Project Director - Digital Infrastructure

Overview

The Project Director - Digital Infrastructure leads the complete execution of substantial engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) endeavors within the digital infrastructure sector. This includes data centers, telecom networks, fiber optic backbones, and colocation facilities. The role demands accountability for delivering projects safely, on time, within allocated budgets, and to the precise uptime, resilience, and technical standards crucial for critical digital facilities. Managing intricate interactions with hyperscale clients, tech partners, and regulators is pivotal. The director acts as the sole accountable leader throughout all project stages from contract award to commissioning and handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle management of digital infrastructure EPC projects, ensuring seamless progression from contract initiation, design, procurement, construction, to commissioning, while meeting aggressive deadlines typical for hyperscale and colocation clients.
• Serve as the single accountable point to both clients and internal leadership for overall project performance, expertly resolving issues that could impair schedule, cost, or technical compliance.
• Manage the collaboration between architectural, electrical, mechanical, and ICT engineering disciplines to ensure constructible data center and network designs that meet stringent uptime, redundancy (N+1/2N), and cooling criteria.
• Drive the timely resolution of design modifications and technical queries to avoid reworks on critical power, cooling, and network infrastructure aspects.
• Direct procurement strategies for long-lead and critical equipment (e.g., generators, UPS, cooling units, switchgear, structured cabling), overseeing vendor selection, factory testing, and logistics to protect critical project timelines and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Oversee construction activities across data halls and supporting infrastructure, ensuring proper sequencing to support phased handovers and swift client onboarding.
• Lead integrated systems testing (IST) and commissioning by coordinating with equipment vendors and client technical teams to validate uptime, redundancy, and performance prior to launch.
• Maintain rigorous control over project budgets and schedules using earned value analysis and milestone tracking, protecting margins on fixed-price and milestone-driven contracts.
• Manage contract administration, change orders, and claims to secure the commercial interests of high-value digital infrastructure projects.
• Champion a zero-accident safety culture, ensuring compliance with HSE regulations and specialized protocols for high-voltage, working at height, and confined space operations common in data center builds.
• Ensure construction near operational facilities does not disrupt existing client operations.
• Serve as the primary liaison to hyperscale and enterprise clients, technology vendors, regulatory bodies, and utilities, facilitating transparent reporting and swift issue resolution.
• Build strong client relationships that facilitate smooth handovers and foster opportunities for repeat business and framework agreements.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive risk registers addressing technical, commercial, supply chain, and scheduling risks specific to digital infrastructure projects, implementing mitigation strategies and escalating critical risks with recommended actions.
• Embed business continuity and disaster recovery principles into project design and delivery planning.
• Ensure all project outputs adhere to relevant data center standards (such as Uptime Institute Tier Ratings and TIA-942) and telecommunications regulations.
• Enhance QA/QC processes across design, procurement, and construction stages to guarantee defect-free delivery and successful commissioning and handover.

Educational & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering, or related fields.
• Preferred: Master's degree in Engineering Management, Project Management, or Business Administration.
• Highly desirable: PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification; Uptime Institute ATD/ATS credentials are advantageous.

Experience & Technical Expertise

• At least 20 years of experience managing large EPC projects with a minimum of 10 years in senior project leadership or Project Director roles within data center, telecom, or digital infrastructure domains.
• Proven capability to lead multidisciplinary EPC teams throughout entire project lifecycles including design, procurement, construction, integrated systems testing, and phased handovers for hyperscale or enterprise clients.
• Solid experience in contract administration, change management, and commercial negotiations, including dealings with technology vendors, utility providers, and demanding digital infrastructure clients.
• Expertise in EPC project management, including engineering, procurement, and construction delivery from project award to handover.
• In-depth technical knowledge of power, cooling, and network systems with an understanding of redundancy configurations applicable to Tier III/IV data centers.
• Advanced proficiency with project scheduling software (like Primavera P6), cost control techniques, and earned value management applicable to large capital projects.
• Knowledge and experience with integrated systems testing, commissioning protocols, and mission-critical infrastructure handover processes.