Snr Project Manager (Electrical) - Data Centres

Senior Project Manager (Electrical) - Data Centres

Location: Bristol, UK

Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

An established construction and engineering contractor operating across the data centre, defence and energy sectors is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager (Electrical) to lead the delivery of complex electrical works on a major data centre project.

Initially based in Bristol, the role will support the next phase of a data centre refurbishment and expansion project, increasing the facility's IT capacity by an additional 2.4MW.

The project involves the installation of new mechanical and electrical infrastructure, including chillers, generators, switchgear, UPS systems and computer room air handling (CRAH) units.

This is a senior delivery position, responsible for leading electrical works from pre-construction and design development through installation, testing, commissioning, energisation and final handover.

The successful candidate will provide leadership to project teams and specialist contractors, ensuring works are delivered safely, compliantly, on programme and within approved commercial and technical parameters.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Project Governance

• Lead the delivery strategy for assigned electrical projects.
• Provide leadership to Project Managers, delivery teams and supply chain partners.
• Establish clear responsibilities, reporting structures and delivery standards.
• Maintain oversight of significant risks, issues and key project decisions.
• Provide accurate progress reporting to senior project leadership.
• Promote collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

Health, Safety and Electrical Risk

• Lead the safe planning and delivery of complex electrical activities.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place for electrical isolations, switching, testing and energisation.
• Verify contractor competency and authorisation arrangements.
• Review and challenge risk assessments, method statements (RAMS) and safe systems of work.
• Stop or escalate work where significant safety or compliance concerns arise.
• Work closely with engineering and HSEQ teams on major risks and incidents.

Pre-Construction and Procurement

• Support tendering, mobilisation and pre-construction activities.
• Review scopes of work, employer's requirements and technical specifications.
• Identify key risks, opportunities and project interfaces.
• Support the development of procurement and commissioning strategies.
• Lead the preparation and review of significant electrical work packages.
• Identify long-lead equipment and incorporate procurement requirements into project planning.

Design and Technical Coordination

• Lead design coordination and constructability reviews.
• Ensure design information is coordinated and suitable for construction.
• Oversee technical submissions and critical system interfaces.
• Coordinate significant technical decisions with the Lead Electrical Engineer.
• Ensure design changes and departures are properly controlled.
• Lead the resolution of complex multidisciplinary electrical interfaces.

Construction and Programme Delivery

• Lead electrical delivery against the approved project programme.
• Maintain delivery plans and short-term look-ahead schedules.
• Coordinate construction activities with commissioning requirements.
• Monitor progress and implement recovery plans where necessary.
• Maintain oversight of electrical system status and completion.
• Take accountability for delivery through to final handover.

Quality Assurance and Commissioning

• Lead the implementation of quality plans and inspection arrangements.
• Ensure electrical installations are appropriately inspected and tested.
• Monitor defects and non-conformances through to resolution.
• Coordinate electrical testing, commissioning and energisation.
• Ensure complete and accurate testing, commissioning and handover records.
• Support client and statutory inspections and witnessing activities.

Commercial and Supply Chain Management

• Work with commercial teams to monitor project financial performance.
• Oversee electrical variations, procurement activities and subcontractor performance.
• Ensure changes, delays and variations are identified and recorded appropriately.
• Assess the impact of design and procurement decisions on cost and programme.
• Identify opportunities to improve value without compromising safety, compliance or quality.

People Leadership and Development

• Lead and support Electrical Project Managers and delivery teams.
• Set clear expectations, objectives and performance standards.
• Develop team capability and support succession planning.
• Provide constructive feedback and address performance concerns.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Experience Required

Essential

• Significant electrical or MEP delivery experience within data centres, defence, energy, critical infrastructure or similarly complex environments.
• Experience leading high-value, complex or technically demanding electrical projects or work packages.
• Experience managing electrical systems through design, installation, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Strong knowledge of electrical distribution and associated systems.
• Experience leading electrical project teams and specialist contractors.
• Proven ability to manage complex multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Experience managing programme, procurement and commissioning activities.
• Experience overseeing electrical quality assurance and non-conformances.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness.
• Experience reporting to senior project and client stakeholders.
• Confidence challenging unsafe, defective or non-compliant work.

Desirable

• Experience with high-voltage (HV) systems and energisation.
• Experience delivering critical or resilient power systems.
• Working knowledge of NEC and JCT contracts.

Qualifications

Essential

• HNC, HND or equivalent qualification in Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
• 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations qualification.
• ECS Black Manager Card, or ability to obtain it within an agreed period.
• Professional membership of the IET, CIBSE or another relevant professional body, or demonstrable progress towards membership.

Desirable

• Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status.
• Relevant project management qualification.
• Relevant postgraduate, leadership or management qualification.
• Additional accreditation in electrical safety, critical power or HV engineering.

Essential Training and Competencies

• HV Authorised Person training or demonstrable equivalent competence.
• Electrical safety and safe systems of work training.
• Strong understanding of electrical inspection, testing, commissioning and energisation.
• Good understanding of health and safety and CDM requirements.
• SMSTS.
• First Aid at Work.
• RAMS assessment and review.
• Electrical isolation and lock-off awareness.

Desirable additional training: Working at Height, incident investigation, electrical auditing and compliance assurance, and Temporary Works awareness.

Decision-Making and Accountability

The successful candidate will be responsible for day-to-day electrical project delivery within the approved project strategy, budget, programme and delegated authority.

Responsibilities include:

• Allocating project resources and setting delivery priorities.
• Directing corrective action where programme, quality, technical or commercial performance falls below expectations.
• Approving routine project expenditure and operational commitments within delegated authority.
• Managing routine electrical delivery methods, sequencing and coordination within approved designs and standards.
• Recommending subcontractor appointments and significant project changes in conjunction with commercial teams.
• Escalating material technical, commercial, safety or programme risks to the appropriate senior stakeholders.
• Stopping or redirecting work where there is an immediate safety, compliance, quality or significant delivery risk.

Measures of Success

• Safe, compliant delivery of complex electrical works.
• Achievement of programme, testing, commissioning, energisation and handover milestones.
• Effective identification, management and escalation of significant project risks.
• Delivery within approved commercial parameters.
• Compliance with approved designs, specifications and technical standards.
• Timely resolution of defects and non-conformances.
• Complete and accurate commissioning and handover documentation.
• Effective leadership and development of electrical delivery teams.
• Strong client confidence and positive project performance.

Salary and Benefits

• Car allowance for eligible roles.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• Electric vehicle scheme.
• Private healthcare and health cash plan.
• Eyecare vouchers.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Additional day off for your birthday.