Project Manager/Senior Project Manager - Data Center Delivery (Client-Side & General Contractor)

Job Description

London / Madrid / Frankfurt / Nordics roles available - Lead end-to-end delivery of hyperscale/colocation data center projects (new build, expansion, or live-site upgrades) from design through commissioning and handover. You’ll drive safety, scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk while coordinating multidisciplinary teams (CSA & MEP), vendors (UPS, generators, cooling, BMS, fire), and commissioning agents to achieve predictable outcomes.

• Employment context: This role may sit with an end-user/colocation operator (Client-side) or a Tier-1/Tier-2 General Contractor (GC).
• Reporting to: Program Director / Construction Director / Regional Delivery Lead.
• Geography: London, Franfurt, Madrid or Nordics.

What You’ll Own

Core (applies to both)

• Delivery governance: Own the integrated master schedule (IMS), stage gates, change control, and weekly/monthly reporting (progress, risk, cost, HSE, quality).
• Budget & cost: Establish and control project budget, contingencies, cash flow, and forecasts; lead value engineering without eroding technical resilience.
• Contracts & procurement: Plan procurement of CSA/MEP packages, OFCI/OFCI equipment (UPS, generators, switchgear, CRAH/CRAC, chillers, cooling towers, BMS/EPMS), and long-lead items; manage subcontracts, purchase orders, and claims.
• Design & coordination: Lead design reviews (30/60/90/IFC), drive constructability, maintain requirements traceability, and resolve clashes across civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical, controls, and fire systems.
• Risk & change: Maintain risk register and change log; proactively manage scope growth, interfaces, and site constraints.
• Schedule certainty: Sequence civil works, steel & envelope, fit-out, containment, power-on, MEP first-of-kind, and progressive commissioning (L1–L5) to achieve MEP substantial completion and Ready-for-Service dates.
• Quality & technical compliance: Enforce ITPs, FAT/SAT protocols, redlines/as-builts, O&M, spares, and technical submittal cycles to meet specs, Uptime/TIA-942/EN 50600 requirements.
• Commissioning leadership: Chair commissioning planning & readiness, align vendors/CxA on L1–L5 (FAT, pre-functional, functional, IST), manage defect triage and punch-list to closeout.
• HSE leadership: Model a zero-harm culture; ensure method statements, permits, and high-risk activities (energization, lifts, hot works, confined spaces) are planned and controlled.
• Stakeholders & comms: Run structured meetings (Design, Coordination, Progress, Risk, HSE, Commercial, Cx), and keep executives informed with clear, outcome-focused reporting.
• Live site discipline (for brownfield): Plan shutdowns/MOPs/SOPs/EOPs to protect live capacity and SLAs.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years delivering mission-critical projects; 5+ years specifically in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure (hospitals, pharma, semiconductor).
• Proven end-to-end ownership of at least one data center from early design through L4/L5 commissioning (or multiple expansions/phased programs).
• Deep working knowledge of MEP systems (MV/LV power, UPS, gens, switchgear, earthing, cooling plants, CRAH/CRAC, hydronics, controls), plus CSA sequencing and fit-out.
• Strong command of commissioning frameworks (L1–L5 / FAT–IST) and vendor coordination.
• Solid commercial acumen: contracts (FIDIC/NEC/JCT or similar), procurement, change/claims, and forecasting.
• Tools: Primavera P6/MS Project, BIM/3D model review (Navis/Revizto), cost tools, and standard collaboration platforms.

/Plus

• Certifications: PMP/Prince2, CMRP/CM, LEED/BREEAM, Uptime/TIA-942/EN 50600 familiarity, NEBOSH/IOSH (HSE), ITIL (ops interface).
• Electrically biased PMs: HV/MV switching awareness, NFPA 70E/arc-flash fundamentals.
• Mechanically biased PMs: chilled water & DX topologies, free cooling, sequence of operations.
• Experience with brownfield/live upgrades and complex energization/MOP orchestration.
• Multi-site program coordination (campus builds, repeatable design standards).

Key Responsibilities by Phase

• Concept & Design: Define OPR, basis of design, scope split (CSA/MEP/OFCI), delivery strategy, capex, schedule, and risk baseline.
• Procurement: Lock long-lead items; align FAT dates to commissioning path; structure warranty & spares; ensure logistics & customs plans.
• Construction: Drive 3–6-week look-ahead, constraint removal, RFIs, submittals, inspections, QA/ITPs, and progressive turnover by system/area.
• Commissioning: Freeze Cx plan, lead L0/L1 readiness, oversee L2/L3 pre-functionals, coordinate L4 functionals, and execute IST (L5); manage defects and reliability soak.
• Handover & Closeout: Complete O&M, training, as-builts, asset tags, CMMS loads, spares; manage PAC/FAC and warranty start; capture lessons learned.

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• Schedule certainty: Variance to IMS on MEP substantial completion / Ready-for-Service.
• Cost control: Final account vs. approved budget; change order hit-rate and recovery.
• Quality/commissioning: First-time pass rate on L3/L4 tests; defects per MW at RFS.
• HSE: TRIR/LTIF, high-risk permit compliance, and audit closeouts.
• Stakeholder satisfaction: Owner/tenant readiness and zero critical defects at handover.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Calm, decisive communicator with the ability to simplify complexity and drive alignment.
• Negotiation and claims posture that is assertive but solution-oriented.
• Habit of “owning the outcome”: proactive risk sensing, relentless follow-through.

Practicals

• Travel: Site based.
• Security & compliance: Willingness to meet site/client background and safety requirements.