Senior Project Director - Data Centres
COWI is an international consultancy within engineering, architecture, energy and environment. Together with customers, we co-create sustainable and beautiful solutions that improve the quality of life for people.
Data centres play a critical role in enabling digitalisation, AI, and the energy transition. Decisions made today will define the resilience and sustainability of tomorrow’s digital infrastructure. At COWI, data centres are a strategic growth area, and we are now expanding our senior leadership capacity to support complex delivery of international projects in the Nordics
We are therefore looking for a Senior Project Director – Data Centres with extensive international experience to take overall responsibility for major, mission‑critical data centre programmes across the Nordics.
Lead international data centre delivery at scale
COWI supports leading international data centre operators, investors and developers across multiple geographies. Our projects are characterised by high complexity, fast decision cycles, and close collaboration with international clients, architects and technical partners.
As Senior Project Director, you will hold overall accountability for large, international data centre projects (typically 20+ MW) from early concept through design, construction and commissioning. You will operate at a strategic level, setting direction, governance and delivery structure across large multidisciplinary and cross‑geographical project organisations.
This is a senior leadership role with a clear external focus. You will be the trusted advisor and primary point of responsibility towards key international clients, while providing leadership to project directors, senior project managers and discipline leads within COWI’s delivery organisation. You will join a highly professional environment with strong strategic focus and rapid growth within COWI’s data centre sector. The role offers a unique opportunity to shape how COWI delivers large‑scale, international data centre projects and to influence both delivery models and customer collaboration going forward.
You will report directly to the SVP of Buildings & Industry in Norway, Ebbe Lind Kristensen, and work in close alignment with other departments in COWI.
Your key responsibilities
Hold overall accountability for large, complex and international data centre project organisations, from early concept through delivery and commissioning
Act as senior client interface, building long‑term trust, shared governance and effective decision‑making frameworks
Define and oversee RIBA‑based (or equivalent) delivery models, ensuring consistency, transparency and control across geographies
Provide leadership to Project Directors, Senior Project Managers and Discipline Leads across large multidisciplinary teams
Set strategic direction and create clarity across disciplines, countries and partner organisations
Hold accountability for project performance, including finances, risk management, governance and steering committee engagement
Contribute actively to BD activities, supporting upselling, reselling and long‑term account development through ongoing client dialogue
Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.
The first step to success in this role is your ability to collaborate at senior level, with clients, partners and colleagues. You communicate clearly, build trust across cultures, and provide leadership in complex and demanding environments.
In addition, you bring:
Documented experience from international data centre projects of 20+ MW
Extensive experience working with international clients in an English‑speaking project environment, including UK / British delivery culture
Solid understanding and practical experience with RIBA stages or equivalent international delivery frameworks
Demonstrated leadership experience managing other project managers and senior specialists within large, multidisciplinary organisations
Experience from engineering consultancy, technical advisory or complex mission‑critical infrastructure projects
Well‑developed capabilities within governance, planning, coordination and executive stakeholder management
Work location
The role can be based in any of our larger offices in Norway: Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Oslo and Fredrikstad.
We work in international and multidisciplinary teams, and many of our projects are delivered across offices and borders. Travel in Scandinavia must be expected.
Do you have more questions?
If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Talent Acquisition Lead, Nina Thordal, at nita@cowi.com.
Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com and www.arkitema.com.
A place to work and so much more
At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers.
We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.
With offices primarily located in Scandinavia, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.
Before you apply
All you need to include in your application is your CV – no photo or application letter. At an interview, you can tell us everything we need to know about why you’re interested in joining COWI. We review applications and conduct interviews on an ongoing basis, so the role may close as soon as we find the right match.
Diversity is fundamental to COWI, inclusion is key
We are committed to creating a respectful and fair work environment where all employees have a sense of belonging and equitable opportunities to thrive and grow. We ensure that our leaders are role models for inclusive leadership by cultivating a culture where diverse perspectives and thoughts are seen as strengths. And we take diversity and inclusion into account in all relevant decisions and processes and when setting teams and fora. We do it because it is part of our values and because it is simply the right thing to do.
