Global Head of DE&C Project Operations

Position Title: Global Head of Project Operations

Location: Boston, MA; Ashburn, VA, Dallas, TX, Chicago, IL

Your role 

The role of the Global Head of Project Operations is essential in driving operational excellence across global construction projects, focusing on risk management, digital tooling, process optimization, workflow efficiency, reporting, automation, schedule governance, and collaborative planning. The ideal candidate will implement strategies to improve project performance while promoting innovation and efficiency. The Design, Engineering & Construction Group’s driver is to deliver a quality service and product that complies with our internal standards as well as customer expectations by working with our professional teams to apply our systems, procedures and culture.

What you’ll do 

• Risk Management: Design and implement comprehensive risk management frameworks to proactively identify, evaluate, and mitigate construction project risks, ensuring alignment across global projects.
• Digital Tooling and Automation: Lead the adoption and integration of digital tools and technologies to enhance operational efficiency, streamline reporting, scheduling, and workflows, and reduce manual effort.
• Process Optimization and Workflow Management: Analyze and optimize workflows and processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and standardize practices across regions to ensure alignment with global best practices.
• Reporting and Data Insights: Develop and maintain centralized reporting systems to provide visibility into project performance, leveraging advanced analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Schedule Governance: Establish and oversee a global schedule governance framework to ensure consistency and adherence to project milestones, supporting on-time project delivery.
• Collaborative Planning: Foster a culture of collaboration by facilitating workshops, planning sessions, and aligning teams across functions to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Risk Awareness Culture: Promote a risk-aware culture through training, tools, and organizational practices, ensuring proactive risk management across all projects.
• Contract Management: Collaborate with Legal & Risk Management to standardize contracting methods, ensuring schedule and cost obligations are adhered to by consultants, vendors, and contractors.
• Automation Strategy Implementation: Implement data-driven automation strategies to streamline project management and reporting, driving efficiency and accuracy.
• KPI Development and Continuous Improvement: Establish KPIs and feedback mechanisms to monitor processes and continuously improve operational performance across projects.

What you’ll need

• Minimum 10 years of experience in data center design, with 7-10 years of progressive management experience, ideally within large-scale construction or development projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, Architectural, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management or related field.
• Extensive experience in construction project management, including digital transformation, risk management, and operational optimization.
• Proficiency in construction-related digital tools and reporting platforms (e.g., Primavera, Power BI, Tableau, or similar), with an understanding of automation and data visualization technologies.
• Strong understanding of schedule governance and change control within an Owner-Operator development organization, with a focus on delivering on time and within budget.
• Proven expertise in risk management and the ability to integrate commissioning and schedule coordination effectively across various technical disciplines (CSA, mech, elec, ICT).
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to inspire and align diverse teams and communicate complex technical challenges to both technical and non-technical audiences in a multi-geography environment. 
• Experience in full project life cycle management, from planning and design to permitting, construction, commissioning, and IST (Integrated Systems Testing).
• Proficiency in construction-related digital tools and reporting platforms (e.g., Primavera, Power BI, Tableau, or similar), with an understanding of automation and data visualization technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to promote teamwork a