Project Manager / Design Manager – Data Centres (Building Services)

HDR, Inc.; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership

Job summary

HDR, Inc. is seeking an experienced Project Manager / Design Manager to lead the delivery of data centre projects in Australia. You will manage design interfaces, coordinate internal disciplines and subconsultants, and oversee programmes, scope, and client expectations.

Based in Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney, this client-facing role requires strong leadership, risk management and commercial awareness to deliver complex building engineering projects.

Qualifications

• Significant project management or design management experience within a multidisciplinary engineering, building services or built-environment consulting business.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex building engineering design across multiple technical disciplines.
• Strong client-facing capability and the confidence to lead project discussions, manage expectations and resolve delivery issues.
• Experience managing design programmes, consultant deliverables, project fees, forecasts and resources.
• A practical understanding of professional services contracts, scope management, variations and project risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of multidisciplinary building engineering services for data centre projects.
• Act as a key interface with the client, establishing clear expectations around scope, programme, deliverables and decision-making.
• Coordinate HDR’s internal engineering disciplines and external subconsultants to support integrated and timely design delivery.
• Develop, maintain and actively manage the design programme, including key deliverables, dependencies, reviews, approvals and client inputs.
• Lead regular project and design coordination meetings, maintaining clear actions, responsibilities and timeframes.
• Monitor progress against the agreed scope, programme, fee and resource plan.
• Understand HDR’s contractual obligations and ensure the project team operates within the agreed scope of services.
• Identify changes in scope, programme impacts, additional services and emerging project risks, escalating these appropriately and supporting timely commercial resolution.
• Manage project documentation, reporting, forecasts and financial performance.
• Work with technical and discipline leads to maintain design quality while balancing client requirements, programme and budget.
• Coordinate subconsultant appointments, deliverables and performance.
• Build effective client relationships through clear communication, sound judgement and consistent project delivery.
• Support proposals and client presentations where your project delivery knowledge adds value.

Skills

Project management

Design management

Client-facing

Multidisciplinary engineering

Building services

Contract management

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

About Us

At HDR, we specialise in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. Our global team of over 15,000 employees is led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership. We network with each other, build on each other's contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible.

Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate across markets and locations to deliver technically complex projects and practical solutions for our clients.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager / Design Manager to lead the consulting and multidisciplinary design delivery of data centre projects.

This is a client-facing project delivery role for someone who understands how complex building engineering projects are designed, coordinated and delivered within a consulting environment.

You will act as the central point between the client, HDR’s internal engineering disciplines and external subconsultants. You will establish and manage the project programme, coordinate deliverables and design interfaces, monitor scope and fees, and ensure contractual and commercial implications are identified and managed throughout delivery.

The role may be based in Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the delivery of multidisciplinary building engineering services for data centre projects.
• Act as a key interface with the client, establishing clear expectations around scope, programme, deliverables and decision-making.
• Coordinate HDR’s internal engineering disciplines and external subconsultants to support integrated and timely design delivery.
• Develop, maintain and actively manage the design programme, including key deliverables, dependencies, reviews, approvals and client inputs.
• Lead regular project and design coordination meetings, maintaining clear actions, responsibilities and timeframes.
• Monitor progress against the agreed scope, programme, fee and resource plan.
• Understand HDR’s contractual obligations and ensure the project team operates within the agreed scope of services.
• Identify changes in scope, programme impacts, additional services and emerging project risks, escalating these appropriately and supporting timely commercial resolution.
• Manage project documentation, reporting, forecasts and financial performance.
• Work with technical and discipline leads to maintain design quality while balancing client requirements, programme and budget.
• Coordinate subconsultant appointments, deliverables and performance.
• Build effective client relationships through clear communication, sound judgement and consistent project delivery.
• Support proposals and client presentations where your project delivery knowledge adds value.

About You

You will bring:

• Significant project management or design management experience gained within a multidisciplinary engineering, building services or built-environment consulting business.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex building engineering design across multiple technical disciplines.
• Strong client-facing capability and the confidence to lead project discussions, manage expectations and resolve delivery issues.
• Experience managing design programmes, consultant deliverables, project fees, forecasts and resources.
• A practical understanding of professional services contracts, scope management, variations and project risk.
• Proven ability to manage internal teams and external subconsultants without losing sight of project dependencies and overall outcomes.
• Experience delivering data centre, mission-critical or similarly complex technical building projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organisation and stakeholder-management skills.
• A relevant qualification in engineering, construction management, project management, architecture or a related built-environment discipline.
• Data centre or mission-critical project experience will be highly regarded. We may also consider candidates with strong multidisciplinary consulting experience gained on other technically complex building projects.

Why HDR?

Joining HDR means becoming part of a global company where your expertise and ideas matter. You’ll work on innovative projects with a passionate team that is dedicated to pushing boundaries and delivering impactful results. We offer a collaborative and supportive work environment and opportunities for professional development. You will join a collaborative, employee-owned organisation where project leadership, technical quality and strong client relationships are all valued.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location:Australia-VIC-Melbourne Other Locations:Australia-NSW-Sydney, Australia-QLD-Brisbane Industry:Building Engineering Schedule:Full-time Employee Status:Regular BusinessClass:Building Mechanical Job Posting:Oct 25, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmitve Action and Equal Opportunity Employer (https://www.hdrinc.com/equal-employment-opportunity-employer). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.