SVP, Variable Technical Projects– Data Centers

JLL • Chicago, IL

22h • $250,000 - $275,000 • Remote

About The Position

JLL is hiring a Senior Vice President to lead the regional Data Center Project Management team and oversee teams delivering the region’s mission-critical project portfolio. The position combines regional business leadership—including business development, P&L management, resource planning, and strategic planning—with technical leadership as the senior authority and escalation point for complex portfolio challenges.

The SVP establishes regional priorities and operational plans, aligns staffing and delivery capacity with business strategy, develops client relationships and leads proposals for major opportunities. The role manages regional financial performance, project budgets and forecasts, and risk; oversees team performance, organizational design and talent development; and ensures consistent technical, safety and quality standards. The position also leads resolution of complex operational, technical, schedule, commercial and stakeholder issues across concurrent projects.

This is a remote position listed for Chicago, Illinois, and New York, New York, with regional travel of up to 50% as needed. The expected compensation is $250,000–$275,000 per year. Visa sponsorship is not provided; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive project management experience in data center construction, including extensive experience leading multi-project teams and complex programs.
• Experience leading multiple work groups or teams through subordinate managers or supervisors, including organizational design, staffing, and career development.
• Experience owning P&L responsibility, managing moderate financial or external risks, and maintaining department budgets.
• Success supporting business development, including proposing innovations and improvements to proposals, budgets, and schedules for significant opportunities.
• Experience leading or overseeing large-scale ($50M+), technically complex projects, with decisions affecting mid- to long-term operational results.
• Experience coordinating contractors, vendors, and technical stakeholders in active operational environments and gaining cooperation across work groups.
• Experience managing project financials, procurement, and contract execution across complex project delivery models, with authority to establish operational procedures.
• Expertise across multiple work groups or mastery of a professional discipline, including mission-critical MEP systems, critical power and cooling infrastructure, and commissioning practices.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence senior management or executive leadership.
• Ability to lead teams in fast-track, high-pressure, or ambiguous delivery environments and drive change and innovation.
• Advanced proficiency with project management, scheduling, and financial management tools.
• Willingness to travel across the region as needed, up to 50%.
• Authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree, equivalent related experience, or certification.
• Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, CCM, CDCP®, or DCDC®.
• Experience with design-build, EPC, or accelerated/parallelized schedule delivery models on large-scale projects.
• Experience leading speed-to-market delivery for colocation operators or hyperscale clients with aggressive timelines.
• Familiarity with UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers, CRAC/CRAH units, and building management systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical systems, testing, and commissioning protocols for 24/7 mission-critical operations.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent or geographically distributed sites with significant complexity, dollar volume, and financial exposure.
• Ability to recover, stabilize, or redirect projects, programs, or teams facing schedule, technical, or execution challenges.
• Experience building, scaling, or structurally designing a regional project management team, including hiring, career pathing, and organizational development.

Responsibilities

• Set annual and midterm regional priorities, goals, and operational plans, aligning organizational design, staffing, and delivery capacity with long-term business strategies.
• Partner with senior leadership on regional priorities, growth targets, and resourcing decisions.
• Monitor regional market trends and client needs to identify service changes, innovation, and team growth opportunities.
• Drive regional business development and build relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Lead budgets, schedules, proposal development, pursuit strategy, and client presentations for major opportunities.
• Manage regional P&L and financial and external risks; review project financials and make tactical decisions to address issues and improve margins.
• Approve project budgets and forecasts using signature authority for a moderate-sized regional budget.
• Oversee project teams, including VPs, SPMs, PMs, and APMs; manage performance, workloads, staffing, and career development.
• Coordinate activities across groups and departments and take responsibility for staffing, costs, and methods.
• Design and operate regional teams, aligning staffing and skill sets with current and forecasted workloads.
• Train, mentor, and coach talent; support hiring, onboarding, and technical development.
• Serve as Lead Technical Manager across the project portfolio and as senior escalation point for complex operational, technical, schedule, and commercial challenges.
• Ensure consistent technical standards, safety protocols, and quality control practices.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, contractors, vendors, and other stakeholders; handle sensitive issues and senior-level client escalations.
• Lead stakeholder alignment on complex coordination, communication, and execution challenges across concurrent projects.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay
• Supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional health

What This Job Offers

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