Project Director

Edison Smart®; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

Edison Smart is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead the delivery of a major data centre project in Belgium. This senior role carries full ownership from pre-construction through commissioning and handover, demanding strong leadership across a large multidisciplinary team and tight management of schedule, cost and risk.

The ideal candidate will excel in stakeholder management, client relationships, and ensuring safety, quality and compliance across all phases of the project.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience on major construction or engineering projects.
• Previous experience at Project Director or Senior Project Manager level.
• Strong data centre or mission critical project background.
• Proven delivery from pre-construction through commissioning and handover.
• Experience managing high-value projects with large multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of MEP and complex building services.
• Experience with main contractors, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers.
• Strong commercial and contractual understanding.
• Experience managing programmes, budgets, risks and changes.
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for successful delivery from pre-construction to handover.
• Lead and manage the wider project team across construction, engineering, commercial, procurement, QA/QC and commissioning.
• Establish and maintain delivery strategies, programmes and milestones.
• Manage client relationships and act as a senior point of contact throughout the project.
• Coordinate main contractors, subcontractors, consultants, vendors and specialists.
• Monitor performance against programme, budget, scope, quality and contractual requirements.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Oversee procurement and ensure timely delivery of materials and services.
• Review and challenge project programmes, sequencing and resources.
• Ensure coordination between CSA, electrical, mechanical and specialist systems.
• Oversee QA/QC and ensure works meet specifications and standards.
• Drive commissioning and handover activities through to completion.
• Manage variations, commercial issues and contractual matters with the commercial team.
• Lead regular project meetings and report to senior management and client.
• Ensure health, safety and environmental requirements are maintained.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Delivery leadership

Safety management

Project planning

Risk management

Client relationship management

Team management

Education

Engineering degree

Construction management qualification

Job description

Project Type: Data Centre

Employment Type: Contract

Start Date: ASAP

Location: Site Based - Mon-Fri

About the Role

We are currently looking for an experienced Project Director to lead the delivery of a major data centre project in Belgium.

This is a senior leadership position with overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the project from pre-construction through construction, commissioning and final handover.

The successful candidate will take ownership of programme, commercial performance, quality, safety, technical delivery and stakeholder management while leading a large multidisciplinary project team.

This is an opportunity to join a major data centre project and take responsibility for a high value, technically complex delivery environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the project from pre-construction through to handover
• Lead and manage the wider project team across construction, engineering, commercial, procurement, QA/QC and commissioning
• Establish and maintain project delivery strategies, programmes and key milestones
• Manage client relationships and act as a senior point of contact throughout the project
• Coordinate main contractors, subcontractors, consultants, vendors and specialist contractors
• Monitor project performance against programme, budget, scope, quality and contractual requirements
• Identify project risks and implement effective mitigation strategies
• Oversee procurement and ensure critical materials, equipment and services are delivered in line with the programme
• Review and challenge project programmes, construction sequencing and resource requirements
• Ensure strong coordination between CSA, electrical, mechanical and specialist systems
• Oversee QA/QC and ensure works are delivered in accordance with project specifications and standards
• Drive commissioning and handover activities through to successful completion
• Manage variations, commercial issues and contractual matters alongside the commercial team
• Lead regular project meetings and provide clear reporting to senior management and the client
• Ensure all health, safety and environmental requirements are maintained across the project
• Drive a strong culture around safety, quality, accountability and project delivery
• Ensure final documentation, testing, commissioning and handover requirements are completed

Technical Environment

The project will involve a complex mission critical environment including:

• MV/LV electrical distribution
• Switchgear and transformers
• UPS and generators
• ATS/STS and busway systems
• Mechanical and HVAC systems
• Chillers and cooling systems
• BMS and EPMS
• Fire and life safety systems
• Controls and specialist systems
• Data centre commissioning and integrated systems testing

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience within major construction or engineering projects
• Previous experience operating at Project Director, Senior Project Manager or equivalent level
• Strong data centre or mission critical experience
• Proven experience delivering large scale projects from pre-construction through commissioning and handover
• Experience managing high value projects and large multidisciplinary teams
• Strong understanding of MEP and complex building services
• Proven experience managing main contractors, subcontractors, consultants and suppliers
• Strong commercial and contractual understanding
• Experience managing project programmes, budgets, risks and change
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• Engineering, construction management or relevant technical qualification preferred
• Experience with hyperscale data centre projects would be highly advantageous
• Previous European project experience preferred
• Right to work in Belgium / EU work authorisation

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who has already operated at senior project leadership level and is comfortable taking full ownership of a major project.

You should be commercially aware, technically strong and confident managing senior stakeholders while leading large project teams.

Most importantly, you will need a proven track record of delivering large scale data centre or mission critical projects safely, on programme and to a high standard.