Owner's Representative Data Center CM/PM

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Construction Manager/Project Manager to lead the ground-up construction and turnover of hyperscale data center facilities in Buffalo, NY. This position requires someone who has built large-scale, mission-critical data centers from the ground up and understands the entire construction lifecycle, from site development and foundations through MEP installation, energization, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and final turnover.

The project is operating on an aggressive delivery model, with the goal of completing and turning over a data center to the end user approximately every six months. This individual must be capable of owning major portions of the project with minimal oversight, proactively identifying schedule and construction risks, driving subcontractors, coordinating MEP activities, and keeping the project moving toward critical turnover milestones.

This is not an opportunity for someone looking to learn data center construction. We need a proven mission-critical construction professional who can step onto the project and immediately take ownership.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Manage ground-up hyperscale data center construction from sitework through final turnover.

• Own construction schedule, field execution, subcontractor performance, cost, quality, safety, and project documentation.

• Drive an aggressive approximately six-month build/turnover cadence while maintaining quality and safety expectations.

• Coordinate civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical, controls, fire protection, and low-voltage scopes.

• Manage installation and construction sequencing of major mission-critical infrastructure, including: -- Utility and medium-voltage electrical systems -- Switchgear and transformers -- UPS systems -- Generators and backup power -- PDUs and electrical distribution -- Chillers, cooling towers and/or air-cooled systems -- CRAH/CRAC systems -- Pumps, piping and mechanical distribution -- BMS/EPMS and controls -- Fire alarm and fire suppression systems

• Lead coordination between the owner, end user, general contractor, design teams, trade partners, vendors, commissioning teams, and utility stakeholders.

• Identify schedule constraints and long-lead equipment risks before they impact critical milestones.

• Drive subcontractors and vendors against short-interval schedules, look-ahead plans, and turnover dates.

• Oversee RFIs, submittals, change orders, design conflicts, procurement issues, punch lists, and field coordination.

• Support equipment startup, energization, commissioning, IST, deficiency resolution, and final client acceptance.

• Ensure construction documentation and turnover packages are complete and ready for the end user. Independently make field decisions and escalate only issues requiring executive/client involvement.

Skills and Requirements

• 10+ years of construction management/project management experience, ideally with 5 years dedicated specifically to mission-critical/data center construction.
• Proven experience delivering at least one ground-up hyperscale or large mission-critical data center project.
• Strong understanding of the full data center construction lifecycle from dirt through commissioning and turnover.
• Strong working knowledge of electrical and mechanical infrastructure supporting mission-critical facilities.
• Experience managing large general contractors, specialty contractors, MEP trades, equipment vendors, and commissioning teams.
• Experience with energization, equipment startup, commissioning, integrated systems testing, turnover, and client acceptance.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, schedules, submittals, RFIs, and MEP coordination documents.
• Comfortable operating in a high-speed construction environment with minimal oversight.
• Strong understanding of critical path scheduling and construction sequencing.
• Ability to anticipate problems, make decisions in the field, and drive issues through resolution without waiting for direction.
• Must be able to work on-site in Buffalo, NY M-F 40 hours

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].