Materials Specialist

Position Objective:

The Material Specialist is responsible for overseeing the procurement assurance, inspection, tracking, and site management of all materials and equipment procured for the data centre and technical building project. The role ensures that only approved, specification-compliant materials are incorporated into the works, that the material supply chain is aligned with the construction programme, and that accurate material records are maintained throughout the project lifecycle from submittal approval through to installation verification and close-out.

• Manage the end-to-end material control workflow, including review of material submittals, tracking approval status, monitoring procurement schedules, coordinating delivery logistics, and confirming site receipt against approved specifications.
• Maintain a comprehensive Material Submittal Register (MSR) tracking all materials and equipment from initial submission through to approval, procurement, delivery, and incorporation into the works.
• Review material submittals, technical data sheets, test certificates, and compliance declarations submitted by the contractor, assessing conformance with project specifications, applicable standards, and approved material lists.
• Coordinate with the Design Manager and discipline engineers during technical review of submittals to ensure that proposed materials meet design intent and performance requirements.
• Conduct and witness material inspections at supplier premises and on site, including inspection of structural steel, cable management systems, LV switch gear, UPS equipment, precision cooling units, and ELV/ICT infrastructure.
• Monitor the construction programme material pull schedule and alert the Project Manager to any procurement delays or lead time risks that could impact critical path activities.
• Manage the site materials storage and preservation plan, ensuring critical equipment such as UPS battery systems, transformers, precision cooling units, and generator sets are stored in accordance with manufacturer requirements and project specifications.
• Process and maintain records for material delivery notes, inspection certificates, test reports, and Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) documentation, ensuring full traceability from procurement to installation.
• Issue Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) for any materials found to be non-compliant upon delivery or during site inspection and track corrective actions through to resolution.
• Coordinate with the QC Inspection teams to align material receipt inspections with ITPs and witness points.
• Maintain a surplus materials register and manage disposal or return of unused approved materials at project close-out.
• Prepare and submit weekly material status reports to the Project Manager, highlighting critical items, delivery risks, and required actions

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of material management experience on major construction or infrastructure programmes, with at least 4 years on data centre or mission-critical facility projects.
• Solid knowledge of material standards and specifications relevant to data centre construction, including LV/MV electrical equipment, cable systems, structural steel, UPS, precision cooling equipment, and ELV/ICT infrastructure.
• Experience managing material submittal processes, Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs), and Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) documentation.
• Familiarity with material storage and preservation requirements for critical equipment including batteries, transformers, precision cooling units, and generators.
• Proficiency in materials management systems and ability to maintain detailed registers and tracking spreadsheets.
• Good coordination skills with the ability to interface across procurement, design, construction, and QC work streams.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English (both written and spoken) is preferred.