Project Design Manager

Novalith Advisory; København; Remote; DKK 673,000 - 972,000; Full time

Job summary

Novalith Advisory is recruiting two seasoned Project Design Managers for a major European data centre programme. You will lead the design-management process, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, consultants and contractors to deliver design packages on time and to programme requirements.

The Copenhagen-based role or fully remote Europe position offer exposure to hyperscale data centre developments, with travel to key meetings as required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Project Design Management.
• Previous data centre project experience is essential.
• Experience delivering large-scale, technically complex construction projects.
• Strong understanding of the data centre design and delivery lifecycle.
• Experience managing external consultants and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience coordinating CSA and MEP interfaces.
• Ability to lead design-management processes and drive decisions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• International project experience is advantageous.
• Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the multidisciplinary design-management process across major data centre projects.
• Manage design development from early design through construction and handover.
• Coordinate interfaces across CSA, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/BMS and Commissioning disciplines.
• Manage and coordinate external designers, engineering consultants, contractors and suppliers.
• Establish and manage design deliverables, responsibilities, priorities and programme requirements.
• Monitor design progress against the programme and identify delays, dependencies and risks.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, coordination meetings and constructability reviews.
• Review drawings, specifications, technical submissions and consultant deliverables.
• Ensure designs are coordinated, buildable and aligned with project objectives.
• Identify design risks and drive resolution; manage design change control.
• Coordinate with project management, commercial, construction and commissioning teams.
• Provide clear design reporting and communicate key risks to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Project Design Management

Design Management

Engineering Management

Technical Project Management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Engineering degree

Architecture degree

Job description

Project Design Manager - Data Centres

Copenhagen, Denmark / Remote Europe

2 Permanent Positions

Major European Data Centre Programme

Project Commencement: January 2027

Previous Data Centre Experience Essential

Novalith Advisory is supporting a leading international organisation with the appointment of two experienced Project Design Managers for a major European data centre programme commencing in January 2027.

We are looking for established design-management professionals with a strong track record of delivering large-scale data centre projects and the capability to take ownership of complex, multidisciplinary design programmes from design development through construction and commissioning.

• Project Design Manager - Copenhagen: Based in Copenhagen and working closely with the project delivery team.
• Project Design Manager - Remote Europe: Fully remote, with occasional travel to the project and key client/design meetings as required.

These are senior appointments offering the opportunity to become involved at an early stage of a major data centre development and play a key role in driving design coordination, technical governance, programme alignment and project delivery.

The Role

As Project Design Manager, you will take responsibility for managing and coordinating the design process across a complex data centre development.

You will operate at the interface between client stakeholders, design consultants, project management, contractors, specialist suppliers, construction and commissioning teams, ensuring design information is technically coordinated, buildable and delivered in line with programme requirements.

This is not simply a design-review position.

We are looking for individuals who can actively lead the design-management process, challenge technical solutions, manage multidisciplinary interfaces and drive design decisions through to resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the multidisciplinary design-management process across major data centre projects.
• Manage design development from early design stages through detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Coordinate interfaces across CSA, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/BMS and Commissioning disciplines.
• Manage and coordinate external designers, engineering consultants, contractors and specialist suppliers.
• Establish and manage design deliverables, responsibilities, priorities and programme requirements.
• Monitor design progress against the overall project programme and identify potential delays, dependencies and technical risks.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, coordination meetings and constructability reviews.
• Review drawings, specifications, technical submissions, design packages and consultant deliverables.
• Ensure designs are coordinated, buildable and aligned with project requirements and operational objectives.
• Identify design risks, clashes, gaps and interface issues before they impact construction.
• Drive technical issues and design decisions through to resolution.
• Challenge consultants and contractors where required and identify opportunities for design optimisation, risk reduction and value engineering.
• Coordinate closely with project management, commercial, construction and commissioning teams.
• Support design change control and assess potential programme, technical and commercial impacts.
• Ensure effective transition of design information into procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Provide clear design reporting and communicate key risks, decisions and dependencies to senior project stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an established Project Design Manager / Senior Design Manager with demonstrable experience managing complex multidisciplinary design packages within the data centre sector.

You should have:

• Significant experience in Project Design Management, Design Management, Engineering Management or Technical Project Management.
• Previous data centre project experience - essential.
• Experience delivering large-scale, technically complex construction or mission-critical projects.
• Strong understanding of the complete data centre design and delivery lifecycle.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants.
• Strong understanding of the interfaces between CSA and MEP systems.
• Experience managing design programmes, deliverables, technical dependencies and design risk.
• Experience taking projects from design development through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Strong understanding of constructability and the relationship between design decisions and site delivery.
• The technical credibility and confidence to challenge consultants, designers and contractors at senior level.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication capability.
• Experience working within complex international project environments.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Architecture, Construction, Building Services or a related technical discipline.

Data Centre Experience - Essential

For these appointments, previous data centre experience is a core requirement rather than a preference.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate direct involvement in the design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation or major enterprise data centre developments.

A strong understanding of the following would be particularly relevant:

• Critical power and cooling infrastructure.
• Resilience and redundancy.
• MEP and CSA interface management.
• Equipment and plant integration.
• Design sequencing and package coordination.
• Constructability and installation requirements.
• Commissioning and integrated systems testing.
• Design change control.
• Programme-critical design decisions.
• Technical governance and design assurance.

Copenhagen Position

The Copenhagen appointment will suit an experienced Project Design Manager who is comfortable working closely with the project and delivery teams.

Candidates should either be based in Denmark, be able to commute appropriately, or be prepared to relocate for the position.

Remote European Position

The second appointment can be undertaken on a fully remote basis, with occasional travel required for key project meetings, design workshops and technical reviews.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to manage complex design activities effectively across international, multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a major European data centre programme at an early stage and take genuine ownership of the design-management process.

The positions will suit experienced professionals who understand that successful design management within the data centre environment is about considerably more than reviewing drawings. It requires the ability to coordinate disciplines, manage interfaces, drive decisions, identify risk and ensure that design supports programme, construction and commissioning requirements.

We would particularly welcome applications from experienced: Project Design Managers | Senior Design Managers | Data Centre Design Managers | Engineering Design Managers | Technical Design Managers with a demonstrable track record of delivering complex data centre projects.

Employment: Permanent

Project Start: January 2027

Sector: Data Centres / Mission Critical

Discipline: Project Design Management

Locations: Copenhagen / Remote

Data Centre Experience: Essential

Travel: Occasional travel required for the remote position

Novalith Advisory

Specialist Talent Advisory | Data Centres | Engineering | Construction