The Senior Project Manager, Construction & Development leads data center construction projects with an emphasis on mission-critical MEP systems. This role is responsible for project delivery from planning and permitting through construction, commissioning, turnover, and closeout, including management of scope, budget, schedule, quality, safety, risk, and contractor performance.
Responsibilities: - Support planning and permitting of major projects.
- Collaborate with Procurement to develop and issue RFPs for General Contractors.
- Prepare capital expenditure presentations for Director review.
- Negotiate contracts with Commissioning Agents (CxA), third-party testing vendors, General Contractors, and Subcontractors.
- Manage and maintain project budgets, forecasts, cost controls, and weekly updates for Director review.
- Lead the construction and development of major projects from inception through commissioning, turnover, and closeout.
- Assist Project Development teams with utility coordination efforts.
- Lead or participate in Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC), Low Voltage (LV), and Owner-Furnished, Contractor-Installed (OFCI) meetings.
- Implement recycling, sustainability, and other construction programs in accordance with project requirements.
- Oversee the documentation lifecycle for design-build projects and manage technical, contractual, and procurement requirements throughout execution.
- Conduct weekly project status meetings and prepare detailed reports covering scope, budget, schedule, risks, decisions, and action items.
- Oversee engineers, owner's project managers, subcontractors, and vendors during pre-construction, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
- Monitor project schedules, safety performance, quality controls, change orders, and contractor performance; resolve issues and escalate material risks with recommendations.
- Coordinate across Development, Design, Engineering, Procurement, Commissioning, Operations, Finance, Legal, and external partners to support timely project delivery.
- Provide guidance and technical support to project team members and external resources as assigned.
Qualifications:- 7 + years of experience in mission-critical data center development, general construction, or heavy MEP systems construction.
- Experience leading construction project teams, including third-party owner's project managers, subcontractors, and General Contractors, with accountability for scope, schedule, and execution.
- Strong ability to manage project finances, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, commitments, contingencies, and change orders.
- Experience negotiating construction, procurement, and labor contracts.
- Ability to monitor and enforce project schedules, safety requirements, and quality controls.
- Hands-on approach and willingness to engage in daily project challenges and problem-solving.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present project status, risks, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and disciplines, including internal teams, vendors, contractors, public officials, and external partners.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and Procore.
- Ability to work regularly at active construction sites in the Chicago area and travel up to 25% to project sites and key locations.
Preferred Qualifications: - Experience in at least two construction disciplines, such as General Contracting, Owner's Representation, Commercial Development, Engineering and Design, or similar roles.
- Experience with multi-megawatt data center construction and large-scale infrastructure projects, including phased fit-out projects.
- Experience with commissioning and the transition from construction to operational readiness.
- Familiarity with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar scheduling software.
- Experience managing multiple high-volume projects simultaneously, including projects with interdependent milestones.
- Experience managing concurrent projects across multiple sites.
- Demonstrated success communicating project requirements to senior management, vendors, and public officials.
- Experience coaching project team members or improving construction delivery standards and processes.
Education/Certifications: - Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or similar credential preferred.
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