Project Delivery Director - Data Centres

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy with more than 20,000 colleagues working across over 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across major industries, delivering projects that help shape the future and create positive outcomes for the communities we serve. 

Our people power our performance. With opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow across our international network, you can deepen your expertise or broaden your experience while working alongside specialists who will support you to be at your best. 

As a proudly employee-owned business, we invest in our people, our clients and our communities. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels empowered, included and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant. 

About our Buildings business 

Our Buildings business brings together engineering, design and project delivery expertise to create high-performing places and infrastructure. Within our growing data centre portfolio, we work across disciplines to help clients plan, design and deliver resilient, efficient and sustainable mission-critical facilities. 

About the role 

We are seeking an experienced Data Centre Projects Director to lead the successful delivery of major data centre developments across the UK and Europe. This is a senior Buildings leadership role with a clear focus on project outcomes, multidisciplinary coordination, client confidence and delivery excellence. 

You will provide direction from early planning and design through construction, commissioning and handover. Working with project managers, technical leads, clients, contractors and supply chain partners, you will establish robust governance, manage delivery risk and create the conditions for integrated teams to perform at their best. 

Alongside leading strategically important commissions, you will help strengthen client relationships, support selected pursuits and build project delivery capability across our data centre portfolio. 

Key responsibilities 

• Lead the successful delivery of major data centre projects and programmes, with accountability for safety, quality, programme, commercial performance and client outcomes. 

• Act as Project Director or Programme Director on strategically important commissions across the UK and Europe. 

• Establish clear project governance, decision-making routes, reporting arrangements and assurance reviews. 

• Provide visible leadership across multidisciplinary Buildings teams, aligning mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, architectural and specialist inputs. 

• Work with project managers and technical leads to develop delivery strategies, resource plans, schedules and controls appropriate to each commission. 

• Identify, assess and manage project risks and opportunities, escalating issues early and supporting timely resolution. 

• Build trusted relationships with clients, developers, operators, contractors, consultants and supply chain partners. 

• Chair project and programme reviews, ensuring actions, dependencies and decisions are understood and owned. 

• Oversee commercial performance, contractual obligations, change management and forecasting in partnership with commercial and project controls colleagues. 

• Promote consistent delivery standards, lessons learned and continuous improvement across commissions. 

• Support strategic pursuits, proposals and client presentations by bringing credible project delivery insight. 

• Mentor project managers and future project directors, strengthening leadership and delivery capability across the business. 

• Collaborate across Mott MacDonald to connect clients with the right expertise and provide integrated solutions. 

Candidate specification 

• Significant experience leading the delivery of large, complex data centre, mission-critical, building or infrastructure projects. 

• A strong track record as a Project Director, Programme Director, Project Executive or comparable senior delivery leader. 

• Experience across multiple project stages, ideally including design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover. 

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate complex interfaces in fast-paced delivery environments. 

• Strong knowledge of project governance, programme management, project controls, risk management and commercial delivery. 

• Excellent client and stakeholder leadership skills, with the confidence to engage at project, programme and executive level. 

• The judgement to balance strategic oversight with timely intervention in detailed delivery challenges. 

• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style and a commitment to developing people and high-performing teams. 

• Clear written and verbal communication skills, commercial awareness and strong organisational capability. 

• Flexibility to travel to client and project locations where required. 

Qualifications 

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in engineering, construction, project management or a related discipline. 

• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional institution is preferred. 

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.