The Senior Project Manager (SPM) is responsible for leading the project team, driving design delivery, and managing the financial and contractual aspects of a state-of-the-art Tier 4 Data Centre.
As the primary point of contact for clients, authorities, and key stakeholders, the SPM is accountable for realising the project vision and ensuring all outcomes are delivered to the highest standard.
Key Responsibilities
Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Responsibilities
- Provide leadership on EHS contractual requirements during the bid phase, ensuring alignment with NEXTDC EHS policy and responsibilities.
- Apply the Company Safety Management System and NEXTDC EHS standards across all project design phases; identify and document risks through the EHS in Design process.
- Ensure the Project Conversion Process is followed and all gateways are completed, including cost planning that accounts for NEXTDC EHS compliance and resourcing requirements.
- Lead Safety in Design (SiD), Design Complexity, and Risk and Opportunity (PROA) activities in collaboration with the Senior Design Manager.
- Review and action lessons learned from site incidents, capturing design-related findings and implementing solutions early in the design process.
- Ensure appropriate supervision is present during all construction activity.
- Recognise excellence in EHS performance and, in conjunction with senior management, apply consequence management for non-compliance with NEXTDC EHS standards.
- Engage clients and consultants on EHS requirements, including embedding responsibilities in contracts.
- Support senior managers and team members in relation to safety initiatives and non-negotiable EHS commitments.
- Proactively support the Construction Manager in driving EHS initiatives across the project.
- Ensure all identified risk items are understood, mitigated, and tracked throughout conversion and delivery.
- Raise and discuss EHS matters at forums, preconstruction meetings, and project reviews.
Sustainability
- Set and manage sustainability objectives and targets (e.g. Green Star, NABERS), drawing on current best practice and industry knowledge.
- Establish controls and reviews to ensure design evolution aligns with sustainability objectives and the client brief.
- Communicate and manage delivery of sustainability targets through appropriate teams of internal and external specialists with clear roles and responsibilities.
- Ensure all contractual sustainability requirements are understood and aligned with NEXTDC EHS and company sustainability policy.
Compliance & Performance
- Lead the Design Complexity Assessment in conjunction with the Project Manager, ensuring risks and mitigation strategies are documented in the PROA at Conversion stage.
- Initiate Risk and Opportunity Reviews early in the design process; ensure risks are progressively reviewed and designed out where practicable.
- Induct the project team into the content and status of the PROA.
- Ensure residual risks from the PROA are transferred in accordance with risk management procedures.
- Actively participate in ongoing Risk and Opportunity Reviews, ensuring constructability issues are identified, recorded, and followed up.
- Review and resolve technical issues in line with Company quality standards, including CIDD and Defects Alerts.
- Ensure Company policies and procedures are adhered to across the design process and conversion.
- Manage contractual requirements related to design.
- Prepare and review the Project Brief for compliance, including client and design briefs.
- Collate all relevant records for statutory and design verification compliance.
Quality
- Lead the Quality Planning workshop, including the Package Criticality matrix and identification of specific risks.
- Ensure surveillance activities are maintained and any defects or non-conformances are resolved and closed out in a timely manner prior to project completion.
- Communicate quality requirements, expectations, and objectives clearly to all subcontractors.
Conversion Management
- Identify project opportunities through relationships with clients and external stakeholders.
- Provide leadership during the bid and conversion phase in conjunction with the HoS&C/HDPM.
- Ensure Company procedures, including all OLi requirements, are adhered to.
- Support the briefing of legal counsel on principles, negotiation, and resolution of head contract conflicts.
Procurement
- Establish and implement a Design Procurement Strategy covering required skills, experience, scope, deliverables, and resourcing.
- Assist with the planning, scoping, tendering, negotiation, and contracting of the consultant team.
Design Management
- Delegate design management tasks to Project Managers, Senior Design Managers, and Design Managers as required by project team structure.
- Lead the establishment, implementation, and updating of the Design Management Plan as part of the overall Project Management Plan.
- Prepare and maintain detailed Design Programmes and Production Schedules from commencement to completion of each design phase.
- Ensure cost planning accounts for NEXTDC EHS compliance requirements through the Design Complexity and Risk and Opportunity Review process.
- Manage the timely delivery of concept, schematic, detailed, and construction design in line with the overall delivery programme.
- Manage design team recruitment, issue resolution, professional development, and coordination of design services.
- Identify alternate construction methods and promote engineering innovation and buildability throughout design.
- Appraise design options and ensure Value Optimisation initiatives are reviewed before implementation.
- Review design documentation in line with the Design Management Plan and ensure all risks are identified early.
- Lead client liaison and approvals on all design-related matters.
- Manage cost plans with the HDPM in line with industry benchmarks, LOA, and risk profile.
- Ensure value-added design solutions are delivered to the client and profit is maximised.
- Provide regular reporting on design status to the Project Team, Project Reviews, and Project Control Groups.
- Utilise digital platforms to support design resolution and establish a digital strategy for effective design management.
Authority & Stakeholder Management
- Develop, implement, and evaluate the Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Strategy for the project.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key project stakeholders across all project phases.
- Develop and manage project communication protocols, templates, and procedures.
- Provide authoritative advice on managing stakeholder issues and support the team in resolving complaints.
- Establish and manage a CRM system to capture, track, and report stakeholder enquiries and complaints.
- Coordinate and facilitate project-specific stakeholder briefings and meetings as required.
- Manage negotiations, documentation, and approvals with authorities associated with the project.
- Conduct weekly site visits (minimum), verify compliance with NEXTDC EHS standards, and address any non-conformances.
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Requirements:
Education & Experience
- Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
- 10+ years experience in project management within construction, infrastructure, or data centre projects.
- Proven experience delivering large-scale projects end-to-end.
- Experience with consultancy and contractor management.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of project lifecycle, design management, and construction processes.
- Experience in cost planning, contract administration, and procurement.
- Familiarity with EHS frameworks, risk management, and quality systems.
- Knowledge of sustainability standards is an advantage.
Leadership & Behavioural Competencies
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and high-value projects.
- Strategic thinking with strong attention to detail.
- Collaborative, accountable, and solution-oriented mindset.
Why Sentinel Project Management
At Sentinel Project Management, we don't just build infrastructure; we create a legacy. You will work in a high-performance environment that values diversity, professional growth, and, above all, the safety of our people.
Sentinel Project Management is an equal opportunity employer and we value a diverse and inclusive workplace.
