Project Director – Cost Management – Data Center Construction

About the Role

The Project Director holds full accountability for cost governance and commercial strategy, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards. Responsibilities include overseeing cost planning, procurement and risk management at the program level while fostering collaboration among stakeholders and contractors. In this high‑impact position, the Director will manage multiple phases concurrently, resolve complex delivery challenges, lead senior cost‑management teams, implement best practices and maintain governance and compliance throughout the programme lifecycle. The role also supports pre‑construction activities, feasibility studies and strategic relationship building. • Lead cost management across all phases of a multi‑billion‑dollar data centre program, ensuring governance and compliance. • Define and implement commercial strategy, budgeting, cost planning, procurement and risk mitigation. • Serve as senior point of contact for stakeholders, maintaining transparent communication. • Oversee lifecycle cost activities: quantity surveying, cost controls, change management, and contingency tracking. • Provide executive‑level reporting on cost performance, forecasts and risk assessments. • Drive value engineering and design optimization to achieve cost savings without impacting quality. • Mentor and develop senior cost management leaders and manage performance reviews. • Enhance internal cost management tools, templates and processes. • Manage financial performance including margin tracking and fee/resource forecasts. • Support pre‑construction feasibility studies and early‑stage cost modeling. • Build strategic relationships with clients, contractors and vendors to identify growth opportunities. • Ensure SOX control compliance where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸cost management
• ▸budgeting
• ▸procurement
• ▸risk mitigation
• ▸value engineering
• ▸financial forecasting

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s (or advanced) degree in Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Engineering or related field. • 12+ years of cost management/project controls experience with program‑level leadership. • Proven experience delivering large‑scale, mission‑critical construction programs (e.g., hyperscale data centres). • Expertise in cost planning, budgeting, financial reporting and cost control systems. • Strong knowledge of procurement, commercial management and construction contracts. • RICS accreditation or equivalent professional certification preferred. • Excellent leadership, communication and negotiation skills at executive level. • Advanced analytical, problem‑solving abilities and attention to detail. • Proficiency with industry‑standard cost management software. • Familiarity with MEP systems and complex building services (beneficial). • Ability to manage multiple phases/packages concurrently in a fast‑paced environment. • Experience with value engineering and design optimization. • Knowledge of energy infrastructure, carbon capture and sustainability (plus).

Requirements

• ▸bachelor’s degree
• ▸12+ years
• ▸cost management
• ▸rics
• ▸leadership
• ▸cost software

Work Environment

Onsite