Project Manager - Substation Construction | Data Centers (Richmond)

Project Manager – Substation Construction | Data Centers

Locations: Lancaster, PA & Richmond, VA – On-Site at Both Locations

Employment Type: Full-Time

Travel Requirements: Regular travel between Lancaster, PA and Richmond, VA

About the Company

Our client is a rapidly growing data center development and infrastructure investment firm specializing in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale, mission-critical facilities supporting hyperscale, cloud, AI, and high-performance computing customers.

With a growing portfolio of data center developments across the United States, the company is actively delivering complex, high-capacity facilities that require significant investments in power infrastructure, utility coordination, and large-scale construction.

The organization takes an active, hands-on approach to managing its developments, working closely with engineering teams, general contractors, utilities, and construction partners to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

As the company continues to expand its data center portfolio, it is building out its internal construction management team to support multiple large-scale developments, offering professionals the opportunity to take ownership of critical infrastructure projects and contribute directly to the company's continued growth.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the construction and installation of substations supporting large-scale data center developments in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia.

This is a highly visible, hands-on position supporting two active data center development sites. The Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing substation construction activities across both locations, ensuring that critical power infrastructure is delivered in alignment with each project's overall construction schedule.

This role requires regular travel between Lancaster, PA and Richmond, VA, with an on-site presence at both project locations. Candidates must be comfortable splitting their time between the two sites based on construction activities, project milestones, and operational priorities. This is not a fully remote or single-site position.

The Project Manager will oversee project execution from preconstruction and procurement through installation, testing, commissioning, energization, and turnover. This individual will coordinate civil and electrical contractors, engineering teams, equipment suppliers, utility representatives, and commissioning partners to ensure the successful delivery of safe, reliable power infrastructure.

The ideal candidate brings direct experience managing substation construction, strong commercial and technical knowledge, and the ability to coordinate complex field activities, long-lead equipment deliveries, and multiple project stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Construction Oversight

• Manage substation construction scope, budget, schedule, quality, and project risks from preconstruction through closeout across both data center developments.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, procurement schedules, construction milestones, and progress reports.
• Provide hands-on construction management and field oversight at both the Lancaster, PA and Richmond, VA project sites.
• Coordinate civil and structural work, including site preparation, foundations, equipment pads, duct banks, grounding grids, fencing, and associated infrastructure.
• Oversee the installation of major substation equipment, including power transformers, breakers, switches, buswork, protection and control systems, control enclosures, and associated cabling.
• Coordinate contractors, subcontractors, engineers, vendors, utilities, and the broader data center construction team.
• Support constructability reviews and resolve field conflicts with engineering and construction teams.

Procurement, Budget & Schedule Management

• Track long-lead equipment procurement, manufacturing milestones, delivery logistics, offloading, storage, and installation readiness.
• Review drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals, change orders, payment applications, and contractor progress reports.
• Manage project costs, forecasts, commitments, and changes; identify potential overruns and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor construction schedules and proactively address potential delays impacting substation delivery and overall data center development milestones.
• Maintain clear communication with leadership regarding schedule, budget, equipment status, project risks, and critical decisions.

Electrical Infrastructure, Commissioning & Energization

• Coordinate interfaces between the substation, utility interconnection, and downstream data center electrical distribution systems.
• Coordinate protection and controls, SCADA, communications, and utility interface requirements with the responsible technical teams.
• Manage construction readiness for testing and commissioning, including inspections, punch lists, documentation, and deficiency resolution.
• Coordinate energization milestones, required approvals, and outage or switching activities with authorized utility and commissioning personnel.
• Monitor contractor compliance with project safety requirements and coordinate safe execution around energized and de-energized electrical infrastructure.
• Oversee final turnover documentation, including as-built drawings, test reports, equipment records, warranties, and operating manuals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction project management experience, including direct responsibility for substation construction or major substation expansion projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing substation installation through testing, commissioning, and energization.
• Background with an electrical contractor, EPC firm, utility contractor, general contractor, or owner delivering power infrastructure.
• Working knowledge of substation civil, structural, electrical, grounding, protection and controls, and utility interconnection scopes.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, subcontractors, procurement, and change orders.
• Ability to interpret electrical one-line diagrams, construction drawings, equipment specifications, and project schedules.
• Experience coordinating long-lead electrical equipment and managing delivery impacts on construction sequencing.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and contractor management skills.
• Must be willing and able to travel regularly between Lancaster, PA and Richmond, VA and maintain an active on-site presence at both data center construction sites.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, construction schedules, and project stakeholders across multiple locations.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Preferred Experience

• Substation construction supporting hyperscale, colocation, or other mission-critical data center projects.
• Experience coordinating utility interconnections and energization milestones tied to phased facility delivery.
• Familiarity with transformer installation, high-voltage equipment, relay protection, SCADA integration, and electrical testing.
• Experience managing multiple construction projects or geographically separate job sites simultaneously.
• Experience using Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Procore, Bluebeam, or comparable project management tools.
• PMP certification or relevant construction safety training.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on, technically strong construction Project Manager who understands how substations are built and can effectively coordinate engineering, procurement, field construction, and commissioning activities across multiple active data center developments.

The successful candidate will be comfortable spending time in the field, traveling between project sites, anticipating construction challenges, and holding contractors and project partners accountable.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing data center development organization and play a critical role in delivering the electrical infrastructure necessary to bring significant new data center capacity online.