Programme Director – Data Centre Development – Construction / Engineering - Direct
* Direct for developer organisation
* £160,000 Plus
* 15% - 25% Bonus
* Excellent Benefits Package
* Travel and Expenses Paid
* Progressive Opportunity
About the Organisation
We are an industry-leading developer and operator of high-performance data centres, engineered to support AI and advanced computing workloads. Our platform is hyperscale-inspired and industrial in scale, providing secure, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure for mission-critical environments.
The Role
An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a Programme Director to lead the coordination and management of a major West London data centre development. Reporting directly to the Managing Director and Senior Management Team, this role will oversee the programme from post-acquisition through to Ready for Service (RFS).
This is a £600m+ capital programme comprising multiple interdependent workstreams, complex stakeholder interfaces, and demanding delivery timelines. The successful candidate will ensure seamless integration across technical, commercial, planning, regulatory, and stakeholder functions to achieve successful delivery.
Key Responsibilities
1. Programme Leadership & Integration
* Own and lead the end-to-end development programme, integrating discrete workstreams into a single, coordinated delivery strategy.
* Develop and manage the master programme, proactively controlling critical path activities and milestone achievement.
* Align cross-functional teams, including Technical, Operations, Procurement, Planning, Health & Safety, and Community Engagement.
* Lead the programme lifecycle in full, with the ability to intervene and recover specific stages where required.
2. Stakeholder & Executive Engagement
* Act as the primary interface between senior leadership, board representatives, advisors, contractors, and community stakeholders.
* Prepare and present programme updates, risk assessments, and capital commitment strategies to executive leadership.
* Oversee stakeholder engagement initiatives, ensuring compliance with planning obligations and regulatory requirements.
* Operate confidently within senior decision-making environments.
3. Delivery & Execution
* Oversee technical design, procurement, contracting strategy, energisation processes, and site delivery activities.
* Manage easement negotiations and power connection processes to ensure timely completion and regulatory compliance.
* Establish and maintain robust governance frameworks, resource planning, reporting structures, and PMO oversight.
* Integrate and manage external consultants to ensure aligned and effective delivery.
4. Planning & Risk Management
* Lead the planning process, including application submissions, management of planning conditions, and engagement with statutory authorities.
* Identify, quantify, and mitigate programme risks, including capital exposure, customer dependencies, and consent timelines.
* Develop phased delivery strategies balancing programme speed, quality, and cost.
5. Programme Governance & Best Practice
* Champion best practice programme management methodologies and tools.
* Implement structured reporting, risk management, responsibility matrices, and escalation processes.
* Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and industry benchmarking.
* Support the development and enhancement of the internal PMO function
Candidate Profile
Education
* Degree in Engineering, Construction, Project Management, or related discipline.
* Professional accreditation (e.g., RICS, APM, PMP, PRINCE2) preferred.
Experience
* 10+ years’ experience leading large-scale, complex infrastructure or data centre programmes (£250m+).
* Strong knowledge of UK planning, energisation, procurement, and delivery processes.
* Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent workstreams with significant capital commitments.
* Proven ability to operate strategically while maintaining hands-on execution capability.
Skills & Attributes
* Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and systems mindset.
* Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management capability.
* Advanced proficiency in programme management tools and governance frameworks.
* Resilient, pragmatic, and effective in high-pressure environments.
* Strong communicator with the confidence to operate at an executive and board level.