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Project Director – Real Estate Digital | Data Centres
London / Hybrid
Salary up to £100k per annum
I’m supporting a rapidly growing digital consultancy that is investing heavily in its Data Centre and mission-critical infrastructure capability.
The Data Centre market is expanding rapidly, and the business is now looking for a Project Director to join the leadership team and help scale delivery across a growing portfolio of major programmes.
This is a particularly hands-on leadership opportunity. We’re looking for someone who can operate as a technical, strategic and commercial number two to the existing sector lead — attending client meetings, leading workshops, setting digital strategy and taking ownership of programmes from inception through to delivery.
This is not a pure sales role. The existing pipeline is strong. The priority is finding someone with genuine Data Centre programme experience who can step into major client environments and operate independently from day one.
What you'll be doing
You'll work with major Data Centre developers, operators and technology organisations, taking responsibility for the digital dimension of complex programmes.
Your role will span:
Data Centre Programme Leadership
- Lead digital workstreams and programmes across major Data Centre developments.
- Take ownership of projects from initial definition and strategy through implementation and delivery.
- Work directly with senior client stakeholders, project teams and delivery partners.
- Lead client workshops and provide clear direction across complex and ambiguous requirements.
- Identify issues, challenge assumptions and drive programmes forward rather than waiting for direction.
- Provide senior oversight and assurance across digital delivery.
Digital Strategy & Programme Setup
- Develop digital strategies for new Data Centre programmes.
- Define digital roadmaps, operating models, governance and implementation approaches.
- Establish the digital requirements and structures needed to support major programmes.
- Understand the wider programme sufficiently to connect digital strategy with construction, delivery and operational objectives.
- Bring in specialist expertise where required while retaining overall ownership of the strategy and outcome.
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We’re looking for a T-shaped consultant — someone with enough breadth across digital disciplines to understand the complete picture, but with sufficient depth and credibility to lead technically demanding programmes.
You don't need to be the subject-matter expert in every area.
You do need to know when specialist expertise is required, who needs to be involved and how to bring those disciplines together into a coherent programme.
Client & Commercial Leadership
- Develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders.
- Act as a senior adviser on digital delivery and programme strategy.
- Identify opportunities to expand existing programmes and client relationships.
- Contribute to bids, proposals and commercial discussions.
- Help shape propositions and approaches for the Data Centre market.
- Work alongside the existing leadership team to grow the sector.
Commercial experience is important, but technical and programme leadership comes first. The business already has a strong pipeline and can support the right individual in developing the commercial side of the role.
The person we're looking for
The most important requirement is proven Data Centre programme experience.
You'll ideally have experience working within a consultancy, programme management or professional services environment and have personally delivered digital strategy, programme setup and/or programme delivery within the Data Centre sector.
You may have worked with major hyperscale, colocation or mission-critical infrastructure clients, and understand the particular demands of delivering digital solutions within large-scale Data Centre programmes.
We're particularly interested in people who have experience across several of the following:
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- Data Centre programme/project leadership
- Digital strategy and transformation
- Information Management and BIM
- Data and analytics
- AI and automation
- Digital delivery
- Systems integration
- Common Data Environments
- Programme reporting and intelligence
- Digital operating models and governance
More importantly, you'll be someone who...
- Operates autonomously.
- This role will suit someone who doesn't need a detailed playbook or constant management.
- You should be comfortable walking into an ambiguous situation, understanding what needs to happen and taking ownership of making it happen.
- You'll have skin in the game — willing to challenge clients and colleagues when necessary, make decisions, take calculated risks and move things forward.
The successful person will be comfortable with:
- Ambiguity and incomplete information.
- Significant autonomy and responsibility.
- Senior client conversations.
- Challenging established thinking.
- Making decisions without waiting for permission.
- Taking ownership when things aren't clearly defined.
- Operating across technical, strategic and commercial conversations.
We're not looking for someone who simply manages a team or waits for work to be allocated.
We're looking for someone who can step into a programme, establish what needs to happen and lead it.
Background
We'd particularly welcome conversations with people currently working in:
- Major programme / project consultancies
- Real estate advisory
- Construction consultancy
- Engineering consultancy
- Digital transformation within the built environment
- Data Centre / mission-critical infrastructure
Experience with major Data Centre operators, developers or technology organisations is highly desirable.
If you're currently leading Data Centre programmes and want a role where you can combine technical leadership, strategic thinking and genuine ownership, I'd be keen to speak.
Confidential conversations welcome.
Please DM me for further details.
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