Senior Project Manager

Forefront Recruitment Pty; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

This is a senior project management opportunity with a global data centre developer delivering major power infrastructure across Australia.

Based in Melbourne with national site travel, the role sits in a Power & Energy team and focuses on delivering transmission-scale infrastructure for hyperscale data centre developments. The work covers 132kV+ HV packages, substations, GIS/AIS, switchgear, grid connections and related contestable works.

Responsibilities

• Lead major HV packages from development to energisation on transmission-scale projects.
• Engage with EPCs, utilities, consultants and internal teams to keep packages moving.
• Own programme, risk and commercial delivery across substations, GIS/AIS, switchgear and grid connections.
• Challenge contractors on-site, understand on-ground progress and resolve issues promptly.
• Coordinate across design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning activities.
• Possess exposure to both utility and delivery sides to move projects from design through energisation.

Job description

This is a senior project management opportunity with a global data centre developer delivering major power infrastructure across Australia.

The role sits within a specialist Power & Energy team and is focused on the delivery of transmission-scale infrastructure supporting future hyperscale data centre developments.

The work is substantial and technically complex, generally 132kV and above, with scope across substations, transformers, GIS and AIS, switchgear, HV cables, grid connections and associated contestable infrastructure.

You'll take major packages from early development and ECI through procurement, EPC execution, construction, testing, commissioning and energisation.

This is not a role where you simply sit above the contractor and receive progress reports.

You'll be expected to understand what is happening on the ground, challenge contractors where required, manage interfaces and keep major packages moving. You'll work closely with EPC contractors, utilities, consultants, OEMs and internal delivery teams, with genuine ownership across programme, risk, commercial outcomes and delivery.

The client is particularly interested in people who have actually built major HV infrastructure.

You might currently be working for a utility, transmission business, EPC contractor or specialist electrical infrastructure contractor. Ideally, you'll have exposure to both the utility side and the delivery side and understand what it takes to move a major substation project from design through to energisation.

GIS experience will be highly regarded.

BESS or renewables experience is also beneficial, particularly where it has involved major substations or grid connection infrastructure, but it is not essential. The priority is strong transmission-scale HV delivery experience.

For someone coming from the traditional utility, transmission or EPC market, this is a chance to take that experience into the data centre sector without leaving the type of infrastructure you already know.

Data centres are creating increasing demand for major power infrastructure across Australia, and this role gives you the opportunity to build specialist sector experience while staying close to complex HV projects.

The culture is a big part of the opportunity.

The team is experienced, collaborative and low-ego. Although it is a client-side environment, people remain close to delivery and work through issues together rather than adding unnecessary layers around them.

There is also genuine room to grow.

As the Australian platform expands, so will the Power & Energy function, creating opportunities to take on larger packages, broader responsibilities and future projects across multiple states.

The role is primarily based from the company's inner-Melbourne office, with travel to construction sites nationally as required.