About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Position Description

The Senior Director of Planning plays a pivotal leadership role in overseeing the strategic development, coordination, and execution of scheduling and planning across Vantage’s large-scale global data center projects. You will be responsible for leading and optimizing the project scheduling function to ensure timely delivery, aligned with customer requirements, and coordinated across multiple geographies. This senior role will require significant experience in high-value infrastructure projects and a deep understanding of complex stakeholder management. You will be accountable for driving alignment across internal teams, external partners, and customers, fostering a culture of excellence in project execution, and mitigating risks that could impact delivery.

Essential Job Functions

Strategic Schedule Development and Project Coordination:

• Ensure projects have reporting metrics in place to support on time delivery of key client milestones, including ensuring VDC has standardised leading indicators to facilitate early interventions. Minimise client-initiated escalations due to schedule delays.
• Ensure VDC’s expectations are clearly laid out to GC’s at project initiation and referenced in their contracts
• Ensure our supply chain are held to account to meet VDC scheduling and reporting expectations
• Ensure our projects start well at project initiation and before site mobilisation
• Develop, implement, and maintain master schedules for all global data centre development projects, ensuring synchronization of critical milestones, timelines, and deliverables across diverse teams and geographies.
• Lead high-level coordination with internal teams (design, engineering, procurement, construction, etc.) and external stakeholders (contractors, consultants, vendors) to ensure flawless execution of project schedules.
• Attend (or delegate attendance to senior Planning Department member) monthly VP project reviews.
• Provide oversight on site acquisition, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning to guarantee seamless sequencing of critical activities.

Executive Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management:

• Act as the senior point of contact for global customers, managing the integration of their requirements and expectations into the project timelines and delivery schedules.
• Cultivate relationships with senior leadership, customers, and external stakeholders to ensure transparency and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead customer-facing meetings and presentations, articulating schedule updates, managing escalations, and ensuring executive stakeholders are always informed and aligned.

Advanced Risk Identification and Mitigation:

• Proactively identify potential risks to project schedules across all phases, including permitting, procurement, contractor availability, and construction.
• Lead the development of comprehensive risk mitigation strategies, ensuring contingency planning and the ability to respond to unforeseen delays without compromising project deadlines.
• Perform ongoing risk assessments to identify emerging challenges and continuously refine schedules and mitigation plans as needed.

 Leadership in Schedule Integration Across Disciplines:

• Oversee the integration of detailed schedules across all disciplines (civil, mechanical, electrical, IT infrastructure), ensuring all workstreams are aligned and coordinated for on-time delivery.
• Provide expert guidance on schedule development processes, driving consistency and excellence across global projects while ensuring compliance with company standards and local regulations.

Technology and Tools Utilization:

• Utilize advanced scheduling and project management tools (Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.) to ensure real-time tracking, monitoring, and reporting of project progress.
• Champion the continuous improvement of scheduling methodologies, adopting industry best practices, and mentoring team members on the effective use of scheduling software.

Data-Driven Performance Reporting and Analytics:

• Deliver comprehensive, data-driven reports on schedule performance, variances, and trends to senior leadership and key stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making.
• Ensure full transparency regarding schedule adjustments, providing clear, actionable insights to customers and project teams to address potential delays and optimize outcomes.
• Ensure centralised portfolio wide metrics are available to VDC senior stakeholders

Crisis Management and Contingency Planning:

• Lead the formulation of robust crisis management protocols and recovery plans for projects facing unforeseen delays or challenges.
• Spearhead risk workshops with cross-functional teams, ensuring ongoing evaluation and adaptation of mitigation strategies to maintain project trajectory.

Team Leadership and Talent Development:

• Lead a global team of scheduling professionals, driving a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Mentor team members, share best practices, and build organizational capability in scheduling expertise to ensure long-term project success.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance environment where innovative solutions are encouraged, and team members are empowered to take ownership of their work.

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field. Advanced certifications (e.g., PMP, PgMP) preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of experience in project scheduling and planning, with a focus on large-scale infrastructure or data center development projects. Proven track record in managing complex, multi-disciplinary teams and global stakeholders.
• Technical Expertise: Extensive experience with scheduling software (Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.), advanced knowledge of project lifecycles, critical path management, and resource optimization.
• Strategic Leadership: Exceptional ability to drive strategic initiatives, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and ensure the alignment of schedules with organizational goals.
• Risk Management: Deep expertise in risk identification, analysis, and mitigation within high-stakes, time-sensitive infrastructure projects.
• Communication and Influence: Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to influence decision-makers and present complex data clearly and persuasively.
• Leadership and Team Development: Proven success in leading, developing, and mentoring high-performing teams across global projects..

Additional Details

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

time as the business evolves.

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.