Associate Program Manager - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend$100K — $130K *
Real Estate & Construction
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3 to 5 years of relevant experience without a degree requirement.
  • Preferred candidates near San Francisco who can work in-office part-time, though remote candidates are considered.
  • Experience in program or project coordination is preferred.
  • Comfort with operating in a fast-moving, low-information environment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for client interactions and updates.
  • Basic understanding or willingness to learn about data center construction and its requirements.
  • Ability to manage multiple workstreams and adapt priorities with limited information.

Responsibilities

  • Track and follow up on action items for all meetings, ensuring closure and escalation when needed.
  • Manage and update the risk log for each site, following through on findings until resolved.
  • Create and share meeting agendas, keeping calls focused and issuing recap notes promptly.
  • Monitor deliverables from consultants and developers, proactively chasing upcoming deadlines.
  • Act as a deal backstop, staying informed on all ongoing issues and next steps during deal calls.
  • Maintain clear and accurate communication channels and trackers for easy access by all stakeholders.
  • Draft initial client reports and status updates for Program Manager review and editing.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including potential bonuses.
  • Work in a collaborative environment focused on data center development.
  • Career growth opportunities leading to program management roles.
  • Flexible working arrangements with a possibility of remote work.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Turner & Townsend is seeking an Associate Program Manager to support pre-lease technical due diligence for a confidential hyperscale data center client. You will work under a Program Manager to keep a portfolio of live deals organized, on track, and moving, while building toward ownership of your own deals.

This is an execution and organization role that builds into program management. You will own the tracking, follow-up, and day-to-day structure across every deal you support, sit in on every deal call as the account's backstop, and progressively take on direct ownership of workstreams and sites as you demonstrate the judgment to run them. Deals move on short exclusivity windows and incomplete information. We are looking for people who bring order to that rather than waiting for it to settle.

Prior program or project coordination experience is expected. Data center, real estate, or construction exposure is a plus but not required. This is not an executive assistant role and not a purely administrative function. It is the operational backbone of the diligence process, and a defined path into full program management.

This role reports to a Program Manager and is based in San Francisco, with other locations and remote considered for the right candidate.

Responsibilities
  • Tracking and follow-up: Own the action item log across every meeting on your accounts. Assign owners, chase status, and close items out, escalating anything that stalls.
  • Risk log management: Keep the risk register current for every site in your portfolio. Log new findings, confirm each has an owner and a next step, and follow up until closed.
  • Meeting management: Build and distribute the agenda ahead of every standing call, keep it on track, and issue a recap and minutes the same day.
  • Deliverable tracking: Track what is due from consultants and developers across every workstream, and chase it before it is late, not after.
  • Deal awareness and backstop: Participate in every deal call across your portfolio. Serve as the backstop for each deal, whether you own it or not: know what is happening, what the open issues and risks are, and what needs to happen next. Backstop means knowing it and flagging it, not making the final call on it.
  • Communication and systems: Keep the shared trackers and communication channels clean, concise, and accurate so the Program Manager, the client, and other account partners can find what they need without asking you first.
  • Client and reporting support: Draft the first pass of client reports and status updates for the Program Manager to edit, so they are reacting to a draft, not starting from a blank page.
  • Process and tools: Build and maintain the checklists and templates the account runs on, and improve them yourself when you find a gap.
  • Deal ownership: As you ramp, take direct ownership of full workstreams or lower-complexity sites end to end, bringing judgment calls to the Program Manager until you have earned the room to make more of them yourself.
  • Escalation: Raise anything that looks wrong the same day it surfaces. Do not sit on an open question hoping it resolves itself.

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Qualifications

  • Minimum 3 to 5 years of relevant experience. A degree is not required.
  • Prefer candidates that are located in/near San Francisco, CA that can come to the office 2 to 3 days a week but will consider remote for the right candidates.
  • Program or project coordination experience preferred. Data center, real estate, or construction backgrounds are a plus.
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, low-information environment, with the organizational instinct to bring structure to it.
  • Strong written and verbal communication, with the polish to represent the account directly to clients and developer counterparties.
  • A working understanding of, or willingness to quickly learn, what a data center is and how one gets built, including power, cooling, and long lead equipment.
  • Enough command of program tracking and risk management to keep a portfolio organized without oversight.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and reprioritize with incomplete information.
  • A self starter who takes initiative, adapts quickly, and does not wait for a playbook.
  • Technologically proficient, including MS Suite and Google Workspace. Comfort building and maintaining tracking tools is an advantage.
  • Be able to understand and follow site HSSE policies.


Project/Program Specifications
  • Market sector experience: Data center development, mission critical facilities, or complex technical and hyperscale buildings preferred, not required.
  • Program specific responsibilities: Tracking, follow-up, meeting management, and risk log ownership across a portfolio of concurrent sites, building toward direct site ownership.
  • Software specific requirements: MS Suite and Google Workspace. General technological proficiency expected.
  • Travel: Minimal, approximately [TBD] days per month.


Additional Information

The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $130,000. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the base salary for this position at the time of the posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs.

About Turner & Townsend

Turner & Townsend Careers

Joining Turner & Townsend offers a unique opportunity to contribute to some of the most exciting projects worldwide. As a global leader in professional services, Turner & Townsend is at the forefront of transforming the industry through expertise, innovation, and leadership.

Explore Job Opportunities

Turner & Townsend is constantly seeking skilled professionals eager to drive innovation and lead industry standards. With a variety of job opportunities available, candidates can find positions that match their skills and career aspirations. Explore employment options that span across critical sectors such as construction, project management, and consultancy.

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Turner & Townsend is committed to the professional growth and continuous development of its team members. The company supports career advancement through robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, ensuring every team member has the tools and knowledge to succeed.

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For those starting their career journey, Turner & Townsend offers internship programs that provide a rich learning environment. Interns gain hands-on experience, working alongside seasoned professionals and contributing to impactful projects. These internships are a gateway to full-time employment and a flourishing career within the company.

Cultivating a Diverse and Inclusive Culture

Turner & Townsend prides itself on fostering an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated. The company believes that a diverse workforce enhances creativity and drives innovation. Employees from various backgrounds are encouraged to share their unique perspectives, promoting a collaborative and supportive workplace.

Benefits and Employee Wellbeing

Understanding the importance of a work-life balance, Turner & Townsend offers comprehensive benefits designed to support the wellbeing of its team. Benefits include health care, flexible working conditions, and competitive retirement plans, all aimed at enhancing the quality of life for employees.

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Turner & Townsend is hiring! Search open positions that align with your professional skills and interests. The company is looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and get ready to join a team where your contributions will be valued and your career will flourish.

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