Global Estimation & Project Controls Leader

nLighten; Paris; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

nLighten seeks a senior Head of Global Estimation to lead project controls, cost management, and capital governance across a European data centre development portfolio. You will partner with the CFO, CTO and external partners to ensure robust cost control, reliable forecasting, and transparent reporting across in-house and outsourced teams.

The role requires extensive data centre construction experience, senior leadership ability, and a hands-on approach to protect data integrity and drive value

Qualifications

• 15+ years in project controls, cost management or capital programme leadership.
• Experience delivering large-scale data centre projects or major infrastructure programmes.
• Experience leading project controls functions in owner, developer, contractor, or consultancy environments.
• Strong capital project governance, forecasting, earned value management, and cost reporting.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the project controls function across a portfolio of capital projects.
• Develop and maintain best-in-class project controls frameworks, governance, and reporting standards.
• Provide independent oversight of project costs, budgets, forecasts, risks, and contingency management.
• Ensure project controls information supports executive decision-making and board reporting.
• Drive consistency of cost and schedule reporting across all projects and delivery partners.
• Translate between contract sums and accounting/ investment metrics.

Skills

Project controls leadership

Cost forecasting

Executive stakeholder management

Budget & variance management

Forecasting accuracy

Governance & reporting

English fluency

Data centre / infra expertise

Analytical capabilities

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Commercial/business acumen

Communication & presentation

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying / Construction Management / Engineering / Project Management / Finance

MRICS / ACostE / APM / PMI accreditation

Job description

nLighten seeks a senior Head of Global Estimation to lead project controls, cost management, and capital governance across a European data centre development portfolio. You will partner with the CFO, CTO and external partners to ensure robust cost control, reliable forecasting, and transparent reporting across in-house and outsourced teams.

The role requires extensive data centre construction experience, senior leadership ability, and a hands-on approach to protect data integrity and drive value