Senior Program Manager & Key Client Lead, Data Centers

Ramboll • Chicago, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Ramboll is seeking a senior program and client leader to own the integrated relationship, technical direction, and delivery agenda for a priority data center client in North America. The role serves as the senior day-to-day client partner, translating the client’s multi-site development needs into a coordinated account and program plan and mobilizing capabilities across power systems, substations, interconnection, generation, and other Ramboll service lines. It combines program and project management, technical leadership, executive client engagement, and measurable account-growth responsibility.

The successful candidate will help develop and execute the annual client plan, maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline, lead priority pursuits, and convert client needs into profitable, repeatable work. They will oversee project managers delivering mid-sized and larger multidisciplinary projects and a coordinated portfolio of assignments, ensuring consistent scope, schedule, quality, budget, commercial, and client outcomes. The role also guides technical teams, strengthens delivery practices, improves reusable tools and processes, and connects the client with Ramboll’s broader global data center and infrastructure capabilities.

The position is part of Ramboll’s North America Power Systems team, working with specialists in substation engineering, protection and control, transmission, interconnection, power generation, civil and structural engineering, and energy strategy. The role is hybrid and may be based in one of the listed locations: Seattle, Denver, Vancouver, Calgary, Arlington, Toronto, Boston, Syracuse, Chicago, or Houston.

Requirements

• 10 or more years of experience across project, program, client, or business management.
• Success leading multidisciplinary projects or related portfolios and managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Expertise in a relevant power systems discipline and breadth sufficient to guide multidisciplinary teams.
• Understanding of power availability, utilities, substations, transmission, generation, load interconnection, and the effects of ISO/RTO processes on schedules and risk.
• Ability to build senior client relationships, develop account plans, win repeat business through proposals and negotiations, and communicate technical and commercial issues clearly.
• Ability to work independently, bring together teams across disciplines and locations, and coach others.
• Demonstrated improvement of practices or business results beyond a single project.
• Experience with CRM and project financial systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, energy, or power systems engineering, construction management, business, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience working with a data center developer, hyperscaler, or colocation provider; experience with other energy-intensive clients is also relevant.
• Experience with Maconomy or a comparable project financial platform.
• Advanced degree in a technical field or business.
• PMP certification.
• Professional Engineer licensure.

Responsibilities

• Support the account team and develop and deliver annual account and sales plans.
• Drive sustainable net sales growth by building a qualified opportunity pipeline and converting opportunities into profitable work.
• Align growth objectives with North America Energy leadership through the annual PDP/KPI process.
• Build relationships with the client’s development, engineering, leadership, procurement, real estate, sustainability, and operations teams.
• Raise Ramboll’s profile through client content, technical publications, workshops, conferences, seminars, and executive forums.
• Share market insights and account lessons to inform North America data center strategy, planning, and service development.
• Keep CRM account, contact, activity, opportunity, positioning, pipeline, and sales forecast information current.
• Lead project managers delivering mid-to-large multidisciplinary data center infrastructure projects.
• Direct project managers, technical leads, subconsultants, and vendors to meet scope, schedule, quality, budget, and commercial goals.
• Use Maconomy and other Ramboll financial systems for project controls, forecasting, and reporting.
• Address delivery and commercial risks early, pursue project opportunities, and resolve uncertainty through decisions, escalation, and corrective action.
• Lead project closeout, client feedback, and lessons learned to improve delivery and repeat business.
• Develop consistent practices, reusable tools, improved processes, and innovative digital deliverables to improve speed, quality, and scalability.
• Align internal teams across Power Systems, Energy, Environment & Health, Water, Buildings, and other Ramboll groups around client priorities.
• Influence across the matrix and secure resources without relying on direct authority.
• Coach project managers and technical leaders in client development, commercial judgment, risk, and executive communication.
• Mentor disciplines and practice areas, sharing knowledge and supporting growth.
• Independently deliver or direct complex technical work and develop assignment scopes and budgets.
• Direct complex or specialized power systems, substation, transmission, generation, and interconnection work.
• Review decisions, proposals, and deliverables for quality, technical viability, and achievable commitments.
• Improve engineering standards, reusable methods, and guidance using lessons learned.
• Develop practical and innovative solutions that address client objectives, risk, constructability, cost, schedule, permitting, and utility or ISO/RTO requirements.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment.
• Investment in your development.
• Leaders guided by Ramboll’s Leadership Principles.
• A long-term perspective as part of a foundation-owned company.
• Comprehensive benefits package supporting well-being, professional development, and work-life balance.
• Position may be eligible for bonus, overtime, or other forms of compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior