Head of Future Projects - Data Center and Infrastructure Delivery

Head - Future Projects

Responsibilities

1. Project Strategy & Governance

• Define and implement project delivery strategy for AdaniConneX's data center development portfolio.
• Establish project governance frameworks, delivery methodologies, approval mechanisms, and reporting structures.
• Drive portfolio-wide project reviews and leadership dashboards.
• Ensure alignment of project priorities with business growth plans and customer requirements.
• Provide regular updates to the CEO and leadership team regarding project performance, risks, and mitigation plans.

2. Project Planning & Controls

• Establish enterprise-wide planning and scheduling standards across all projects.
• Govern project baselines, milestones, budgets, and resource deployment strategies.
• Monitor critical path activities and recovery plans.
• Oversee portfolio-level project controls, forecasting, cost management, and cash-flow visibility.
• Drive digital project monitoring through Primavera, BIM, Power BI, and other project systems.

3. Project Execution & Construction Delivery

• Lead end-to-end execution of all data center projects from groundbreaking to customer handover.
• Ensure timely execution of civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, ELV, BMS, IBMS, utility, and infrastructure works.
• Drive project delivery performance against schedule, budget, quality, safety, and contractual commitments.
• Resolve complex project challenges and critical escalations impacting delivery.
• Ensure seamless coordination among Design, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Quality, and Operations teams.

4. Testing, Commissioning & Operational Readiness

• Oversee testing and commissioning activities across all facilities.
• Ensure compliance with hyperscaler and enterprise customer commissioning standards.
• Drive integrated systems testing, reliability validation, and operational readiness programs.
• Ensure defect-free project handover to Operations and Customers.
• Lead project closeout and lessons-learned processes.

5. Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Act as executive sponsor for key project customers.
• Lead project governance reviews with hyperscalers, enterprise customers, consultants, PMCs, and contractors.
• Ensure project commitments, milestones, and contractual obligations are met.
• Drive customer satisfaction through transparent reporting and proactive issue management.
• Build strong relationships with government authorities, regulatory agencies, utility providers, and strategic partners.

6. Cost, Commercial & Risk Management

• Ensure effective project budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Drive value engineering initiatives to optimize project economics.
• Review major contracts, variation orders, claims, and commercial risks.
• Lead proactive identification and mitigation of project risks.
• Ensure effective governance of contingency and recovery plans.

7. Quality, Safety & Sustainability

• Champion a zero-harm safety culture across all project sites.
• Ensure compliance with EHS standards, statutory regulations, and Adani Group governance requirements.
• Drive implementation of world-class construction quality standards.
• Ensure projects achieve sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental objectives.
• Promote continuous improvement and operational excellence practices.

8. Organization Leadership & Capability Building

• Build and lead a high-performing project delivery organization.
• Mentor Cluster Heads, Project Directors, Engineering Leaders, and Functional Heads.
• Drive succession planning and leadership development within the projects function.
• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and delivery excellence.
• Strengthen project management capabilities, systems, and governance across the organization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Key Competencies Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Business Acumen
• Stakeholder Management
• Executive Presence
• Decision Making Under Ambiguity
• Change Leadership

Functional Competencies

• Mega Project Delivery
• Program & Portfolio Management
• Construction Management
• Project Planning & Control
• Data Center Infrastructure Delivery
• Cost & Commercial Management
• Contract Administration
• Risk Management
• Testing & Commissioning
• Quality Management
• EHS Management
• Client Relationship Management

Behavioral Competencies

• Ownership & Accountability
• Collaboration & Influence
• Result Orientation
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• People Development
• Customer Centricity

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering.
• Post-Graduate qualification in Project Management, Construction Management, Infrastructure Management, or MBA will be preferred.
• PMP, Primavera (P6), Lean Construction, or equivalent project management certifications will be an added advantage.

Experience

• 23+ years of experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Proven leadership experience in Data Centers, Airports, Industrial Infrastructure, Mission-Critical Facilities, Power Plants, Metro, Semiconductor, Logistics Parks, or other mega infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multi-billion CAPEX portfolios and complex stakeholder ecosystems.
• Strong track record of delivering projects involving large civil, mechanical, electrical, ICT, utility, and commissioning scopes.