Senior Director, Project Controls - APAC (Data Centre)

About Nscale

At Nscale, we are building the infrastructure for AI revolution. Nscale is developing cutting-edge, sovereign generative AI solutions powered by a new generation of high-performance, sustainable data centres and GPUs built specifically for AI workloads.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented global demand for compute and GPU infrastructure. Positioned at the heart of this transformation, Nscale is delivering the platforms that will enable the next decade of innovation.

Working closely with the world’s most advanced AI technology providers, Nscale integrates next-generation compute hardware and GPU clusters across both partner and self-delivered facilities. This is a unique opportunity to join Nscale’s journey, playing a pivotal role in delivering transformative AI infrastructure, and help shape a company designed to scale rapidly across APAC.

Senior Director, Project Controls - APAC

The Senior Director, Project Controls - APAC owns cost, schedule, risk and change control across Nscale's capital project portfolio across Asia Pacific and gives leadership one trusted view of where every project stands.

You will build and lead a regional team, set the standards projects are measured against, and turn controls data into decisions before problems become overruns.

What You'll Be Doing

Leadership and Governance

• Lead, recruit and develop the APAC project controls function across cost, planning/scheduling, risk, change and document control
• Set and enforce the regional controls framework, aligned to global standards (stage gates, WBS/CBS, earned value, reporting cadence)
• Act as the senior controls voice in executive reviews, investment committees and board reporting for APAC
• Build a culture of transparency: early warning over late surprises

Cost control and Forecasting

• Own budget baselines, cost forecasts (EAC/ETC) and contingency management for all APAC projects
• Drive monthly cost reporting, variance analysis and forecast-to-complete reviews with project directors
• Partner with Finance on capex phasing, accruals, cash flow forecasts and capitalization
• Lead independent cost estimates and benchmarking to test project budgets before approval

Planning and scheduling

• Maintain integrated master schedules and critical path analysis across the portfolio (Primavera P6 or equivalent)
• Assure contractor schedules for quality, logic and realism; run schedule health checks and DCMA-style assessments
• Identify interface and resource conflicts across concurrent projects and long-lead procurement

Risk, change and contracts

• Run quantitative risk analysis (Monte Carlo cost and schedule) and keep risk registers live and owned
• Govern change control: trend logs, change orders, variations and claims, with commercial and legal teams
• Support procurement strategy and contract structuring (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus, EPC/EPCM) across APAC markets

Systems, data and reporting

• Own the regional controls toolset and data model; lead implementation or rollout of systems (e.g. P6, EcoSys, Power BI, ERP integration)
• Deliver a single portfolio dashboard showing cost, schedule, risk and earned value KPIs
• Introduce automation and analytics that cut manual reporting time

Stakeholders

• Work closely with Project Directors, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Legal and the global PMO
• Manage controls interfaces with general contractors, consultants and joint-venture partners across multiple jurisdictions

About You

• Bachelor in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or equivalent
• 15+ years in Project controls on major capital projects, with 5+ years leading multi-project or regional controls teams
• Direct accountability for portfolios of USD$1B+ in capital value
• Hands-on depth in cost engineering, earned value management, CPM scheduling and quantitative risk analysis
• Delivery experience in at least 2 APAC markets (e.g. Australia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Indonesia)
• Advanced user of Primavera P6 and a cost management platform (EcoSys, Aconex, Prism or similar); strong Excel and BI skills

Preferred

• Background in mission-critical or complex facilities: Data Centres, Energy, Semiconductors, Pharmaceutical, or heavy infrastructure industries
• Professional certification: AACE (CCP, PSP, DRMP), PMI (PMP, PMI-SP), RICS or equivalent
• Experience standing up a controls function or system from scratch in a fast-growing organization
• Owner-side experience, as well as contractor-side

In All We Do, Our Core Values Guide Us

Relentless Innovation

At Nscale, we constantly push the boundaries of innovation, embracing creative risks to shape the future. Our aim is to deliver products that not only meet but exceed today’s expectations, setting new standards for tomorrow.

Ownership and Accountability

Every Nscaler is fully accountable for their work, driving it with excellence and urgency. We set high standards, ensuring that our contributions are not just good but exceptional.

Openness and Transparency

We believe trust and transparency are key to our success. We maintain open communication within our teams and with stakeholders, sharing both successes and challenges. Our open-source approach allows customers to explore our technology, building trust and ensuring our solutions are both innovative, secure, and reliable.

Customer-Centric Focus

Our customers are central to our mission, and we are committed to delivering impactful solutions that drive real-world success. We focus on deeply understanding their needs and challenges, striving to exceed expectations in both product quality and service.

Sustainability

We are dedicated to considering the long-term environmental and societal impacts of our technologies. By integrating sustainability into our operations and product development, we ensure that our innovations are both effective and responsible, contributing positively to the world around us.

Full-Speed Collaboration

Collaboration at Nscale is fast, efficient, and respectful. We work together seamlessly, with clear communication and mutual respect, ensuring our shared goals are met with high standards and impactful outcomes.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role.

For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: Here.

For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice:  Here.

Nscale does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions from recruitment agencies.