Traveling Superintendent

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Traveling Superintendent
Job Description

This Traveling Superintendent role oversees mission critical and data center construction projects across the United States, from preconstruction through commissioning and final turnover. You will lead field operations, coordinate complex MEP and critical systems installations, and ensure safe, high-quality execution in active and operational facilities. The position requires extensive travel, strong communication and leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders while maintaining schedule, safety, and operational reliability.

Responsibilities

• Participate in project kickoff meetings with project executives and teams to understand project goals, critical systems requirements, commissioning milestones, client expectations, and operational constraints.
• Host field kickoff meetings with trade partners, commissioning agents, vendors, and project managers to align on scope, schedule, and critical systems execution.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with trade partners and vendors, with a strong focus on critical systems installation, startup, testing, and turnover.
• Manage relationships between site teams, facility operators, client representatives, commissioning teams, and ownership groups to maintain alignment and clear communication.
• Participate in project closeout meetings and provide feedback on trade partner performance, quality, commissioning readiness, and turnover execution.
• Host trade partner gatherings for project closeout and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.
• Lead weekly on-site toolbox talks with all trade partners and document these meetings in Procore.
• Lead weekly on-site foremen meetings to review 3-week lookaheads, commissioning activities, constraints, shutdowns, and critical path items.
• Establish and manage site setup, ensuring consistent branding, safety signage, wayfinding, and PPE availability at all times.
• Oversee site logistics, material flow, equipment deliveries, and storage of long-lead mission critical equipment such as generators, switchgear, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling equipment, and prefabricated assemblies.
• Coordinate installation sequencing and access requirements for critical electrical and mechanical systems to support efficient and safe execution.
• Manage and coordinate construction activities within active data centers, mission critical environments, and operational facilities.
• Coordinate with the Warehouse team for site deliveries and train field staff on inventory systems when they are implemented.
• Manage, track, and complete punch lists, commissioning deficiencies, and turnover items through project closeout.
• Manage field tickets and on-site change order documentation, ensuring accuracy and timely processing.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and trade partners to fully vet field claims before approving tickets.
• Track and document impacts to critical path activities, commissioning schedules, and equipment delivery milestones.
• Review construction documents, drawings, specifications, and equipment submittals with a focus on critical systems and commissioning requirements.
• Review and maintain the superintendent binder in Procore and ensure all mission critical project documentation remains current.
• Collaborate with project managers to develop and maintain detailed construction schedules focused on MEP rough-in, equipment installation, startup, testing, and turnover milestones.
• Create and manage 3-week lookahead schedules in Outbuild to guide field activities and trade coordination.
• Monitor schedule performance and document schedule claims, delays, and recovery plans.
• Understand labor allocation, earned value, and production tracking in coordination with project managers to support project performance.
• Draft field RFIs and submit them to project managers for review and resolution.
• Lead field coordination efforts between mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, fire protection, and commissioning teams.
• Support commissioning activities including pre-functional testing, integrated systems testing, deficiency resolution, and final turnover.
• Maintain on-site safety oversight with guidance and support from the Safety Director.
• Ensure safety training, documentation, emergency response procedures, and mission critical operational protocols are implemented and followed on-site.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and operational reliability across all project activities.
• Manage and upload progress photos in Procore or Sway to document construction progress.
• Complete detailed daily logs in Procore to capture activities, manpower, and key events.
• Prepare and submit weekly field reports in Procore to keep stakeholders informed on progress, issues, and upcoming work.
• Track commissioning progress, turnover documentation, and key project milestones to ensure timely and successful completion.
• Travel to project sites nationwide and remain on-site for the full duration of each project.
• Mobilize quickly from the Chicago or home base as project needs require, including short-notice assignments and schedule changes.
• Mentor, coach, and support junior field staff, contributing to their development and maintaining consistency across traveling projects.
• Represent the company professionally in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts when needed.

• 5–15+ years of experience as a Superintendent with significant experience delivering mission critical, data center, high-tech, or complex MEP-intensive projects.
• Proven experience managing mission critical projects from preconstruction through commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness, including sitework, structural work, major MEP systems, and critical equipment installation.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating critical electrical infrastructure including switchgear, UPS systems, generators, PDUs, and associated distribution systems.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating critical mechanical infrastructure including cooling systems, chilled water systems, CRAH/CRAC units, controls, and building automation systems.
• Strong understanding of commissioning processes, startup procedures, integrated systems testing, turnover requirements, and outage management protocols within active mission critical environments.
• Experience working within active data centers or operational facilities with strict uptime requirements (preferred but highly relevant).
• Strong professional communication skills with clients, design teams, commissioning agents, trade partners, facility operators, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proactive problem-solving skills, including early identification of design, constructability, and coordination issues during preconstruction and active construction phases.
• Comfort leading field meetings, toolbox talks, and coordination sessions with multiple trades and stakeholders.
• Ability to work flexible schedules and weekends, along with extended stays away from home, to support project needs.
• Comfort using construction management technology platforms such as Procore and Sway for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Ability to create and manage 3-week lookaheads in Outbuild or similar scheduling tools.
• Strong organizational skills to manage documentation, schedules, field tickets, RFIs, and commissioning records on complex projects.
• Commitment to maintaining a strong safety culture and adherence to safety protocols on active and mission critical sites.

• Experience on projects of $1M+ in construction value.
• Experience supporting or leading projects across sectors such as workplace, amenity, retail, hospitality, healthcare, lab and life sciences, and education (a plus).
• Comfortable representing the company in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support junior field staff, contributing to a consistent traveling superintendent culture.
• No formal degree, software, or certification requirements; candidates without OSHA 30 will be sponsored to complete it.
• Interest in working within a collaborative, high-accountability environment that values empathy, integrity, perseverance, and curiosity.
• Willingness to contribute to continuous improvement by sharing lessons learned and feedback at project closeout.

This is a traveling role that supports small to mid-size data center and mission critical projects across the United States. You will spend extended periods on active job sites and remain on-site for the full duration of each project, with the ability to mobilize quickly from your home base as project needs require. The first assignment is anticipated to be in Kansas. Projects typically involve complex MEP-intensive work, critical electrical and mechanical infrastructure, and active data center or operational facility environments where uptime and operational reliability are essential. You will work closely with field teams, trade partners, commissioning agents, and client representatives in a fast-paced, schedule-driven setting that may require flexible hours, weekend work, and extended stays away from home. The environment emphasizes safety, with consistent use of PPE, clear safety signage, wayfinding, and adherence to mission critical operational protocols. The company culture is collaborative and people-focused, with team members who bring empathy, integrity, perseverance, and curiosity to complex, high-stakes projects. The organization has been recognized as a top workplace and is committed to doing what is right, asking questions, and continuously improving. Teams support a wide range of sectors and share a vision of delivering exceptional value while building an inclusive, innovative future for the construction industry.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $110000.00 - $200000.00/yr.

Travel Package: - $80 per diem per work day - pay for hotel and airfare - expense gas/essentials - offer company card as well Gold PPO Health Insurance 401k Plan Unlimited Flex PTO Commuter Benefits, Paid Family Leave Professional Development Volunteer Time Off

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 26, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.