Project Director Data Centre

About the Role

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc is seeking a highly experienced Project Director - Data Centre to lead the construction supervision delivery of major Hyperscale Data Center developments. This full-time role is based in Riyadh and requires extensive experience in managing multidisciplinary supervision teams and overseeing the construction of Tier III and Tier IV hyperscale data centers. The successful candidate will be responsible for the overall leadership, management, and successful execution of large-scale data center projects from construction through testing, commissioning, operational readiness, and final handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall delivery of construction supervision services for hyperscale data center projects across the Middle East.
• Provide leadership and direction to multidisciplinary teams, including Resident Engineers, Construction Managers, Discipline Engineers, Quality Engineers, HSE Managers, BIM Coordinators, and Project Controls professionals.
• Establish project governance structures, reporting procedures, communication protocols, and performance management frameworks.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects in accordance with contractual requirements, approved budgets, schedules, and client expectations.
• Monitor project performance against key milestones and implement corrective actions where required.
• Proactively identify and mitigate technical, commercial, operational, and schedule-related risks.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, developers, contractors, utility providers, government authorities, and key stakeholders.
• Direct and oversee all construction supervision activities, ensuring works are executed in accordance with approved designs, project specifications, applicable codes, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, ICT, and specialist contractor activities.
• Oversee delivery of critical infrastructure systems including HV/MV/LV Electrical Systems, Utility Substations, Diesel Generator Plants, UPS Systems, Chilled Water Systems, Cooling Plants, HVAC Infrastructure, CRAH and CRAC Units, Fuel Storage and Distribution Systems, Fire Protection Systems, BMS and EPMS Platforms, Structured Cabling, ICT Networks, Security, and ELV Systems.
• Ensure compliance with Tier III and Tier IV reliability, availability, redundancy, resilience, and performance requirements.

Commercial and Contract Management

• Oversee administration of contracts in accordance with FIDIC and project-specific contractual frameworks.
• Review and manage contractor claims, variations, extensions of time, and contractual disputes.
• Monitor project financial performance and support commercial decision-making.
• Support negotiation and resolution of commercial and contractual issues.
• Oversee testing, commissioning, integrated systems testing (IST), operational readiness, and handover activities.
• Ensure critical infrastructure systems are commissioned and validated in accordance with project requirements.

Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality

• Champion Jacobs' Zero Harm culture and promote best practices in health, safety, environmental, and quality management.
• Ensure compliance with client requirements, local legislation, and international HSEQ standards.
• Lead project safety reviews, quality audits, and performance improvement initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Over 10 years of experience in project management, specifically within the data center sector.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and overseeing large-scale data center construction projects.
• Proficiency in ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to high standards of quality and operational reliability.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position, requiring full-time attendance at a Jacobs Workplace in Riyadh, as dictated by the nature of the role.