Senior Project Manager (Infrastructure/Data Centre)

Job Description

Overview

The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of large-scale industrial, logistics, manufacturing, and mission-critical data centre projects across the UAE. The role will lead multidisciplinary project teams through all phases of project development including planning, design management, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience delivering hyperscale data centres, industrial facilities, logistics parks, advanced manufacturing plants, or similar large-scale developments within the UAE and GCC region. The role requires strong client-facing skills, commercial acumen, and the ability to manage complex stakeholder environments.

Your role

Project Leadership & Delivery

·       Lead the delivery of major industrial and data centre projects from concept through completion.

·       Develop and implement project execution strategies aligned with client objectives.

·       Manage multidisciplinary teams including design, commercial, planning, construction, procurement, commissioning, and project controls functions.

·       Ensure projects achieve agreed cost, schedule, quality, safety, and operational performance objectives.

·       Establish project governance structures and reporting frameworks.

Client & Stakeholder Management

·       Act as the primary point of contact for clients and key stakeholders.

·       Build and maintain strong relationships with developers, investors, contractors, consultants, and government authorities.

·       Lead project progress reviews, steering committee meetings, and executive presentations.

·       Drive client satisfaction and identify opportunities for repeat business.

Design & Design Management

·       Lead the design management process from feasibility through construction documentation.

·       Coordinate architects, engineers, consultants, and specialist vendors.

·       Ensure designs comply with local regulations, authority requirements, and client standards.

·       Manage design reviews, value engineering workshops, and technical risk assessments.

·       Facilitate integration of mission-critical systems into project execution plans.

Construction Management

·       Oversee construction activities and contractor performance throughout the project lifecycle.Monitor project progress and implement corrective actions where necessary.

·       Ensure compliance with quality, safety, environmental, and contractual requirements.

·       Manage interface coordination among contractors, suppliers, and stakeholders.

·       Lead site progress reviews and manage project recovery initiatives.

Data Centre Project Delivery

·       Manage delivery of hyperscale, cloud, colocation, and enterprise data centre projects.

·       Coordinate installation and commissioning of mission-critical systems including:

·       Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage (LV) Infrastructure

·       UPS Systems

·       Backup Generators

·       Chiller Plants

·       CRAH/CRAC Units

·       Building Management Systems (BMS)

·       Fire Detection and Suppression Systems

·       Structured Cabling and IT Infrastructure

·       Oversee commissioning, Integrated Systems Testing (IST), and operational readiness activities.

·       Manage critical milestones including energization, client acceptance testing, and facility turnover.

Commercial & Financial Management

·       Manage project budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.

·       Review and approve budgets, cost plans, and change management requests.

·       Collaborate with commercial teams to manage:

·       Variations

·       Claims

·       Contract Administration

·       Cost Forecasting

·       Risk Management

·       Ensure commercial objectives and profitability targets are achieved.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

·       Promote a strong Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) culture.

·       Ensure compliance with UAE legislation, authority requirements, and industry best practices.

·       Maintain project risk registers and implement mitigation strategies.

·       Identify and resolve project delivery issues proactively.

Procurement & Supply Chain Coordination

·       Support procurement strategies and critical package procurement activities.

·       Review tender packages and vendor selection recommendations.

·       Manage supply chain interfaces and long-lead equipment procurement.

·       Monitor procurement schedules to ensure project milestone achievement.

Commissioning & Handover

·       Lead commissioning planning and execution activities.

·       Coordinate client inspections, testing, and acceptance procedures.

·       Ensure successful operational readiness and facility handover.

·       Manage project close-out activities, lessons learned, and final documentation.

About you

Education

·       Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related discipline

Preferred

·       Master's Degree in Engineering

·       Project Management

·       Construction Management

·       Engineering Management

·       MBA

Experience

·       Minimum 15 years of project management experience within construction, infrastructure, industrial, or mission-critical sectors.

·       Minimum 5+ years in a Senior Project Manager or Project Manager leadership role.

·       Proven delivery of mega/giga projects in the region.

·       Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams.

Project Experience

·       Demonstrated delivery of:

·       Data Centres

·       Hyperscale Data Centres

·       Colocation Data Centres

·       Enterprise Data Centres

·       Cloud Infrastructure Facilities

·       Industrial Projects

·       Manufacturing Facilities

·       Semiconductor Plants

·       Pharmaceutical Facilities

·       Logistics Parks

·       Distribution Centres

·       Industrial Warehousing

·       Processing Facilities

UAE/GCC Experience

·       Minimum 5-10 years of UAE or GCC project delivery experience.

·       Working knowledge of UAE authority approval processes and construction regulations.

·       Experience managing fast-track and complex developments in the Middle East.

Technical Expertise

·       Project Management

·       Project Execution Planning

·       Design Management

·       Construction Management

·       Contract Administration

·       Procurement Management

·       Commissioning Management

·       Project Controls

·       Risk Management

·       Change Management

·       Stakeholder Management

·       Data Centre Delivery

·       Knowledge of:

·       Uptime Institute Tier III & Tier IV Standards

·       ANSI/TIA-942 Standards

·       Mission-Critical Infrastructure

·       Commissioning and IST Processes

·       Reliability and Redundancy Principles

·       Operational Readiness Requirements

·       Contractual Knowledge

·       Experience with:

·       FIDIC Contracts

·       Design and Build Contracts

·       EPC Contracts

·       EPCM Contracts

·       PMC Arrangements

Software & Digital Tools

·       Primavera P6

·       Microsoft Project

·       Power BI

·       Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)

·       BIM 360

·       Aconex

·       Procore

·       Microsoft 365 Suite

Professional Certifications

·       PMP (Project Management Professional)

·       PgMP (Program Management Professional)

·       PRINCE2 Practitioner

·       PMI-RMP

·       MCIOB

·       MRICS

·       Chartered Engineer (CEng)

·       LEED AP

·       Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD)

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

This includes:

·       Tax-free salary.

·       Life insurance coverage.

·       Medical insurance.

·       Annual leave balance.

·       Company gratuity scheme.

·       Discretionary bonus program.

·       Annual flight contribution.

·       Transportation & housing allowances.

·       Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.