness

• Manage commissioning aspects of turnover to Operations, ensuring:
• Commissioning issues and defects are resolved or formally accepted
• Test documentation is complete, accurate, and approved
• System readiness aligns with operational requirements
• Support Early Access and Beneficial Use readiness activities from a commissioning standpoint.
• Ensure commissioning deliverables are integrated into the overall project close‑out documentation.
• Support final project stage‑gate handover through review and completion of commissioning close‑out documentation.
• Verify closure of all outstanding commissioning‑related punch list items.
• Participate in post‑project commissioning and integration lessons learned workshops .
• Contribute to continuous improvement of commissioning standards and processes across the data centre portfolio.

Key Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in data centre facilities operations, maintenance, and/or commissioning.
• Demonstrated leadership in Level 2–5 commissioning and integrated systems testing.

Education & Technical Expertise

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong understanding of:
• UPS systems
• MV/LV switchgear
• Generators and fuel systems
• Critical mechanical systems (cooling, chillers, CRAH/CRAC, controls)
• Proficient in the development and execution of detailed commissioning scripts .
• Strong background in construction QA/QC and defect resolution.

Professional Skills

• Ability to work independently within a complex programme environment.
• Strong issue identification, root‑cause analysis, and resolution management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluent German and English (written and spoken).