Project Director (Data Centres)

This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of the flagship data centre project for a Melbourne contractor entering one of the most exciting and underserved markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia's data centre sector is at an early but rapidly accelerating stage of growth — driven by surging demand for cloud, AI, and digital infrastructure — and this business is positioning itself to be a significant player at exactly the right moment.

As Project Director, you will lead the full 2.5-year delivery programme from mobilisation through to commissioning and handover — a project that will define the company's reputation and capability in this sector. This is not a caretaker role; you will set the standard, build the team, and own the outcome from day one.

Beyond the immediate project, the opportunity extends much further. You will be actively involved in the pre-construction of future data centre developments in the pipeline, shaping how the business approaches and wins work in this space. The medium-term ambition is clear: to establish a dedicated data centre division, and the person who leads this first project is the natural candidate to become the business's Data Centre Lead — and ultimately, Country Lead for the sector in Australia.

For a candidate with the right experience and ambition, the timing is exceptional. The Australian data centre market remains largely untapped at scale, the demand pipeline is enormous, and this contractor has the relationships, capability, and financial strength to pursue it aggressively. The person who helps build this platform from the ground up will have shaped something genuinely significant.

Our client is one of Melbourne's most respected construction businesses — a privately owned contractor with deep roots in the city and a growing reputation for delivering technically complex, large-scale projects across multiple sectors. With over $2 billion of work currently under construction and a stable, experienced leadership team at the helm, this is a business built for longevity and sustainable growth.

Operating exclusively in the Melbourne market, they have deliberately chosen depth over spread — becoming one of the most capable and trusted names in the local construction landscape. Their work spans major mixed-use developments, commercial office, build-to-rent, retirement living, and an expanding footprint in the data centre and technology infrastructure space, where they have secured a landmark partnership with an international data centre developer.

With 240 staff and a leadership team that has cultivated genuine loyalty across the business — over 50 team members with more than a decade of service — this is not a typical large contractor. Staff turnover sits at just 11%, an extraordinary figure for the sector, and one that speaks to how the company is managed. Their culture is embedded on-site, and the business has a well-earned reputation for looking after its people, from structured career development to a culture of genuine community and mutual support.

This is a company at a pivotal moment — securing landmark project wins, entering new and exciting sectors, and investing heavily in the senior talent needed to deliver on its ambitions. For the right candidate, this represents a rare opportunity to join a high-performing, values-driven business at the top of its game.