ELV Commissioning Lead for Data Centre & Life Safety

This role will oversee the commissioning of Life Safety, Fire Detection, Fire Suppression, Sprinkler, Security, and Data Infrastructure systems specifically within large-scale Industrial, Commercial, Residential and Data Centre environments. The Commissioning Manager will provide technical leadership, challenge design information, manage multidiscipline commissioning teams, and ensure all systems are integrated, validated, and handed over in accordance with all standards, legislation, project specific standards and client timescales.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning & Coordination
  • Develop detailed commissioning plans, programmes, procedures, and schedules for ELV systems (Life Safety, CCTV, Access Control, Intercom, etc).
  • Review design drawings, specifications, and scope documents to identify commissioning requirements.
  • Coordinate with design teams, project managers, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure readiness for commissioning.
  • Conduct commissioning meetings and prepare progress reports for management and clients.
  • Review resource requirements and skill set for each project/system and ensure they are in place as per the commissioning plan/programme.
  • Plan across multiple projects to ensure commissioning plans/programme/resources are in place and that one project doesn't fail due to another project over-running.
  • Coordinate and manage integration workshops between life safety systems, security systems, sprinklers, fire suppression and data systems.
• Commissioning Execution
  • Ensure the project commissioning plan is in place and lead and supervise commissioning engineers on site in conjunction with the project site team.
  • Carry out weekly checks with commissioning engineers to ensure programme being adhered to and monitor progress/resource issues.
  • Oversee programming, system configuration, and integration between multiple ELV systems (e.g., linking fire alarm with access control or BMS).
  • Ensure all issues identified during testing are logged, rectified, and reverified before system handover.
  • Implement and manage commissioning gateways, punch list management, and closure.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance
  • Verify compliance with Specifications, BAFE, BS, EN, and GBEC Policies and procedures.
  • Support standardization of commissioning processes across multiple sites.
  • Coordinate third-party testing, inspections, and approvals with relevant agencies or consultants.
  • Maintain QA/QC documentation, including checklists, test reports, and witness sheets.
  • Ensure commissioning activities follow safety and quality management procedures.
  • Review and validate commissioning scripts, method statements, and integrated test plans.
• Documentation & Handover
  • Prepare and maintain complete commissioning documentation, including test sheets, commissioning logs, and defect reports.
  • Manage and support the preparation of as-built drawings, O&M manuals, and training sessions for client representatives.
  • Oversee final acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and system handover to the client.
  • Ensure all commissioning evidence is captured through approved digital platforms (e.g., Dalux, BIM360, Cx software, ATP).
• Leadership & Team Management
  • Lead, mentor, and train commissioning teams and engineers.
  • Demonstrate a key focus in driving force to deliver project close outs.
  • Communicate risks early, escalate blockers, and drive issue resolution to protect milestones.
  • Support end-user training and handover of fully validated systems.
  • Ensure coordination with other trades (mechanical, electrical, BMS, lifts, etc) to ensure smooth integration.
  • Provide technical support and troubleshooting throughout project execution.

Working Conditions

• Primarily site-based role with travel between multiple project locations.
• May involve extended working hours to meet project deadlines.
• Must comply with all site safety and company policies.

Person Specification

• Minimum 5+ years senior commissioning experience on large commercial or Data Centre projects.
• Deep understanding of ELV and life safety systems architecture and integration.
• Strong leadership, planning, and team coordination skills.
• Highly organized with strong urgency, attention to detail, and commitment to zero-defect execution.
• Proficiency in commissioning tools, system diagnostic software, and network configuration.
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Analytical mindset with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines under pressure.

Essential

• Hold CSCS Card and SMSTS Safety Trained.
• Experience in working on and commissioning Fire Detection, Voice Alarm, Disabled Systems, Access Control, CCTV, Intruder systems to the applicable British, European and NACOSS Standards and knowledge of all relevant BAFE/BRE codes of practice.
• To be conversant with and up to date in respect of new technologies and regulatory standards that are relevant to the design process.
• Minimum of 5+ Years Experience Commissioning Medium/Large Projects.
• Plan and monitor work to tight time scales and deadlines.
• Multitask across multiple projects.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports.
• Work creatively and innovatively dealing with core issues with customers.
• Form good working relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of redundancy philosophy, fire strategies for data halls, and operational uptime commissioning procedures.
• Experience managing multi-discipline commissioning teams and running commissioning meetings/workshops.
• Influence, persuade and negotiate effectively.
• Understand and disseminate specifications and technical drawings.
• Display initiative and to have strong attention to detail.
• Be highly motivated and orientated with a strong drive to deliver and succeed.
• Have good organisational and time management skills.
• Good presentation and customer facing skills.
• PC Literate and Good understanding of Microsoft Products.

Desirable

• FIA/NACOSS Training (Advanced Installer & Advanced Commissioner).
• First Aid Training.
• System Knowledge / Experience: Fire Alarms - Gent/WINMAG/DRAX/Advanced/Siemens/FAAST/Xtralis/Apollo; PAVA - Honeywell/Baldwin Boxall; Disabled Systems - Baldwin Boxall/C-TECS; Security System - Milestone/Xplan/CCure/AMAG/Lenel/Hikvision/Axis/Galaxy/Comelit/Commend.
• Previous experience of working within Fire, Security or Data Infrastructure industry.
• M&E Co-ordination experience.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.