Global Leader, Engineering and Complex Real Estate Projects

Introduction

At IBM Finance & Operations, we are the backbone of IBM’s transformation driving efficiency, transparency, and smart decision-making across the business. Our teams provide the insight and discipline that guide strategy, ensure financial strength, and enable IBM to invest in innovation and growth. Working in Finance & Operations means combining analytical skills with collaboration and curiosity. You’ll partner with colleagues across functions and geographies, using data, technology, and process excellence to create solutions that improve performance and deliver measurable impact. IBM offers continuous learning, career development, and a culture that values diverse perspectives. Join us and be part of a global team that keeps IBM moving forward, while building your own future in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Your Role And Responsibilities

The Global Leader, Engineering and Complex Real Estate Projects is accountable for the engineering and delivery of highly complex industrial real estate developments across a global portfolio. This includes, but is not limited to, advanced manufacturing facilities, data centers, and quantum manufacturing, assembly, test, and production environments.

This role exists to ensure the organization delivers faster, more capital‑efficient, and technically superior facilities that enable successful operations from day one. The Global Lead will drive productivity through speed of construction, cost discipline, and engineering excellence—while operating as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders across Infrastructure, Research, and Quantum domains.

Success in this role requires the ability to articulate a compelling delivery vision, establish credibility through demonstrated technical expertise in construction and design, and lead execution through influence as much as authority.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering & Construction Leadership

• Lead end‑to‑end engineering and construction delivery for complex industrial projects from early concept through commissioning and operational handover.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for construction and design decisions, balancing speed, cost, risk, and long‑term operational performance.
• Ensure facilities meet stringent requirements for reliability, resilience, safety, maintainability, and lifecycle performance, particularly in mission‑critical and research‑driven environments.
  
  

Speed, Productivity, and Capital Efficiency

• Drive step‑change improvements in schedule performance, construction productivity, and capital efficiency across the portfolio.
• Establish and enforce disciplined approaches to estimating, cost control, change management, and delivery governance.
• Champion standardized designs, repeatable delivery models, and modern construction techniques including design‑build, modularization, prefabrication, and industrialized construction where advantageous.
  
  

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high‑performing organization of mechanical and electrical engineers, facility operations leaders, and senior construction managers.
• Set clear expectations, priorities, and accountabilities while empowering leaders to execute at speed.
• Build bench strength through coaching, mentoring, and intentional development of technical and leadership capabilities.
• Foster a culture of ownership, rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while maintaining high standards for safety and quality.
  
  

Stakeholder Leadership & Influence

• Motivate, influence, and lead execution alongside highly skilled and experienced stakeholders across Infrastructure, Research, and Quantum organizations.
• Translate complex technical and construction topics into clear, confident recommendations that enable rapid decision‑making.
• Instill trust and confidence through clarity of vision, consistency of delivery, and demonstrated domain expertise in construction and engineering.
• Act as a senior spokesperson with external partners including EPC firms, designers, contractors, utilities, regulators, and local authorities—particularly in New York State.
  
  

Global & Regional Accountability

• Maintain global responsibility for standards, delivery approaches, and performance, with a strong concentration on execution excellence in New York‑based developments.
• Navigate region‑specific regulatory, labor, and infrastructure constraints while maintaining global consistency in outcomes.
  
  

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• 15 years of progressive leadership experience in engineering, construction, or capital project delivery for industrial, mission‑critical, or highly complex facilities.
• Deep understanding of mechanical, electrical, and building systems critical to advanced manufacturing and high‑availability facilities.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering large‑scale, technically complex projects under aggressive schedule and budget constraints.
• Demonstrated success driving construction speed, productivity, and cost competitiveness at enterprise scale.
• Experience leading global or multi‑region portfolios; strong familiarity with New York–based industrial development.
• Executive presence with the ability to operate comfortably at C‑suite and board‑level discussions.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills.
• Clear, decisive leadership style with high accountability and bias for action.
  
  

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Strong command of construction delivery methods including design‑build, GMP, CM, EPC, and integrated project delivery.
• Ability to evaluate and manage technical risk while enabling rapid decision‑making.