MEP Project Manager

Travelling MEP Project Manager – Data Center Construction

Position Summary:

The MEP Project Manager is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, execution, and financial performance of all Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection, and speciality building systems on mission-critical data center construction projects. This role serves as the primary management liaison between the owner, design consultants, subcontractors, commissioning teams, and internal project leadership to ensure successful delivery of complex MEP systems.

The MEP Project Manager oversees project budgets, procurement, contract administration, scheduling, quality assurance, commissioning readiness, and client communication while partnering closely with the Project Executive, General Superintendent, MEP Superintendent, and Preconstruction teams.

This position requires extensive travel to project sites throughout the United States.

Primary Responsibilities:

Project Leadership:

• Lead all MEP aspects of hyperscale data center construction projects from preconstruction through owner turnover.
• Develop and execute project-specific MEP management plans.
• Coordinate engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout activities.
• Serve as the primary management contact for all MEP-related project issues.
• Ensure project goals for safety, quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction are achieved.

Financial Management:

• Develop and manage MEP project budgets.
• Track cost forecasts, commitments, and expenditures.
• Review subcontractor invoices and payment applications.
• Prepare monthly cost reports and financial projections.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining project quality.
• Evaluate change orders and negotiate pricing with subcontractors.
• Monitor productivity trends and forecast financial risk.

Procurement & Contract Management:

• Manage procurement of major MEP equipment, including:
• Switchgear
• UPS systems
• Generators
• Chillers
• Cooling towers
• CRAH/CRAC units
• Transformers
• Bus duct
• Fire protection equipment
• Review subcontract agreements and ensure scope completeness.
• Coordinate long-lead equipment procurement to support project schedules.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, and contract documentation.
• Resolve scope gaps and trade coordination issues before installation.

Schedule Management:

• Develop and maintain detailed MEP project schedules.
• Coordinate procurement milestones with construction activities.
• Monitor critical path activities and identify schedule risks.
• Participate in pull-planning sessions and Lean Construction initiatives.
• Develop recovery plans when milestones are at risk.
• Coordinate commissioning activities with owner turnover schedules.

Design Coordination:

• Review design documents for constructability.
• Participate in BIM coordination and clash detection meetings.
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, and trade partners to resolve design conflicts.
• Ensure design revisions are incorporated into construction activities.
• Coordinate value engineering opportunities with project stakeholders.

Subcontractor Management:

• Lead MEP subcontractor coordination meetings.
• Monitor subcontractor performance, manpower, productivity, and safety.
• Evaluate subcontractor schedules and staffing plans.
• Resolve disputes and field coordination challenges.
• Promote collaboration among all project partners.

Client Management:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for owners regarding MEP progress.
• Prepare executive-level project status reports.
• Present schedule updates, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.
• Build long-term client relationships through proactive communication and reliable execution.
• Manage owner expectations regarding scope, schedule, and budget.

Risk Management:

• Identify technical, financial, and schedule-related risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies before risks impact project delivery.
• Monitor long-lead procurement, supply chain challenges, and labor availability.
• Coordinate contingency planning for critical equipment and schedule recovery.

Quality Management:

• Ensure compliance with project specifications, contract documents, and applicable codes.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control programs.
• Review inspection reports and corrective action plans.
• Support pre-functional testing and commissioning readiness.
• Ensure all documentation required for turnover is complete and accurate.

Commissioning & Turnover:

• Coordinate all commissioning activities with commissioning agents and owner representatives.
• Monitor equipment startup schedules and testing procedures.
• Track commissioning deficiencies through resolution.
• Manage turnover documentation, O&M manuals, as-built drawings, and training.
• Ensure systems are fully operational prior to substantial completion.

Leadership Expectations:

Successful candidates demonstrate:

• Strategic thinking
• Strong financial acumen
• Exceptional communication skills
• Collaborative leadership
• Client-focused decision making
• Ownership mentality
• Ability to prioritize competing demands
• Effective conflict resolution
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• Strong mentoring and coaching abilities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8–15+ years of commercial construction experience.
• 5+ years managing MEP scopes on large commercial or industrial projects.
• Experience with mission-critical facilities, including:
• Hyperscale data centers
• Healthcare
• Semiconductor
• Advanced manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical
• Industrial facilities
• Thorough understanding of:
• Electrical distribution systems
• Medium-voltage infrastructure
• UPS systems
• Standby generation
• Chilled water systems
• HVAC and cooling systems
• Building Automation Systems (BAS)
• Fire protection systems
• Commissioning processes
• Integrated systems testing

Technical Skills:

• Project scheduling (Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project)
• Budget forecasting and cost control
• Procurement management
• Contract administration
• Procore
• Autodesk Construction Cloud
• Bluebeam Revu
• BIM/VDC coordination
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Construction document management

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel nationwide to active project sites.
• Willingness to relocate temporarily based on project assignments.
• Flexibility to support extended work hours during critical project milestones.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

The MEP Project Manager is measured by:

• Safety performance
• Schedule adherence
• Budget performance
• Change order management
• Procurement execution
• Commissioning readiness
• Client satisfaction
• Quality metrics
• Successful project turnover
• Team leadership and development

What Success Looks Like:

A successful MEP Project Manager consistently delivers highly complex data center projects that are completed safely, on time, within budget, and fully commissioned. They anticipate risks before they become problems, foster strong relationships with owners and trade partners, maintain financial discipline, and ensure seamless coordination between design, construction, and commissioning teams. Their leadership contributes to repeat business, operational excellence, and the successful delivery of mission-critical facilities that meet the highest standards of reliability and performance.