Senior Project Director - Data Centre

Senior Project Director, Data Centres |
The opportunity
Data centres are among the fastest-growing sectors in Australian construction, and this is a chance to lead a major build program at the centre of it. A global project management consultancy is looking for a Senior Project Director to oversee a portfolio of data centre projects for one of Australia’s leading data centre operators.
This is a senior, high-visibility role. You’ll be the key day-to-day client interface for the program, accountable for delivering multiple mission-critical projects to time, cost, quality and safety targets, while leading a multi-disciplinary team of Project Directors, Senior Project Managers, Project Managers and Coordinators.

About the role
You’ll provide leadership and direction across the full project lifecycle: initiation, planning and design, procurement, construction and handover. Reporting to the Account Lead, you will:

• Lead delivery across a portfolio of major data centre developments, with overall accountability for programme, cost, risk, quality and safety
• Act as the senior client-facing lead, building trusted relationships with executive stakeholders and program sponsors
• Lead procurement strategy, tendering and contract negotiation for major packages, including long lead equipment
• Oversee contract administration, variations and claims, protecting the commercial interests of both the client and the business
• Drive value engineering, buildability reviews and critical review of design and documentation
• Navigate planning pathways, authority approvals and utility connections
• Chair PCG and senior stakeholder meetings, and ensure accurate, timely reporting to the client and leadership
• Set the safety culture on site and in design, and lead the implementation of HSE systems
• Coach, develop and structure a high-performing delivery team
• Contribute to business development, including EOIs, pricing submissions and thought leadership

About you
You’re an experienced data centre or mission-critical delivery leader who is as comfortable in a boardroom as on site. You’ll bring:

• 12+ years in data centre or mission-critical construction project management
• Proven experience as a Project Director or Construction Director within a PMC, EPCM, Construction Management or General Contractor environment
• A track record of leading major projects and programmes end-to-end, ideally including hyperscale or mission-critical data centre developments in Australia
• Strong commercial acumen and contract administration experience across the full pre-contract and post-contract lifecycle
• In-depth knowledge of construction methods, building codes, regulations and safety standards on complex, large-scale projects
• Proficiency in budgets, forecasting, cash flow and change order assessment, plus project controls tools such as Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project
• A solid understanding of different delivery methods (Project Management, Construction Management, Managing Contractor, Lump Sum, D&C)
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• A degree in Construction Management, Engineering or a related discipline (PMP or PRINCE2 highly regarded)

Experience working for Principal Contractors or in client-side project management is also highly regarded.

Why join?

• Lead a flagship program on a strong, long-term pipeline of work
• Executive-level client exposure and real influence over how the program is delivered
• Work on projects at national scale in a sector with sustained growth
• The backing, systems and global network of a leading consultancy
• A leadership role with scope to shape the team and grow the account

How to apply
Apply or contact Conor at Gough Recruitment for a confidential conversation: [email protected] / [+61 448 478 068](tel:+61 448 478 068). All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.