Campus Director

🚀 Campus Director – Data Centre Construction | M&E 📍 Location: Netherlands 💼 Job Type: Full-Time | Permanent 🏗️ Sector: Data Centres | Mechanical & Electrical | Advanced Technology Construction 👔 Level: Executive / Senior Leadership 🌍 Project Scope: Major Hyperscale Data Centre Campus 🚀 The Opportunity Zircoe Recruitment is partnering with a leading engineering and construction business to recruit an experienced Campus Director to lead the delivery of a major hyperscale data centre campus in the Netherlands. This is a senior leadership opportunity with responsibility for multiple concurrent, high-value data centre construction projects, overseeing programme delivery, commercial performance, engineering integration, commissioning and client relationships across the campus. Working closely with project leadership teams, engineering, procurement, construction, commercial and commissioning functions, you will establish the overall delivery strategy and ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, on programme, within budget and to the highest standards of quality. We are seeking a strategic and commercially focused leader with a proven track record in large-scale data centre construction and M&E delivery, capable of managing complex programmes and building high-performing multidisciplinary teams. 🔑 Key Responsibilities 🏗️ Campus & Programme Leadership - Provide strategic leadership across multiple concurrent hyperscale data centre projects within a single campus. - Establish and manage an integrated campus delivery strategy aligned with overall programme milestones. - Oversee the full project lifecycle, from design development and procurement through construction, commissioning and handover. - Monitor programme performance, identify delivery risks and implement mitigation and recovery strategies. - Coordinate project directors, project managers, construction teams, subcontractors and specialist contractors. - Drive consistency, standardisation and lessons learned across projects to improve delivery performance. 💰 Commercial & Financial Management - Maintain overall accountability for campus-wide commercial performance, budgets, forecasting and cost control. - Work closely with commercial teams to manage contracts, variations, change control, claims and commercial risks. - Identify opportunities to improve productivity, operational efficiency and project profitability. - Monitor financial performance and ensure accurate reporting of costs, forecasts, risks and programme progress. - Support effective resource allocation and commercial decision-making across the campus. ⚙️ Engineering, Procurement & Construction - Oversee the integration of mechanical and electrical systems across all campus projects. - Ensure design development, technical submissions, procurement schedules and construction activities align with programme requirements. - Coordinate engineering, construction and commissioning teams to resolve technical and delivery challenges. - Manage planning for long-lead equipment, critical infrastructure, site logistics and installation sequencing. - Ensure effective coordination of specialist subcontractors, suppliers and technical partners. 🔌 Commissioning & Handover - Establish and oversee the commissioning strategy across project phases. - Ensure commissioning requirements are integrated into construction programmes from the outset. - Coordinate testing, integrated systems testing, client witnessing and handover documentation. - Drive the resolution of technical issues, defects and outstanding works. - Ensure successful project completion and handover in line with client requirements. 🦺 Health, Safety, Environment & Quality - Champion a safety-first culture across the campus and promote compliance with applicable Dutch legislation and project standards. - Ensure robust quality assurance, inspection, testing and assurance processes are implemented. - Monitor HSEQ performance and drive timely completion of corrective actions. - Establish consistent delivery standards and promote continuous improvement across all project teams. 🤝 Client & Stakeholder Management - Act as a senior point of contact for clients, consultants, suppliers and key stakeholders. - Build trusted relationships through transparent communication, sound judgement and reliable delivery. - Lead programme-level reviews, progress meetings, risk discussions and strategic planning sessions. - Manage competing priorities across multiple projects while maintaining client confidence and contractual commitments. 👥 Leadership & Team Development - Lead and develop project directors, project managers, construction managers, engineering leads, commercial teams and commissioning personnel. - Establish clear accountability, performance expectations and reporting structures. - Drive collaboration, knowledge sharing and best practice across the campus. - Oversee workforce planning and resource allocation in line with programme demands. - Build a high-performing culture focused on safety, quality, commercial discipline and delivery excellence. 👤 About You We’re looking for a senior construction and engineering leader with extensive experience delivering complex data centre projects and the ability to oversee multiple project teams within a demanding, fast-paced environment. ✅ Essential Requirements - Significant senior leadership experience within an M&E contractor, construction organisation or specialist data centre delivery business. - Proven track record delivering large-scale, complex data centre construction projects. - Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, major programmes or a data centre campus. - Strong technical understanding of critical M&E infrastructure, including electrical distribution, mechanical services, cooling systems, controls and commissioning. - Demonstrable experience managing programme-level budgets, commercial performance, contracts and delivery risks. - Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams across design, procurement, construction and commissioning. - Strong leadership capability, with experience developing senior project and engineering teams. - Excellent client-facing, communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills. - Strong understanding of programme management, construction planning and delivery governance. - Willingness and ability to work on site in the Netherlands, with travel as required. ⭐ Desirable Experience - Experience delivering hyperscale data centre campuses for major technology clients. - Previous experience with a Tier 1 M&E contractor or major international engineering and construction organisation. - Experience managing large-scale mechanical and electrical packages, critical power systems and cooling infrastructure. - Strong commissioning and integrated systems testing experience. - Knowledge of Dutch construction requirements and relevant European standards. - Experience driving standardisation, repeatability and continuous improvement across multiple projects. - Experience working with international clients, consultants and specialist supply-chain partners. 🎁 What's on Offer? - The opportunity to lead a major hyperscale data centre campus programme in the Netherlands. - A senior leadership position with significant responsibility for delivery, commercial performance and programme outcomes. - The opportunity to shape campus-wide strategy and develop high-performing project teams. - A competitive remuneration and benefits package commensurate with experience and responsibility. - Exposure to major clients and technically complex, high-value data centre projects. - Long-term career development within a growing advanced technology engineering and construction business. 📩 Apply Today If you’re an experienced Campus Director, Project Director, Operations Director or senior M&E construction leader with a strong track record in hyperscale data centre delivery, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now with your CV and a brief outline of your data centre project experience, leadership responsibilities and current availability. All applications will be treated confidentially. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates and are committed to equal opportunities. Zircoe Recruitment 🔷 Your Future Secured.