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1. Position Summary
The Principal Project Director – Data Center Delivery is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight and successful delivery of a portfolio of large-scale, mission-critical data center projects from a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) perspective.
The role focuses on client leadership, delivery governance, and the integration and coordination of multiple consultants, contractors, and stakeholders across the full project lifecycle. Acting as the client’s senior representative, the Principal Project Director ensures alignment between design intent, construction execution, commissioning, and operational readiness while maintaining delivery certainty, quality, safety, and compliance.
2. Key Responsibilities
Project Delivery & Management
· Provide senior-level leadership and governance across a portfolio of concurrent data center projects.
- Oversee the full project lifecycle from feasibility and design coordination through construction, commissioning, and handover.
- Establish and manage integrated delivery strategies, master schedules, and milestone frameworks.
- Ensure effective coordination between all project participants to achieve seamless execution across disciplines.
- Identify and manage project and portfolio-level risks, driving proactive mitigation strategies.
- Maintain oversight of quality assurance, technical compliance, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Manage commissioning, integrated systems testing (IST), and readiness-for-operations processes.
- Ensure adherence to contractual obligations, scope alignment, and change governance from a PMC standpoint.
- Act as the independent delivery assurance function, protecting client interests at all stages.
Client Management & Stakeholder Leadership
- Serve as the primary senior point of contact for client executives, steering committees, and key decision-makers.
- Represent the client’s interests across all consultants, contractors, and third-party specialists.
- Lead high-level coordination between client teams, designers, engineers, contractors, vendors, and authorities.
- Provide strategic advisory support on data center delivery models, phasing strategies, risk allocation, and execution planning.
- Facilitate clear, structured communication and decision-making across complex stakeholder environments.
- Lead executive reporting, governance meetings, and issue resolution forums.
- Manage expectations, resolve conflicts, and drive alignment between technical, operational, and commercial priorities.
- Build trusted, long-term client relationships and support account growth through delivery excellence.
Consultant & Contractor Coordination
- Lead and integrate multidisciplinary consultant teams including architects, engineers, planners, and specialists.
- Oversee contractor coordination across enabling works, core & shell, MEP, IT, and specialist systems packages.
- Drive collaboration and accountability across all delivery partners.
- Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, interfaces, and information flows.
- Manage design coordination, technical workshops, and constructability reviews.
- Lead resolution of interface issues between trades, systems, and project phases.
- Promote a “one-team” delivery mindset across all external partners.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop senior project managers and technical leads.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on accountability, transparency, and delivery outcomes.
- Oversee resource planning and deployment across the project portfolio.
- Support capability building in mission-critical and data center delivery within the organization.
- Contribute to succession planning and leadership development initiatives.
3. Technical Skills & Expertise
Data Center–Specific Expertise (Preferred)
- Mission-critical infrastructure design, construction, and operational readiness.
- Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) systems.
- Uptime Institute Tier I–IV classification standards.
- Electrical systems: utility coordination, UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, and redundancy architectures.
- Mechanical and cooling systems: CRAC/CRAH, chilled water, hot/cold aisle containment, free cooling, and liquid cooling.
- Fire detection, suppression, and life safety systems.
- Structured cabling, network infrastructure, and connectivity pathways.
- Physical security, monitoring, and access control systems.
- Sustainability and energy efficiency standards (LEED, ASHRAE, regional regulations).
Project & Program Management
- Advanced application of PMI, PgMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent methodologies.
- Strong expertise in complex, multi-project and multi-stakeholder delivery environments.
- Proficiency in project scheduling and controls tools such as Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project.
- Deep understanding of construction management, contract administration, and procurement strategies.
- Experience leading commissioning, integrated testing, and handover processes.
- Strong change control and delivery governance capability from a PMC perspective.
4. Required Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related discipline.
- Master’s degree in a technical, project management, or business field is advantageous.
Professional Certifications (Preferred not Mandatory)
- PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent.
- Data center–specific certifications (e.g., Uptime Institute ATD, CDCP, CDFOM) preferred.
Experience
- 20-25+ years of experience in project or program management of large-scale capital projects.
- Direct experience delivering data center or mission-critical facilities, full life cycle of Data center projects
- Proven track record of delivering multiple complex data center projects concurrently.
- Extensive experience working within a PMC, consultancy, or professional services environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex stakeholder ecosystems across clients, consultants, and contractors.
5. Performance Metrics
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Nil Lost Time Injuries or Fatalities
- On-time and milestone-driven project delivery performance.
- Effectiveness of consultant and contractor coordination.
- Client satisfaction and strength of long-term client relationships.
- Quality of communication, governance, and issue resolution.
- Safety performance across the project portfolio.
- On time monthly revenue recognition for JLL billing - bill submission and approvals
- Accounts Receivable aging - not beyond contract payment terms
- Project profitability - revenue and cost projections
- Resource mobilisation in line with contract and approvals
- Manage all JLL contract variations and change managment
Team engagement, capability development, and retention
Location:
On-site –Visakhapatnam, AP
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
48
If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!
At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.
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