Description
The Assistant Project Manager will be a critical member of the CloudHQ (CHQ) Development across the EMEA region, supporting the Project Manager and Development Team during the pre-construction phase of hyperscale data centre projects.
The Assistant Project Manager is responsible for supporting projects from site identification and due diligence through planning, design development, and contractor procurement, ensuring that projects are fully defined, supported by robust cost planning and commercial decision-making to ensure that they are de-risked prior to construction.
While focused on pre-construction, the role requires a good understanding of the full project lifecycle- construction delivery, commissioning, and operations, ensuring early decisions translate into successful project execution.
This position requires a developer mindset, balancing technical, commercial, planning, and stakeholder considerations to inform project decisions and define project directions at the earliest stages.
Requirements
• Support project leadership, build and leverage partnerships with internal teams (development, construction, operations, finance, legal) and external stakeholders (consultants, authorities having jurisdiction, utilities providers, project partners, contracts);
• Support project governance, reporting and approvals processes;
• Ensure clear communication of project status, risks and identify where key decisions can be made or escalation to executive leadership is required;
• Support projects from early-stage feasibility through to construction readiness;
• Define and manage scope, budget, programme, and development strategy;
• Lead [support the coordination of] and coordinate site due diligence, working with site selection, legal, technical and consultant teams to ascertain:
o Test-fit feasibility with regard to tenant requirements, planning and zoning constraints
o Power, water, fibre and infrastructure availability
o Environmental, legal, commercial and technical risks
o Confirm alignment with project business cases and manage internal investment approvals.
• Subsequently, with technical teams, support the development of concept, basis of design, and detailed design packages;
• Manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary consultants (architects, engineers, planners, project & cost management consultants);
• With consultant support and PM oversight, develop and manage development budgets and ensure cashflow alignment;
• Coordination and management of internal and external resources, and driving results in:
o Change management;
o Procurement, confirming strategies, scope definitions and ensure Employer’s Requirements are complied with;
o Pro-active management of market conditions and ensure agile approach to adaption (supply chain, contractor availability, utilities constraints);
o Goal alignment/Stakeholder management;
o Risk identification and ensuring appropriate mitigation measures are in place;
o Establish reporting protocols on scope and schedule as required, ensuring effective reporting to senior leadership;
o Ensure establishment of a robust and detailed project programme that can be used to negotiate lease agreements with hyperscale tenants;
• Ensure delivery awareness, applying practical understandings of construction sequencing and logistics, commissioning and integration of systems to be able to handover to operational teams
• Ensure projects are fully prepared for construction delivery prior to handover, liaising with the construction delivery team to ensure continuity and intent is preserved;
• Ensuring compliance to Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) regulations, and requirements. Help promote a safe working environment for all team members, colleagues, contractors, and customers.
• Challenge and remove barriers by working with others around a shared need or customer benefit. Be proactive in driving for the best solutions for our customers;
• Ability to maintain a broader perspective, identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance the business through cross-group collaboration. This should not be limited to your specialism but be across all disciplines;
• Liaise with our customers to assist them in the delivery of their preferred solutions into CHQ Data Centers and be part of the team that makes us the data centre provider of choice;
• Consult with global CHQ colleagues to ensure that best practice is uniform across all our developments, irrespective of geographic location;
• Champion CHQ initiatives on all projects; and
• Adhere to and promote the core values of CHQ.
Education: A degree is preferred but not essential. Industry recognised project management qualifications are desirable, but the core requirement for this role is substantial, demonstrable experience in delivering complex projects.
Experience: Minimum 4+ years of experience in Data Centre, critical infrastructure or complex real-estate development projects (e.g. pharmaceutical, semi-conductor).
Strong experience in pre-construction, development and early lifecycle roles with exposure to utilities strategy, planning/permitting systems and different contracting models.
Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
• Knowledge and understanding of construction processes across EMEA;
• Experience managing and/or being a key part of multiple major projects effectively;
• Working knowledge of construction contracts used across EMEA;
• Ability to work cross-functionally with a team, as well as work independently applying individual expertise;
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate;
• Critical thinker and problem solver;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Willingness to travel locally and internationally (EMEA) on a regular basis, with a valid passport and awareness of visa requirements and Schengen travel limitations;
• Commercial and financial acumen;
• Proficiency with MS Office;
• Experience with Scheduling/Programming software and analysis;
• Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment, recognising needs to work outside of normal business hours due to global business needs;
• High attention to detail with ability to think strategically and understand wider business objectives.
