Project Lead - Data Centres

Role: Project Lead - Data Centres
Location: Madrid, Spain, with regular travel to project sites
Department: Data Centre Development & Delivery
Reports to: Executive Director - DC Portfolio Delivery

Role Summary

The Project Lead will be responsible for the overall delivery of a major data centre development in Spain from project initiation through permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

Acting as the client-side project owner, the Project Lead will coordinate all project functions including programme, commercial management, project controls, stakeholder engagement, permitting activities, construction delivery and handover readiness. The role will ensure that project objectives relating to cost, schedule, quality, risk and delivery are achieved whilst supporting long-term campus expansion strategies.

The Project Lead will work closely with the Design Director, who retains responsibility for technical design, engineering standards and consultant management, ensuring that technical delivery and project execution remain fully aligned throughout the project lifecycle.

Project Leadership & Governance

• Take overall responsibility for the successful delivery of a major data centre development.
• Establish project governance structures, reporting procedures and decision-making processes.
• Coordinate internal project teams, consultants, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Ensure project objectives are achieved across programme, budget, quality and risk parameters.
• Lead project steering meetings and executive reviews.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans.
• Drive a high-performance project culture focused on delivery excellence.

Programme Management

• Own the integrated project delivery programme.
• Work closely with the Project Controls & Planning Manager to establish key milestones and critical path activities.
• Monitor progress across permitting, utilities, design, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Identify delivery risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage project dependencies and interface requirements.
• Ensure all project teams remain aligned to agreed delivery schedules.

Commercial & Financial Oversight

• Support project budgeting and capital expenditure planning.
• Coordinate with the Cost Manager and Commercial Manager on project costs and procurement activities.
• Review financial forecasts, budget status and cost-performance indicators.
• Drive value-engineering initiatives without compromising operational requirements.
• Support commercial negotiations with consultants, suppliers and contractors.
• Ensure appropriate change-control procedures are maintained.

Stakeholder & Authority Management

• Lead engagement with key project stakeholders.
• Act as the primary client-side representative for project delivery matters.
• Coordinate interactions with municipalities, permitting authorities and utility providers.
• Manage external stakeholder expectations and project communications.
• Support land development, planning and permitting activities.
• Ensure regulatory obligations and project commitments are fulfilled.

Procurement & Contractor Management

• Support development of procurement strategies for major project packages.
• Coordinate contractor selection processes alongside commercial and technical teams.
• Monitor consultant and contractor performance.
• Resolve delivery issues affecting programme or project objectives.
• Support EPC tendering, evaluation and appointment activities.
• Manage key project interfaces between consultants, suppliers and contractors.

Construction Delivery

• Lead client-side project management during construction.
• Monitor project progress, quality and delivery performance.
• Coordinate construction activities across multiple contractors and stakeholders.
• Chair project delivery meetings and progress reviews.
• Manage project risks, escalation processes and issue resolution.
• Ensure construction activities remain aligned with project objectives and contractual requirements.

Commissioning & Handover

• Coordinate project readiness for energisation and commissioning activities.
• Support integrated systems testing and operational readiness planning.
• Ensure project handover requirements are achieved.
• Coordinate final acceptance processes and closeout activities.
• Support transition to operations and customer occupancy requirements.

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or related discipline.
• Typically 10-15+ years of experience delivering major infrastructure, mission-critical, industrial or data centre projects.
• Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong background managing programme, commercial and stakeholder interfaces.
• Experience delivering projects through development, procurement, construction and commissioning phases.
• Data centre experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working for a developer, data centre operator, client organisation, PMC or major contractor.
• Strong understanding of project controls, commercial management and programme governance.
• Experience managing consultant, contractor and authority relationships.
• Fluent English required.
• Spanish highly desirable.

Key Competencies

• Strategic project leadership
• Programme management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Commercial acumen
• Risk management
• Contract administration
• Executive reporting
• Team leadership
• Negotiation and influence
• Decision making under pressure

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.