Contract & Country Lead- Data Centers

Quark, the data center engineering and design company of Grupo Sener, is strengthening its presence in Portugal and is seeking a Contract & Country Lead to become the senior reference and visible face of Quark in the Portuguese market.

Quark has been involved in major Data Center projects in Portugal for over a decade, including landmark facilities such as Altice’s Covilhã Data Center, one of the largest in the country, as well as projects for Banco de Portugal and SIBS. In 2025, Quark formally established its subsidiary in Portugal, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market and supporting an expanding project portfolio in the country.

This role is designed for a senior professional with strong leadership credibility, capable of representing Quark at executive level, owning client relationships, leading contractual negotiations, managing risk, and building the foundations of a local team expected to grow to 10–15 professionals as projects evolve.

It is a strategic, high-visibility position, combining client leadership, contract ownership and people management in complex engineering and construction environments, particularly in Data Centers and mission-critical infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

1 Client Management

You will become the trusted senior point of contact between Quark and its clients in Portugal. Acting with institutional presence, you will represent Quark in front of developers, investors and key stakeholders, building credibility through clarity, judgement and consistency.

Working closely with Project Managers, you will help steer client relationships at executive and contractual level—anticipating concerns, aligning expectations and maintaining trust even in complex or high-pressure situations. Your role will be essential in navigating scope evolution, cost and schedule discussions, and moments of tension where calm leadership and experience make the difference.

2 Contract Management

You will take ownership of the contractual dimension of projects, ensuring that Quark’s interests are protected while maintaining strong, professional client relationships.

This includes leading negotiations, managing amendments, change orders and claims, and identifying contractual risks early—before they escalate. You will work closely with legal, project teams and senior management to balance contractual compliance with commercial pragmatism, bringing structure and foresight to complex situations.

3 Leadership & People Management

As Quark grows its presence in Portugal, this role will act as a leadership anchor for the local organization. You will support and mentor senior professionals involved in client and contractual discussions, helping them grow in confidence, ownership and judgement.

You will also play a key role in managing internal pressures arising from demanding clients, evolving scope or commercial stress—ensuring that teams remain focused, aligned and effective. Over time, you will contribute directly to the development and consolidation of a local team, expected to grow as Quark’s project portfolio expands.

4 Project Governance

You will maintain a high-level overview of client satisfaction, contractual exposure and risk across Quark’s Portuguese portfolio.

By detecting early signals of misalignment or potential disputes, you will act proactively—coordinating with PMO, legal, design, construction and executive leadership to ensure consistency, alignment and a strong institutional positioning towards clients.

5 Business Development Support (Desirable)

Thanks to your client insight and contractual expertise, you may also support strategic client positioning for repeat business in Portugal.

This can include participation in selected bids where contractual leadership and client strategy are critical, as well as representing Quark in executive-level meetings, negotiations and key presentations.

Requirements

We are looking for a senior professional with strong judgement, leadership presence and contractual awareness, who feels comfortable operating at the intersection of clients, contracts and project delivery.

You bring a solid foundation in engineering, typically with 10+ years of experience delivering complex engineering or construction projects in demanding environments. Over the years, you have developed first-hand experience managing contracts, negotiating with clients, and navigating situations where commercial, technical and organizational interests must be carefully balanced.

You are used to working with multidisciplinary teams, leading conversations under pressure and taking responsibility when decisions matter. Experience in Data Centers, mission-critical infrastructure or international projects will help you connect quickly with Quark’s project context, although the ability to learn and adapt in complex environments is equally important.

Languages are key in this role: Portuguese fluency is essential, as is a high level of English for international interaction. Spanish is considered an asset.

Above all, we are seeking someone who combines technical credibility, commercial awareness and calm leadership, and who sees this role not just as a position, but as an opportunity to shape and consolidate Quark’s long-term presence in Portugal.

What We Offer

• A strategic, highly visible role with real influence on Quark’s positioning and growth in Portugal.

• Participation in high-profile Data Center and mission-critical projects, within a rapidly expanding market.

• The opportunity to become the reference leader of Quark in Portugal, helping to build and consolidate a local team.

• Real autonomy in client, contractual and delivery decisions.

• Long-term career development within Sener Group, an international engineering and technology group with a strong track record.

• Competitive compensation package aligned with the seniority and responsibility of the role.