Job description:

• Lead the overall planning, execution, and delivery of large-scale data centre development projects across South Korea
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to project management, construction management, consultants, contractors, and supply chain partners throughout the project lifecycle
• Drive project performance across key metrics including safety, quality, schedule, budget, risk, and operational readiness
• Oversee development and permitting activities, ensuring compliance with all applicable South Korean regulations, codes, and industry standards
• Partner with design consultants, project management teams, and contractors to develop integrated, efficient, and constructible design solutions
• Lead project governance processes, ensuring alignment between business objectives, project execution strategies, and stakeholder expectations
• Manage relationships with joint venture partners, government authorities, utility providers, contractors, consultants, and key project stakeholders
• Provide executive oversight of procurement strategies, major contract negotiations, and vendor management activities
• Ensure successful integration of Civil, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEPF) systems throughout project delivery
• Review and challenge project execution plans, schedules, construction methodologies, and technical solutions to optimize delivery outcomes
• Lead project cost management activities, including CAPEX planning, budget control, forecasting, financial reporting, and change management
• Establish and maintain robust project controls, reporting frameworks, and governance structures to support effective decision-making
• Oversee the development and maintenance of master project schedules, ensuring accurate tracking against approved baselines
• Provide regular executive reporting on project progress, commercial performance, key risks, and mitigation strategies
• Lead project risk management initiatives, facilitating risk identification, assessment, mitigation planning, and escalation processes
• Ensure construction and commissioning activities achieve required operational, technical, safety, and quality standards
• Collaborate closely with data centre operations teams to incorporate operational requirements into project design, procurement, commissioning, and handover processes
• Support organizational initiatives relating to Compliance, ESG, Health & Safety, Business Continuity Planning (BCP), and internal and external audits
• Act as a key liaison between local and international stakeholders, ensuring alignment on project objectives, expectations, and delivery strategies
• Lead project closeout activities, ensuring successful completion of documentation, testing and commissioning requirements, lessons learned, and operational handover
• Support broader asset management and operational initiatives, including tenant coordination, risk management, and strategic business objectives
• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing project teams while fostering a collaborative and accountable project culture

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline
• Minimum 15 years of experience managing large-scale mission critical, industrial, infrastructure, or data centre development projects
• Proven track record leading greenfield data centre developments from project inception through commissioning and operational handover
• Extensive experience in project leadership roles with responsibility for large multidisciplinary teams and complex stakeholder environments
• Strong understanding of mission critical facility design, construction, commissioning, and operational requirements
• Demonstrated expertise in project governance, project controls, risk management, contract administration, and commercial management
• Experience managing major contractors, consultants, suppliers, and joint venture partners on large-scale capital projects
• Strong knowledge of Civil & Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection systems integration
• Proven ability to manage significant CAPEX budgets and deliver projects within approved financial parameters
• Experience working within both multinational and domestic business environments
• Strong knowledge of South Korean construction regulations, permitting processes, and industry practices
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to engage and influence senior executives, investors, project partners, regulatory authorities, and external stakeholders
• Proficiency in project management and reporting tools, including Microsoft Project
• Experience within hyperscale, colocation, or mission critical data centre environments is highly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects in fast-paced, high-growth environments while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance technical, operational, and financial objectives across large-scale development projects

Why is This a Great Opportunity:

We are partnering with a leading data centre developer and operator to appoint a Project Senior Manager/Director to lead the delivery of large-scale, mission-critical data centre developments in South Korea and this is a great opportunity to be part of our client's pioneer team in Korea for their 1st DC project in the country.

This strategic leadership role will be responsible for overseeing the full project lifecycle, from development, permitting, design management, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operational handover. This role will provide overall leadership across internal and external project teams, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary interface between the organization, joint venture partners, consultants, contractors, suppliers, regulatory authorities, and data centre operations teams. This position requires a highly experienced leader with a strong background in mission critical infrastructure, exceptional stakeholder management capabilities, and the ability to navigate both local and international business environments.