Construction Project Manager - Data Center

Job Title: Project Manager - Data Center Construction Location: Hardeman County, TX Type: Direct Hire Schedule: Onsite - Per Diem System One is seeking an experienced, Project Manager to lead the successful execution of complex, fast-paced mission critical and data center construction projects. This position is responsible for managing projects from preconstruction and mobilization through construction, commissioning support, turnover, and closeout while maintaining client expectations for safety, quality, schedule, cost control, communication, and client service. The Project Manager serves as a primary point of coordination between the Owner, design team, trade partners, vendors, field leadership, and management. The ideal candidate understands that mission critical construction requires disciplined planning, exceptional documentation, rapid problem solving, schedule accountability, and proactive communication. This is not a remote, work-from-home position. Projects may be located in remote areas of West Texas and other markets, and the successful candidate must be willing and able to maintain a consistent presence where the work is happening. This individual must be comfortable operating in an environment where project conditions evolve quickly and where problems are identified early, communicated clearly, and driven to resolution before they affect the project. Key Responsibilities Project Leadership & Execution Manage assigned mission critical and data center projects from preconstruction and mobilization through construction, commissioning support, turnover, and closeout. Develop a thorough understanding of contract documents, project scope, owner requirements, specifications, schedule, and commercial obligations. Establish and maintain project execution plans, responsibility matrices, communication protocols, and project controls. Coordinate closely with the Superintendent and field leadership to align project management and field execution. Lead project meetings and ensure decisions, commitments, action items, responsible parties, and due dates are clearly documented and tracked. Maintain strong working relationships with clients, design professionals, trade partners, vendors, authorities having jurisdiction, and other project stakeholders. Identify project risks early and develop practical mitigation plans before they affect safety, quality, schedule, or cost. Escalate significant issues early and provide recommended solutions rather than simply identifying problems. Schedule Management Participate 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 Management Maintain responsibility for assigned project financial performance and accurate forecasting. Develop and manage project budgets, commitments, cost forecasts, change management, and projected final costs. Review subcontractor and vendor proposals for completeness, scope alignment, and commercial reasonableness. Prepare, negotiate, document, and manage owner and subcontractor change orders. Maintain accurate cost-to-complete forecasts and identify financial risks early. Review subcontractor applications for payment and support preparation of owner billing. Monitor contingency usage, allowances, procurement exposure, cash flow, and unresolved commercial issues. Protect client's contractual and financial interests while maintaining professional relationships with clients and trade partners. Procurement & Trade Partner Management Develop and maintain procurement logs identifying long-lead materials and equipment, submittal requirements, release dates, fabrication durations, and required-on-site dates. Coordinate procurement of critical mission critical equipment and infrastructure. Track submittals, approvals, fabrication, shipping, delivery, installation, startup, and commissioning milestones. Manage subcontractor performance against contractual scope, schedule, quality, safety, manpower, and documentation requirements. Identify scope gaps and coordination conflicts before subcontract award whenever possible. Ensure subcontractors understand project-specific expectations before mobilization. Design & Technical Coordination Coordinate 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 & Quality Demonstrate 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 & Turnover Incorporate 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 Development Provide day-to-day direction and task coordination to Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and project administrative staff assigned to the project. Clearly communicate priorities, deadlines, and expectations and follow through on assigned commitments. Support the development of less-experienced team members through coaching, knowledge sharing, and constructive feedback. Collaborate with the Senior Project Manager and Mission Critical leadership on staffing needs, workload, and team performance. Mission Critical Systems The Project Manager would need to possess working knowledge of mission critical infrastructure and understand the sequencing and coordination associated with systems including: Medium- and low-voltage electrical distribution Utility and substation interfaces Transformers and switchgear Generators and standby power systems UPS systems Busway and power distribution Mechanical and electrical equipment Cooling systems Building automation and controls Fire alarm and life-safety systems Security and low-voltage systems Fuel systems Equipment startup and energization Integrated Systems Testing (IST) Commissioning and turnover The 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 & Reporting Overall project status CPM schedule performance and milestone achievement Critical and near-critical activities Procurement status RFI and submittal status Change management Budget, forecast, and cash flow Safety and quality performance Staffing and manpower Commissioning and turnover readiness Key risks, mitigation actions, and client decisions required Project reporting should allow leadership to understand where the project stands, where it is going, and where intervention may be needed without surprises. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field preferred; or 8 years of equivalent construction experience in lieu of a degree. 5+ years of commercial, industrial, mission critical, or technically complex construction experience. Previous Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, Project Engineer, or similar project-management experience with increasing responsibility. Demonstrated experience managing subcontractors, project controls, and multiple project stakeholders. Strong knowledge of construction drawings, specifications, contracts, RFIs, submittals, change orders, procurement, and project closeout. Working knowledge of construction scheduling and CPM principles. Strong understanding of project financial management and cost forecasting. Strong written and verbal communication, organization, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency with standard construction-management software and Microsoft Office applications. Ability to travel to and work from project sites as required. Preferred Qualifications Direct experience with data centers, mission critical facilities, substations, electrical infrastructure, industrial facilities, or other high-reliability environments. Experience managing projects in excess of $50 million. Experience with fast-track and design-assist/design-build delivery methods. Experience with Procore, Bluebeam, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or comparable platforms. Familiarity with BIM/VDC coordination. Experience with commissioning, equipment energization, and Integrated Systems Testing. OSHA 10 or 30 certification. What Success Looks Like Own the outcome. Take responsibility for results rather than waiting for someone else to solve problems. Communicate early. Bad news does not improve with age. Bring solutions. When escalating an issue, provide a recommended path forward whenever possible. Know the details. Maintain command of the contract, schedule, cost, procurement, risks, and major project commitments. Plan ahead. Mission critical projects are won or lost weeks and months before work reaches the field. Support field execution. Project Management and Field Operations operate as one project team. Protect relationships. Treat clients, designers, subcontractors, and vendors professionally while protecting client's interests. Hold people accountable. Commitments must have an owner and a completion date. Maintain urgency without creating chaos. No surprises. Never surprise the client or leadership with an issue that could have been communicated earlier. Physical & Travel Requirements Ability to regularly work in active construction environments. Ability to walk project sites, climb stairs, and access construction areas as required. Ability to work in varying weather and site conditions. Travel and/or temporary assignment to project locations throughout Texas and other markets may be required. Some projects may require extended on-site presence based on project needs. Our client offers the opportunity to join a growing mission critical construction team with strong executive support and significant opportunities for professional growth. Competitive compensation Excellent employee benefits A collaborative and experienced leadership team The opportunity to lead major data center construction projects A culture built around accountability, integrity, teamwork, and execution Opportunities to help shape and grow our mission critical business System One is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé, ALTA IT Services, CM Access, TPGS, and MOUNTAIN, LTD., are leaders in delivering workforce solutions and integrated services across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan. System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. System One, and its subsidiaries including Joulé, ALTA IT Services, CM Access, TPGS, and MOUNTAIN, LTD., are leaders in delivering workforce solutions and integrated services across North America. We help clients get work done more efficiently and economically, without compromising quality. System One not only serves as a valued partner for our clients, but we offer eligible full-time employees health and welfare benefits coverage options including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, life insurance, voluntary plans, as well as participation in a 401(k) plan. System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr System One