Senior Operational Excellence Technical Programme Manager

Location:

United Kingdom

Position Type:

Full-Time, Permanent

About Nscale

NScale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers. NScale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility.

At NScale, our Design and Construction team plays a critical role in delivering data center facilities that are optimized for AI deployments.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an NScaler, you’ll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you’ll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future

About the Role

This is a senior manager role that sits at the intersection of project controls, digital transformation and governance maturity within the development and construction team.

The role is responsible for managing and controlling the Operational Excellence programmes and expanding that capability as the organisation scales up, construction delivery becomes more complex and the digital tooling and processes need to evolve and adapt.

This is a key role in executing the Operational Excellence strategy by translating intent into sustainable operating practices. The aim is to ensure that operational effectiveness and efficiency is delivered while assurance is embedded within each process as part of our organisational capability rather than a periodic exercise, shifting from reactive oversight to a mature, confidence-based decision making model.

What You’ll be Doing (Responsibilities)

Responsibilities

• Project Controls: Deliver integrated project controls across the EMEA portfolio - driving implementation from site level through to executive reporting and continuously refining the operating model as scale and complexity increase.
• Digital tools: Deploy automated reporting, data pipelines and single source of truth frameworks that mature alongside the organisation to support deeper insight and stronger assurance. Proactively identify opportunities to improve, enhance, or simplify processes through the use of systems and tools
• Processes definition: Coordinate efforts to standardise and implement end-to-end business processes related to the Operational Excellence programme, ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability proportionate to the relevant delivery capability.
• Processes optimisation: Champion continual improvement in processes, data input and reporting as a long-term enabler, moving from initial consistency to optimisation and value realisation, while maintaining appropriate local flexibility across markets and project types.
• Collaboration: Work closely with central functions and regional/cross-regional teams to ensure alignment with the Operational Excellence strategy and delivery processes, providing guidance and support to enhance local operations.
• Training and Learning: Lead training initiatives to promote understanding of processes and systems among stakeholders, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Using feedback and organisational learning to iteratively strengthen existing frameworks.
• Risk Management: Audit established project controls and digital workflows to identify potential risks associated with project controls, processes and their governance; propose mitigation strategies, and ensure adherence to regulatory standards and best practices creating sustained executive confidence in delivery.
• Act as the project controls subject matter expert for the region and technical excellence escalation point.

Required

• Degree level or equivalent practical experience in engineering, technology or programme management within a related technical discipline in the built environment.
• 10 or more years of project controls experience across large capital construction programmes, with significant exposure to construction and the data centre sectors.
• Experience in building and managing automated reporting systems, data cleansing and data integration from disparate sources across large portfolios.
• Experience in writing and implementing project controls standards across disciplines i.e. scheduling, risk, change and cost governance, construction delivery for complex projects across countries (EMEA).
• Demonstrated experience defining and deploying digital controls tools at regional or global level, including Power BI, Primavera P6, Procore, risk and finance systems.
• Demonstrated experience in project controls, systems, business process management and governance with emphasis on programs in construction delivery / critical infrastructure.
• Awareness of applicable regulations and standards in construction
• Strong programme management skills
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex data and make strategic recommendations
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Preferred

• APM qualification
• Experience in a formal Operational Excellence, PMO or programme governance function.
• Familiarity with the full data centre lifecycle from design and preconstruction through construction, commissioning and operations.
• Experience in leading, building and mentoring projects controls teams across multiple countries.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At NScale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.