Area Director (Malaysia)

Black & White Engineering is a multi-award-winning engineering consultancy, with over 1000 employees in teams based in our UK, European, Middle East and Asia Pacific offices. We have been providing a wide range of engineering consultancy services since 2007.

The Area Director will lead and oversee a B&W office, driving team development, profitability and sustainable growth while cultivating key client & partner relationships.

They will support the Regional Director APAC in delivering the Malaysia business plan and managing core functions including operations, marketing, finance, HR, and IT.

The ideal candidate is a mechanical or electrical engineering professional with strong leadership, technical expertise, and project delivery experience, particularly in the data centre sector.

People

• Lead and coordinate office and project teams, including virtual design teams across multiple time zones.
• Demonstrate formidable team and leadership skills, earning respect from peers and guiding others through demanding situations.
• Collaborate with design teams and clients to localise solutions, maintain strong relationships, and troubleshoot issues.
• Function as a positive leadership role model, demonstrating integrity, accountability, and collaboration across the global team.
• Support the development of staff and future leaders through training initiatives, mentoring, and career growth opportunities.

Projects

• Manage regional P&L, project financial performance, resources, and contract negotiations to ensure profitability.
• Ensure compliance with QA/QC processes, health and safety legislation, and internal control systems.
• Monitor risk, performance, programmes, and reporting processes to anticipate challenges and safeguard delivery.
• Provide leadership in proposals, bids, reporting, and communication with directors, clients, and supply chain partners.
• Deliver consistent success with clients, building trust, generating work, and representing Black & White externally at a prominent level.
• Manage projects with sound business awareness and financial acumen, ensuring technical and financial success over time.
• Think and act on behalf of the wider business, prioritising collective success over individual or unit interests.

Progress

• Drive business development, growth initiatives, and continuous improvement of systems and procedures.
• Contribute effectively to business-wide activities, strategy, and continuous improvement aligned with B&W’s philosophy.
• Innovate by bringing forward latest ideas, solutions, and approaches that strengthen the business and its operations.

All roles include responsibility for health and safety in line with the requirements set out in the Employee Handbook.

• Awareness of H&S policies and procedures and impact on yourself and team
• Ensure all staff members complete mandatory compliance training when required
• Report any accidents, incidents, near misses appropriately

• BSc/BEng in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• Chartered Engineer through engineering Council UK(or working towards) professional status with The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). Chartered Engineer status.
• Membership of IET/CIBSE or equivalent overseas institution (preferred).

• Considerable experience in specification and design for building projects, especially data centres.
• Strong understanding of power systems, network design, BS/IEC standards, UK regulations, and local/international codes.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, ETAP (or equivalent modelling software), Amtech, Microsoft Office, and IT-based calculation tools.
• Knowledge of planning & permitting requirements specifically those impacting data centre development.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation, contract law, and business law
• Excellent communication (verbal, written, presentation) and people management skills.
• Ability to manage international projects, invoicing, and credit control.
• Strong leadership, networking, and meeting facilitation skills.
• Capacity to prioritise workload, act at both engineering and board level, and contribute to business success.

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values:

ACCOUNTABILITY > Everyone is accountable.

INTEGRITY > We are straight talking, respectful and fair.

SIMPLICITY > Both in our approach and solutions.

SUPPORTIVE > We are approachable, inclusive and recognise success.

QUALITY > We strive to get it right first time, every time.