In today’s technology landscape, securing the right talent has never been more critical, especially in high-growth markets like Saudi Arabia. A major data centre project presented a complex recruitment challenge: 19 highly technical positions spanning multiple disciplines, all to be staffed within a tight timeline.
We partnered with our client to deliver a tailored RPO solution, starting first with a full market mapping exercise and growing into a three-month strategic engagement. They needed niche expertise across several functions essential to building and operating a state-of-the-art data centre. These included:
▪️Cloud, IT & Automation
▪️Construction & Project Delivery
▪️Engineering & Design
▪️Health, Safety & Compliance
▪️Mechanical & Cooling
▪️Operations & Facilities
▪️Power & Critical Infrastructure
With the technical breadth across disciplines and a highly competitive talent market in KSA, delivering quality hires required deep market insight, structured processes, and consistent execution.
Our Approach: From Market Mapping to Full RPO Execution
Market Mapping: Setting the Foundation
Before recruiting a single candidate, we conducted a comprehensive market mapping exercise to understand talent availability, compensation benchmarks, competitor landscapes, and key skill clusters relevant to data centre operations and infrastructure. This phase provided:
✔ A strategic head-start on talent pools
✔ Competitive salary insights tailored to KSA
✔ Identification of passive candidates ahead of the hiring lifecycle
RPO Delivery: End-to-End Recruitment
Over three months, we led a full RPO engagement covering:
▪️Job profiling and requirement refinement
▪️Candidate sourcing across multiple geographies
▪️Assessment, short-listing and interview coordination
▪️Offer negotiation and candidate onboarding support
We provided a dedicated resourcing team aligned to each function, offering proactive pipeline management and consistent stakeholder updates.
Results: Quality at Scale
19 roles were targeted across core technical and leadership functions with 28 hires delivered:
Cloud & Automation Specialist | DevOps Engineer | Network Infrastructure Engineer | Construction Manager | Project Manager | Cost Control Engineer | Electrical Design Engineer | Electrical Engineer | Senior Electrical | Engineer | Data Centre Design Manager | Facilities Manager | Data Centre Operations Manager | HSE Manager | Risk & Compliance Manager | HVAC Technician | HVAC Maintenance Specialist | Thermal Systems Engineer | UPS System Specialist | Energy & Load Management Engineer
Feedback loops and proactive candidate engagement ensured the client secured professionals who weren’t just qualified but aligned with organisational culture and competency expectations.
What This Means for Data Centre Growth in KSA
As critical infrastructure continues to expand across the Kingdom, the demand for strategic talent will only grow. This project demonstrates the impact of an RPO partnership that can adapt, scale, and deliver in challenging environments. Whether organisations are building greenfield facilities, scaling operations, or strengthening technical leadership, a thoughtful talent strategy backed by skilled execution makes all the difference.
