We currently have an exciting opportunity as a Director, Data Center Strategy & Market Development This role is based is a hybrid in office Oakville, Ontario and reports to the Vice President, Transformation Office.
Job Summary:
The Director, Data Center Strategy & Market Development - North America will lead the development and execution of IPEX's strategy to capture the rapidly growing data center opportunity across Canada and the United States.
Operating across IPEX's traditional market segments, the Director will take an end-to-end view of the data center ecosystem, identifying where IPEX can create value across site infrastructure, building systems, cooling, water treatment and other emerging applications. The Director will define where IPEX should compete, develop the value proposition and portfolio roadmap required to win, and mobilize the organization behind a clear multi-year growth plan.
A critical component of the role will be developing relationships and influence with hyperscalers, colocation providers, engineering and design firms, developers, contractors, technology partners and other key decision-makers. The Director will work to position IPEX earlier in the design and specification process and increase the adoption of IPEX solutions within data center projects.
The role will be supported by a cross-functional team spanning Sales, Product Management, Innovation, Technical,Codes & Standards, Marketing and Operations
Principal Responsibilities
• Develop and own IPEX's North American data center strategy, defining priority applications, customers, geographies, technologies and routes to market and translating these into a multi-year growth roadmap.
• Build an end-to-end view of the opportunity across site infrastructure, building systems, cooling systems, water treatment and other relevant applications, connecting opportunities across IPEX's existing segments and portfolios.
• Develop deep understanding of the data center ecosystem and build senior relationships with hyperscale's, colocation providers, engineers, developers, contractors and technology partners to understand requirements and influence material and system decisions.
• Position IPEX upstream in the specification and design process, partnering with Technical and Codes & Standards to influence specifications, standards and acceptance of IPEX solutions.
• Assess IPEX's current portfolio against evolving data center requirements and identify product, technology and capability gaps, recommending new product development, partnerships or other solutions required to compete.
• Develop differentiated value propositions and solution positioning for priority applications, including mission-critical cooling and water-management systems.
• Maintain strong awareness of emerging data center technologies and design trends, including direct liquid cooling, facility and technology cooling systems, water efficiency and evolving infrastructure requirements, and translate these into implications for IPEX.
• Lead the cross-functional data center team, aligning Sales, Product Management, Innovation, Technical, Codes & Standards, Marketing and Operations around common priorities and execution plans.
• Build market intelligence on project pipelines, competitors, technologies and customer requirements and translate insights into commercial priorities and investment recommendations.
• Establish KPIs and regularly communicate progress, pipeline, strategic opportunities, risks and investment requirements to senior leadership.
Measures of Success
• Clear North American data center strategy and multi-year growth roadmap established and executed.
• Strong relationships developed with priority hyperscalers, colocation providers, engineering firms and other specification influencers.
• Increased IPEX inclusion in data center designs and specifications.
• Measurable pipeline and profitable incremental revenue generated across multiple IPEX segments.
• Priority product and capability gaps identified and addressed through innovation, partnerships or portfolio development.
• Differentiated IPEX value propositions established for priority applications, including cooling and water-management solutions.
• Cross-functional resources aligned around a common set of data center priorities.
Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing or a related discipline; advanced degree considered an asset.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in data centers, mission-critical infrastructure, building systems, cooling/HVAC, industrial systems, market development, product management or related fields.
• Prior experience within the data center ecosystem strongly preferred, with demonstrated understanding of how hyperscalers, colocation providers, engineers and other stakeholders influence design, specification and purchasing decisions.
• Existing relationships within the data center owner/operator, engineering, design or technology ecosystem would be a significant asset.
• Ability to travel regularly throughout Canada and the United States.
