Senior Project Manager - Data Center Construction

Senior Project Manager - Data Center ConstructionSystem One is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to provide overall leadership for complex, fast-paced mission critical and data center construction projects. This position is accountable for project execution from preconstruction and mobilization through construction, commissioning support, turnover, and closeout while maintaining client's expectations for safety, quality, schedule, financial performance, communication, and client service.Key ResponsibilitiesProvide overall leadership and accountability for assigned mission critical and data center projects from preconstruction through final turnover and closeout.Set the project management strategy and establish expectations for execution, reporting, accountability, and decision-making across the project team.Maintain command of contract requirements, project scope, owner expectations, specifications, schedule, commercial obligations, and key project risks.Lead alignment between Project Management, Field Operations, Preconstruction, Safety, Quality, and Mission Critical leadership.Serve as a senior point of contact for owners, developers, design professionals, trade partners, vendors, and executive stakeholders.Lead major project meetings, executive updates, risk reviews, and recovery planning as required.Anticipate project risks and direct mitigation or recovery plans before impacts become material.Escalate significant issues early with clear recommendations, decision requirements, and ownership.Schedule ManagementParticipate in the development, maintenance, and execution of the project Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule.Work with the Superintendent, scheduling team, subcontractors, vendors, and project stakeholders to maintain realistic and executable schedules.Monitor critical and near-critical activities and identify potential schedule impacts before they become delays.Manage look-ahead planning, procurement milestones, design deliverables, inspections, energization, commissioning, and turnover activities.Evaluate schedule recovery plans when activities fall behind and drive agreed corrective actions to completion.Ensure schedule commitments made during project meetings are documented and followed through.Financial & Commercial ManagementMaintain overall accountability for project financial performance, margin protection, cash flow, and forecast accuracy.Review and approve project budgets, commitments, cost forecasts, projected final costs, contingency usage, and commercial risk exposure.Lead resolution of significant owner and subcontractor change orders, claims, scope disputes, and commercial negotiations.Ensure the project management team maintains timely and accurate cost-to-complete forecasts, owner billings, subcontractor payments, and change documentation.Identify emerging financial risks early and implement corrective actions to protect project and company performance.Protect client's contractual and financial interests while maintaining strong client and trade partner relationships.Procurement & Trade Partner ManagementEstablish and oversee the project procurement strategy with emphasis on long-lead mission critical equipment and schedule-sensitive scopes.Review major bid packages, scope leveling, subcontractor selection recommendations, and procurement decisions.Ensure the project team actively tracks submittals, approvals, fabrication, shipping, delivery, installation, startup, and commissioning milestones.Hold subcontractors accountable for contractual scope, schedule, quality, safety, manpower, and commercial commitments.Lead resolution of significant trade partner performance issues, scope gaps, and coordination conflicts.Ensure subcontractor expectations are clearly established before mobilization and maintained throughout execution.Design & Technical CoordinationCoordinate with owners, architects, engineers, commissioning agents, utilities, vendors, and subcontractors to resolve design and constructability issues.Manage RFIs, submittals, design clarifications, drawing revisions, and field changes.Evaluate design changes for potential schedule, procurement, quality, and cost impacts.Participate in design reviews, constructability reviews, pull planning, coordination meetings, and lessons-learned sessions.Maintain disciplined document control so project teams are building from current and approved information.Support BIM/VDC coordination and clash-resolution activities where applicable.Safety & QualityDemonstrate visible leadership supporting client expectations for safe, high-quality execution.Partner with field leadership and safety personnel to maintain a proactive safety culture and reinforce Stop Work Authority.Participate in preconstruction safety planning, project safety meetings, audits, and corrective-action processes.Support development and implementation of project-specific quality control plans, first-work inspections, testing, deficiency management, and punch-list activities.Ensure subcontractors meet client and project-specific safety and quality requirements.Promote a build-it-right-the-first-time approach and drive root-cause resolution of recurring issues.Commissioning & TurnoverIncorporate commissioning and turnover requirements into project planning from the beginning of the project.Coordinate with commissioning agents, vendors, subcontractors, and field teams regarding startup, testing, documentation, and turnover requirements.Track prerequisites for energization, equipment startup, functional testing, and Integrated Systems Testing (IST).Maintain closeout documentation throughout construction rather than waiting until project completion.Drive completion of punch lists, as-builts, O&M manuals, training documentation, warranties, and final turnover packages.People Leadership & Team DevelopmentDirectly manage and provide day-to-day leadership to Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other assigned project staff.Set clear roles, responsibilities, priorities, and performance expectations for project management personnel.Delegate work at the appropriate level while maintaining accountability for quality, timeliness, and results.Coach and mentor project staff in project controls, client management, commercial judgment, communication, and leadership.Conduct regular one-on-one discussions, performance feedback, and development planning with assigned team members.Identify staffing needs, workload imbalances, skill gaps, and succession opportunities and coordinate solutions with Mission Critical leadership.Create a project culture where team members raise issues early, take ownership, collaborate across functions, and follow through on commitments.Support recruiting, onboarding, development, and retention of high-performing mission critical project personnel.Mission Critical SystemsThe Senior Project Manager should possess working knowledge of mission critical infrastructure and understand the sequencing and coordination associated with systems including:Medium- and low-voltage electrical distributionUtility and substation interfacesTransformers and switchgearGenerators and standby power systemsUPS systemsBusway and power distributionMechanical and electrical equipmentCooling systemsBuilding automation and controlsFire alarm and life-safety systemsSecurity and low-voltage systemsFuel systemsEquipment startup and energizationIntegrated Systems Testing (IST)Commissioning and turnoverThe Senior Project Manager is not expected to personally engineer these systems but must understand their interfaces, dependencies, procurement requirements, installation sequencing, testing requirements, and effect on the overall project schedule and turnover strategy.Project Controls & ReportingOverall project statusCPM schedule performance and milestone achievementCritical and near-critical activitiesProcurement statusRFI and submittal statusChange managementBudget, forecast, and cash flowSafety and quality performanceStaffing and manpowerCommissioning and turnover readinessKey risks, mitigation actions, and client decisions requiredPerformance and development of project management staffExecutive-level risks, decisions, and recovery strategiesProject reporting should allow leadership to understand where the project stands, where it is going, and where intervention may be needed without surprises.Minimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or related field preferred; or 15 years of relevant construction experience in lieu of a degree.10+ years of commercial, industrial, mission critical,