SVP, Variable Technical Projects– Data Centers

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Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.
What this job involves:
Lead the Data Center Project Management team and oversee the work of the project teams who deliver the region's mission-critical project portfolio. The SVP helps drive strategic plans for the team and function, driving change and innovative solutions in addition to people management responsibilities. This position combines regional business leadership — business development, P&L management, resource planning, and strategic planning — with serving as the lead technical authority and senior point of escalation for complex challenges across the team's project portfolio.
What your day-to-day will look like:
Regional Leadership & Strategic Planning
Establish annual and midterm priorities, goals, and operational plans for the region's project management team, aligning organizational design, staffing levels, and delivery capacity with long-term business sub-segment strategies
Partner with senior leadership to align regional priorities, growth targets, and resourcing decisions with the broader division strategy
Monitor market trends and client needs within the region to drive change, implement new or revised services, and identify opportunities for innovative team growth
Business Development & Proposal Leadership
Drive business development activities for the region, building and leveraging a strong network of relationships with existing and prospective clients to grow the data center and mission-critical portfolio
Lead budget, schedule, and proposal creation for new projects and opportunities, recommending changes to policies and establishing procedures that impact immediate organizations, especially on issues of significant dollar or stakeholder relationship impact
Support pursuit strategy and lead client presentations for major regional opportunities, translating technical details into compelling business context
Financial & P&L Management
Manage the region's P&L, taking responsibility for managing moderate financial and external risks that affect mid- to long-term operational results
Review project-level financials across the team's portfolio to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for margin improvement, making tactical decisions to handle unforeseen issues
Approve project budgets and forecasts, utilizing signature authority for a moderate-sized regional budget while ensuring alignment between resource utilization and revenue commitments
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Oversee the work of the region's project team through levels (including VPs, SPMs, PMs, and APMs), managing performance, workload planning, and career development within the latitude of established policies
Manage the coordination of activities across multiple groups or departments, taking responsibility for results including staffing, costs, and methods
Responsible for the organizational design and operation of regional teams, aligning staffing levels and skill sets with current and forecasted project workloads
Train, mentor, and coach talent across the company within your area of expertise, building a strong regional pipeline of project managers ready to advance into senior roles
Support hiring, onboarding, and technical development initiatives to build regional bench strength and organizational capabilities
Technical Leadership
Serve as the Lead Technical Manager across the team's project portfolio, applying expertise across multiple work groups or demonstrating mastery of critical data center infrastructure
Act as the senior point of escalation for complex challenges, resolving a wide range of operational, technical, schedule, and commercial issues arising from broad internal or external events
Ensure consistent technical standards, safety protocols, and quality control practices, selecting and executing appropriate operational methods and techniques to achieve required solutions
Client & Stakeholder Management
Build and maintain effective working relationships with clients, contractors, vendors, and project stakeholders across the region's portfolio, persuading key buyers and handling sensitive issues
Serve as a senior point of escalation for client-facing issues, regularly interacting with senior management or executive leadership on significant matters and reviewing objectives to determine operational success
Lead stakeholder alignment on complex coordination, communication, and execution challenges across multiple concurrent projects, simplifying and clarifying technical information to gain cooperation
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field; Master’s degree or equivalent related experience or certification preferred
12+ years of progressive project management experience in data center construction, with extensive management experience leading multi-project teams and complex programs
Proven experience managing multiple work groups or teams through subordinate managers/supervisors, including responsibility for organizational design, staffing, and career development
Demonstrated experience owning P&L responsibility, managing moderate financial or external risks, and maintaining department budgets
Demonstrated success supporting business development, including proposing innovation and improvements on proposals, budgets, and schedules for opportunities with significant dollar or stakeholder impact
Proven experience leading or overseeing large-scale ($50M+), technically complex projects, with decisions affecting mid- to long-term operational results
Experience coordinating contractors, vendors, and technical stakeholders within active operational environments, with a strong track record of gaining cooperation across different work groups
Experience managing project financials, procurement activities, and contract execution across complex project delivery models, with the authority to establish operational procedures
Requires expertise across multiple work groups or mastery of a specific professional discipline, including mission-critical MEP systems, critical power/cooling infrastructure, and commissioning practices
Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to regularly interact with and influence senior management or executive leadership
Demonstrated ability to lead teams within fast-track, high-pressure, or ambiguous delivery environments, driving change and implementing innovative solutions
Advanced proficiency with project management, scheduling, and financial management tools.
Willingness to travel across the region as needed to support project oversight, client relationships, and team development (up to 50% as required).
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, CCM, CDCP®, or DCDC®.
Experience with design-build, EPC, or accelerated/parallelized schedule delivery models on large-scale projects.
Experience leading speed-to-market delivery for colocation operators or hyperscale clients where aggressive timelines are a core business requirement.
Familiarity with mission-critical infrastructure systems including UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers, CRAC/CRAH units, and building management systems.
Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical systems, testing, and commissioning protocols for 24/7 mission-critical operations.
Experience managing multiple concurrent or geographically distributed sites with notable complexity, high dollar volume, and financial exposure
Demonstrated ability to recover, stabilize, or redirect projects, programs, or teams facing schedule, technical, or execution challenges
Experience building, scaling, or structurally designing a regional project management team, including hiring, career pathing, and organizational development
This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Expected compensation for this position:
250,000.00 – 275,000.00 USD per year
Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.
Location:
Remote –Chicago, IL, New York, NY
If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!
Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:
JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your w