Project Design Manager

Project Design Manager - Data Centres Copenhagen, Denmark / Remote Europe 2 Permanent Positions Major European Data Centre Programme Project Commencement: January 2027 Previous Data Centre Experience Essential Novalith Advisory is supporting a leading international organisation with the appointment of two experienced Project Design Managers for a major European data centre programme commencing in January 2027. We are looking for established design-management professionals with a strong track record of delivering large-scale data centre projects and the capability to take ownership of complex, multidisciplinary design programmes from design development through construction and commissioning. Two permanent positions are available:

• Project Design Manager - Copenhagen: Based in Copenhagen and working closely with the project delivery team.
• Project Design Manager - Remote Europe: Fully remote, with occasional travel to the project and key client/design meetings as required.

These are senior appointments offering the opportunity to become involved at an early stage of a major data centre development and play a key role in driving design coordination, technical governance, programme alignment and project delivery. The Role As Project Design Manager, you will take responsibility for managing and coordinating the design process across a complex data centre development. You will operate at the interface between client stakeholders, design consultants, project management, contractors, specialist suppliers, construction and commissioning teams, ensuring design information is technically coordinated, buildable and delivered in line with programme requirements. This is not simply a design-review position. We are looking for individuals who can actively lead the design-management process, challenge technical solutions, manage multidisciplinary interfaces and drive design decisions through to resolution. Key Responsibilities

• Lead the multidisciplinary design-management process across major data centre projects.
• Manage design development from early design stages through detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Coordinate interfaces across CSA, Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Controls/BMS and Commissioning disciplines.
• Manage and coordinate external designers, engineering consultants, contractors and specialist suppliers.
• Establish and manage design deliverables, responsibilities, priorities and programme requirements.
• Monitor design progress against the overall project programme and identify potential delays, dependencies and technical risks.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, coordination meetings and constructability reviews.
• Review drawings, specifications, technical submissions, design packages and consultant deliverables.
• Ensure designs are coordinated, buildable and aligned with project requirements and operational objectives.
• Identify design risks, clashes, gaps and interface issues before they impact construction.
• Drive technical issues and design decisions through to resolution.
• Challenge consultants and contractors where required and identify opportunities for design optimisation, risk reduction and value engineering.
• Coordinate closely with project management, commercial, construction and commissioning teams.
• Support design change control and assess potential programme, technical and commercial impacts.
• Ensure effective transition of design information into procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Provide clear design reporting and communicate key risks, decisions and dependencies to senior project stakeholders.

Candidate Profile We are looking for an established Project Design Manager / Senior Design Manager with demonstrable experience managing complex multidisciplinary design packages within the data centre sector. You should have:

• Significant experience in Project Design Management, Design Management, Engineering Management or Technical Project Management.
• Previous data centre project experience - essential.
• Experience delivering large-scale, technically complex construction or mission-critical projects.
• Strong understanding of the complete data centre design and delivery lifecycle.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants.
• Strong understanding of the interfaces between CSA and MEP systems.
• Experience managing design programmes, deliverables, technical dependencies and design risk.
• Experience taking projects from design development through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Strong understanding of constructability and the relationship between design decisions and site delivery.
• The technical credibility and confidence to challenge consultants, designers and contractors at senior level.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication capability.
• Experience working within complex international project environments.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Architecture, Construction, Building Services or a related technical discipline.

Data Centre Experience - Essential For these appointments, previous data centre experience is a core requirement rather than a preference. Candidates should be able to demonstrate direct involvement in the design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation or major enterprise data centre developments. A strong understanding of the following would be particularly relevant:

• Critical power and cooling infrastructure.
• Resilience and redundancy.
• MEP and CSA interface management.
• Equipment and plant integration.
• Design sequencing and package coordination.
• Constructability and installation requirements.
• Commissioning and integrated systems testing.
• Design change control.
• Programme-critical design decisions.
• Technical governance and design assurance.

Copenhagen Position The Copenhagen appointment will suit an experienced Project Design Manager who is comfortable working closely with the project and delivery teams. Candidates should either be based in Denmark, be able to commute appropriately, or be prepared to relocate for the position. Remote European Position The second appointment can be undertaken on a fully remote basis, with occasional travel required for key project meetings, design workshops and technical reviews. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to manage complex design activities effectively across international, multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams. The Opportunity This is an opportunity to join a major European data centre programme at an early stage and take genuine ownership of the design-management process. The positions will suit experienced professionals who understand that successful design management within the data centre environment is about considerably more than reviewing drawings. It requires the ability to coordinate disciplines, manage interfaces, drive decisions, identify risk and ensure that design supports programme, construction and commissioning requirements. We would particularly welcome applications from experienced: Project Design Managers | Senior Design Managers | Data Centre Design Managers | Engineering Design Managers | Technical Design Managers with a demonstrable track record of delivering complex data centre projects. Employment: Permanent Project Start: January 2027 Sector: Data Centres / Mission Critical Discipline: Project Design Management Locations: Copenhagen / Remote Data Centre Experience: Essential Travel: Occasional travel required for the remote position Novalith Advisory Specialist Talent Advisory | Data Centres | Engineering | Construction