Project Principal

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Project Principal to lead large-scale data centre projects across EMEA from the United Kingdom. You will manage multidisciplinary teams and engage senior clients to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

The role requires deep MEP expertise, strong leadership, and a proven track record of delivering mission-critical facilities. HDR values collaboration, innovation, and an employee-owned culture, offering significant scope to influence high-impact infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience delivering data centre/mission-critical projects is essential.
• Incorporated status preferred; pursuing Chartered status is a plus.
• Proficient in MS Office and MS Project.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle delivery of large-scale data centre projects (typically £100m+).
• Manage multidisciplinary engineering, construction, commissioning and operational teams.
• Act as a senior client partner resolving challenges and ensuring expectations are exceeded.
• Drive programme excellence: scope, cost, quality, risk, safety and schedule.
• Oversee contractor performance, procurement strategy, and commercial governance.
• Champion technical standards to ensure resilience and availability of systems.
• Report at executive level with transparent, proactive communication.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Strategic planning

MS Office

MS Project

Client relationship management

Stakeholder management

Rapport building

Active participant in employee-owned

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

MS Office

MS Project

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it’s about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services Group, you’ll help design the critical infrastructure that supports the digital age and shapes the spaces where people work, connect, and thrive. From high-performance data centers driving the future of AI to dynamic commercial environments, your work will directly support technological advancement, sustainability, and human experience. We bring together mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering experts to solve complex design challenges with precision, creativity, and collaboration. Whether you're optimizing energy efficiency, integrating resilient systems, or engineering the backbone of next-generation facilities, your contributions will help define the future of the built environment. This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to lead innovation, engineer impact, and build a legacy of excellence

Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

About the Role

As a Project Principal you will have the opportunity to manage large-scale multidisciplinary teams on mission critical projects, carry out sales and business development activities to actively support business growth and to ensure projects are delivered technically correct and on time.

About You

We are seeking someone with proven experience delivering major data centre projects across EMEA, someone with deep understanding of mission-critical MEP, power, cooling and commissioning. You will need have strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire large diverse delivery teams. You will have exceptional stakeholder and client relationship experience and skills, accompanied by commercial acumen with a track record of delivering projects on budget and on programme.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle delivery of large-scale data centre projects (typically £100m+)
• Manage multidisciplinary engineering, construction, commissioning and operational teams
• Act as a senior client partner resolving challenges, and ensuring expectations are exceeded
• Drive programme excellence: scope, cost, quality, risk, safety and schedule
• Oversee contractor performance, procurement strategy, and commercial governance
• Champion technical standards and ensuring all systems meet the highest levels of resilience and availability
• Report at executive level, ensuring transparent and proactive communication at all stages

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering
• Demonstrated leadership, business development and strategic planning skills
• An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
• Extensive experience, especially in designing and managing projects, minimum 10 years’ experience within a design consultancy working on datacentre/mission critical projects.
• MS Office and MS Project experience is required
• Strong leadership and people management skills and experience.
• Incorporated Status in chosen discipline preferred and ongoing pursuit of Chartered status and business qualifications if not already achieved.
• Able to establish rapport and good working relationships within the project team and Clients.

What We Believe

HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment

As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location

United Kingdom-England-Manchester

Other Locations

United Kingdom-England-London

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

BusinessClass : Program Management

Job Posting

Sep 16, 2026

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity.

We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employe r.

We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.