Project Director

People Group; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group is seeking a Project Director to lead a major data centre project in Helsinki, Finland. The role is senior, client-side, with end-to-end responsibility from pre-construction to handover, coordinating CSA, MEP, planning, HSE, and commissioning.

You will manage the project team and external stakeholders, ensuring programme milestones, budget, quality and contractual requirements are met while driving risk, issue and change control.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering large-scale construction projects, ideally data centres or mission-critical facilities.
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
• Experience with Tier 1 main contractors and specialist subcontractors.
• Deep knowledge of CSA and MEP delivery and multidisciplinary leadership.
• Lifecycle delivery from pre-construction to handover.
• Strong commercial, contractual and programme management skills.
• Experience working with developers/owners is desirable.
• Excellent leadership, communication and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for successful delivery of the data centre project.
• Lead the project from pre-construction through handover.
• Establish and manage delivery strategy, programme and milestones.
• Lead the project management team across CSA, MEP, commercial, planning, HSE, quality and commissioning.
• Manage relationships with main contractor and key subcontractors.
• Provide senior leadership across stakeholders and drive delivery accountability.
• Monitor progress against programme, budget, quality and contractual requirements.
• Identify and manage risks, issues, dependencies and opportunities.
• Lead senior-level meetings with contractors, consultants and client stakeholders.
• Review contractor programmes, methodologies and recovery plans.
• Oversee design development, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Coordinate CSA, MEP and commissioning activities.
• Oversee commercial performance, variations, change control and contractual matters.
• Ensure delivery aligns with quality, HSE and technical standards.
• Drive resolution of critical technical and programme issues; report to senior leadership.
• Lead transition from construction through commissioning and handover.

Skills

Large-scale projects

CSA delivery

MEP delivery

Leadership

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering/Construction degree

Job description

Job Title: Project Director – Data Centres

Location: Helsinki, Finland

The Opportunity

A leading international data centre developer is looking to appoint an experienced Project Director to take full responsibility for the delivery of a major data centre project in Finland.

This is a senior client-side position with end-to-end responsibility for one major project, from pre-construction and mobilisation through to construction, commissioning and final handover.

The Project Director will lead the wider project team and act as a key interface between the client, design consultants, main contractor, specialist subcontractors and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of the data centre project.
• Lead the project from pre-construction through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Establish and manage project delivery strategy, programme and key milestones.
• Lead the project management team across CSA, MEP, commercial, planning, HSE, quality and commissioning.
• Manage the relationship with the main contractor and key specialist subcontractors.
• Provide senior leadership across all project stakeholders and drive accountability for delivery.
• Monitor project progress against programme, budget, quality and contractual requirements.
• Identify and manage project risks, issues, dependencies and opportunities.
• Lead senior-level project and progress meetings with contractors, consultants and client stakeholders.
• Review and challenge contractor programmes, methodologies and recovery plans.
• Oversee design development, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Ensure effective coordination between CSA, MEP and commissioning disciplines.
• Maintain oversight of commercial performance, variations, change control and contractual matters.
• Ensure the project is delivered in accordance with the required quality, HSE and technical standards.
• Drive resolution of critical technical, commercial and programme issues.Manage project reporting and provide regular updates to senior leadership.
• Lead the transition from construction through commissioning, close-out and operational handover.

Candidate Profile

• Significant experience delivering large-scale construction projects, ideally within the data centre or mission-critical sector.
• A strong track record managing complex projects with significant construction value and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience managing Tier 1 main contractors and major specialist subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of both CSA and MEP delivery, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience managing projects through the full lifecycle from pre-construction to handover.
• Strong commercial, contractual and programme management understanding.
• Experience working directly with developers, owners or major end clients is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage senior project teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or a related discipline.