Jobs › Cushman & Wakefield

Director, Project Controls, Project & Development Services (Data Centers)

Cushman & Wakefield · Chicago, IL · $161,500–$190,000 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you told an executive client that a program date was at risk. How did you deliver that news?

What they are checking: Whether they can be a trusted advisor who raises risk early and offers options.

Describe a time you built a scheduling team. How did you hire and develop them?

What they are checking: Whether they can grow a high-performing team, which the role requires.

Tell me about a time stakeholders disagreed about phasing or sequencing. How did you get alignment?

What they are checking: Whether they can drive decisions across complex stakeholder groups.

What would you do

A general contractor's schedule update shows no slippage, but the site walk tells a different story. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they check schedules against field reality and push for honest reporting.

The client wants to pull the energization date forward by three months. How would you assess whether it's possible?

What they are checking: Whether they can analyze acceleration options, their costs and their risks before committing.

About the work

How would you set up an integrated master schedule for a large data center program that ties together design, procurement, construction and commissioning?

What they are checking: Whether they can build a schedule structure that shows real dependencies across all phases.

Long-lead equipment like generators and switchgear can drive a data center's timeline. How do you handle that in planning?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that procurement often sets the critical path for data center delivery.

What scheduling standards and governance would you put in place across multiple contractors on one program?

What they are checking: Whether they can set rules for schedule quality, updates and baselines that hold contractors accountable.

How do you explain critical path and float to a client leader who isn't a scheduler?

What they are checking: Whether they can translate technical scheduling ideas into decisions executives can make.

What tools have you used, such as Primavera P6, and how do you use them for reporting at the program level?

What they are checking: Whether they have real fluency in enterprise scheduling tools and reporting.

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The full job description

As published by Cushman & Wakefield.

Job Title Director, Project Controls, Project & Development Services (Data Centers) Job Description Summary This Director-level role will serve as the strategic lead and primary client interface for all planning and scheduling functions across large-scale capital programs, with a strong focus on data center delivery. The individual will operate as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders, shaping program strategy through the development of high-level integrated schedules, resource plans, and delivery frameworks from early planning through execution and closeout. The Director will lead the establishment of best-in-class scheduling standards, governance, and reporting while building and mentoring high-performing teams. This role requires a balance of strategic insight and technical expertise, with the ability to influence outcomes, drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups, and ensure successful program delivery. Job Description Responsibilities • Lead the development and implementation of enterprise-level schedule management frameworks across major capital programs, including tools, processes, governance, and reporting standards. • Serve as the primary planning and scheduling advisor to client leadership, providing strategic guidance on program phasing, sequencing, and delivery risks. • Develop and oversee integrated master schedules aligning design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operations across complex programs. • Drive alignment across internal teams, contractors, designers, and third parties to ensure integration into a single source of truth schedule. • Establish program-level reporting structures, KPIs, and executive dashboards to communicate schedule performance, risks, and trends. • Lead scenario planning, what-if analysis, and quantitative risk assessments to support key program decisions. • Identify and communicate critical path impacts, schedule risks, and mitigation strategies at both project and program levels. • Oversee schedule quality, data integrity, and consistency across all projects within the program. • Partner with cost, commercial, and project management leads to align schedule with financial and operational objectives. • Build, lead, and mentor a team of schedulers and planners, establishing a culture of accountability, development, and continuous improvement. • Support business development efforts by contributing to proposals, client presentations, and thought leadership related to project controls and scheduling. • Act as a visible leader within both the client organization and internal teams, reinforcing best practices and driving delivery excellence. Education / Experience • Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field. • 12–15+ years of experience in planning and scheduling for large-scale capital programs, including design and construction phases. • Demonstrated experience operating at a program or portfolio level, ideally in a client-facing leadership capacity. • Strong experience in advanced tech, mission critical and/or data center projects required, with an understanding of delivery, fast-track schedules, and commissioning requirements. • Expertise in Primavera P6 (required); experience with additional planning tools and data visualization platforms preferred. • Proven ability to lead teams within complex, matrixed environments and influence senior stakeholders. • Strong commercial awareness with the ability to connect schedule performance to cost, risk, and business outcomes. • Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present to executive audiences and translate complex data into clear insights. Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements. The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications. The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role. The compensation for the position is: $ 161,500.00 - $190,000.00 Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com . Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us. INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”

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