Data Center Development Manager

Position Overview

The Data Center Development Manager leads comprehensive development efforts of large-scale, mission-critical data centers from initial site acquisition through to complete facility commissioning and operational readiness. This role demands profound expertise in construction oversight, stakeholder coordination, and financial management of capital-intensive projects, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery of state-of-the-art data center infrastructure.

Primary Responsibilities

• Direct all phases of data center projects including concept initiation, permitting, design, procurement, construction, and final operational handover.
• Manage project budgets ranging between $100 million and over $1 billion, overseeing cost forecasting and financial reporting for executive stakeholders.
• Maintain project schedules and ensure key milestones are achieved throughout permitting, design, procurement, and building efforts.
• Lead cross-functional teams comprising architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and commissioning specialists.
• Supervise general contractors and construction managers to enforce compliance with contractual terms, quality requirements, and safety standards.
• Critically review and approve design documentation, RFIs, submittals, and change orders with emphasis on cost-effectiveness and schedule adherence.
• Conduct frequent site inspections and Organize Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings to identify and resolve on-site issues proactively.
• Develop procurement strategies to secure long-lead critical equipment such as switchgear, generators, UPS, cooling systems, and prefabricated modules.
• Collaborate with real estate and acquisition teams to perform due diligence on prospective greenfield and brownfield data center properties.
• Serve as the main liaison to internal departments including Operations, IT/Network Engineering, Finance, and Legal, managing stakeholder expectations and communication.
• Provide regular status reports, executive dashboards, risk assessments, and schedule updates to senior leadership.
• Establish and maintain strong vendor, contractor, and utility partner relationships to ensure reliable and competitive supply chains.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil or Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or closely related field.
• 8 to 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in construction management or development, including at least 4 years managing data center, mission-critical, or large-scale industrial/commercial projects.
• Proven experience handling construction projects with budgets exceeding $100 million.
• Comprehensive understanding of data center power distribution systems (medium-voltage to PDU), generator setups, cooling infrastructure (CRAH, chilled water, evaporative systems), and structured cabling systems.
• Demonstrated experience with design-build and design-bid-build project delivery approaches.
• Familiarity with project management software such as Procore, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and other scheduling/reporting platforms.
• Excellent negotiation abilities, communication skills, and stakeholder engagement capacity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline or an MBA.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or LEED accreditation.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, or wholesale data center construction projects.
• Knowledge of Uptime Institute Tier classifications and BICSI data center design standards.
• Track record of managing multiple data center development projects or programs across varied locations.

Core Competencies

• Decision Quality: Ability to make prompt, well-informed decisions under pressure within complex environments.
• Drive for Results: Maintains consistent achievement of project objectives and accountability.
• Technical Acumen: Deep knowledge of construction techniques, methods, and critical infrastructure engineering.
• Influence and Collaboration: Effectively builds consensus among diverse stakeholders without direct authority.
• Financial Stewardship: Responsible management of capital expenditure with emphasis on cost control.
• Risk Management: Proactively anticipates and mitigates project risks.