Director, PDS Projects

JLL supports the Whole You, personally and professionally.

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology to our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people in our industry; and we support them through professional growth, flexibility, and personalized benefits to manage life in and outside of work. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades, and technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, we empower you to shape a brighter way forward so you can thrive professionally and personally.

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.

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.

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.

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Architect