Project Manager - Data Center HVAC Systems

Job Title : Project Manager - Data Center HVAC Systems
Job Location : Richmond VA / Hybrid
FLSA Status : Exempt
Salary Range : $100-150k annually

About AIR:
AIR Control Concepts is a leading commercial HVAC platform comprised of more than 55 operating companies across North America and Europe. Through our family of best-in-class businesses, we provide engineered solutions, HVAC equipment, controls, service, building automation, and lifecycle support to customers across commercial, healthcare, industrial, education, data center, and institutional markets.

Backed by Blackstone, AIR is one of the fastest-growing HVAC platforms in North America, driven by both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. As we continue to expand, safety remains one of our core values and a critical component of our operational excellence.

Position Summary:
AIR Control Concepts is seeking an experienced Project Manager to support the delivery of HVAC and mission-critical mechanical equipment for data center projects throughout the United States.

This position will serve as the primary day-to-day contact for assigned projects, coordinating among customers, manufacturers, engineers, contractors, internal departments, and field-service teams. The Project Manager will oversee projects from order entry and submittal development through manufacturing, delivery, startup, commissioning, warranty, and closeout.

The ideal candidate has experience managing technically complex equipment or construction projects, communicates confidently with both technical and nontechnical stakeholders, and can maintain control of multiple fast-paced projects with changing requirements and aggressive schedules.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Serve as the lead Project Manager and primary point of contact for assigned data center projects, campuses, or equipment packages.
• Manage the project lifecycle from order acceptance through engineering review, manufacturing, delivery, startup, commissioning, warranty, and closeout.
• Coordinate HVAC and mechanical equipment packages such as coolant distribution units, CRAH units, DOAS equipment, thermal energy storage tanks, heat pumps, chillers, and related systems.
• Review project specifications, equipment schedules, drawings, submittals, purchase orders, and customer requirements for alignment.
• Coordinate technical questions and submittal comments with manufacturers, consulting engineers, contractors, and customer engineering teams.
• Track equipment production, milestone dates, delivery commitments, serial numbers, purchase-order allocations, and warehouse or jobsite destinations.
• Proactively identify schedule risks, scope gaps, conflicting requirements, and potential customer-impacting issues.
• Maintain clear action-item, issue, and decision tracking while ensuring responsible parties and required completion dates are established.
• Coordinate factory support, site inspections, startup activities, commissioning requirements, warranty service, and field corrective work.
• Support commercial coordination by identifying scope changes, additional service requirements, and potential change-order opportunities.
• Maintain accurate project records, customer-facing documentation, status reports, and internal system data.
• Lead recurring project meetings and provide concise updates regarding schedule, risk, open issues, and required decisions.
• Collaborate with sales, engineering, operations, logistics, accounting, service, and executive leadership.
• Understand and communicate the appropriate boundaries among manufacturer requirements, installing-contractor responsibilities, engineer-of-record decisions, and owner acceptance.
• Support continuous improvement of project-management standards, documentation, reporting, and customer experience.
• Travel periodically to customer sites, manufacturing facilities, project meetings, and commissioning activities throughout the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five or more years of project-management experience in HVAC, mechanical equipment, commercial construction, manufacturing, or a related technical industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects, customer commitments, and competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with customers, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and senior leadership.
• Ability to review and interpret mechanical schedules, equipment submittals, specifications, drawings, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational skills and disciplined follow-through.
• Ability to identify risks, establish ownership, escalate appropriately, and drive issues to resolution.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and project-tracking or construction-management platforms.
• Willingness and ability to travel nationwide as project requirements dictate.
• Experience supporting data centers, mission-critical facilities, or other high-availability environments.
• Experience working for an HVAC manufacturers’ representative, equipment manufacturer, mechanical contractor, or consulting engineering firm.
• Familiarity with hydronic systems, cooling equipment, controls, equipment startup, commissioning, and warranty processes.
• Experience managing owner-furnished, contractor-installed equipment.
• Experience coordinating equipment production, logistics, site delivery, commissioning, and aftermarket support.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• PMP, CAPM, or comparable project-management certification.

Success in This Role:
The successful Project Manager will establish confidence with customers, maintain command of project details, communicate risks early, and ensure commitments are clearly documented and actively managed. This person will be comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where technical requirements, construction schedules, and customer priorities may evolve throughout the project.

Opportunity to Stand Out:

• The opportunity to support nationally significant data center infrastructure projects.
• Exposure to advanced HVAC and liquid-cooling technologies.
• A collaborative role working directly with customers, manufacturers, engineers, contractors, and field-service teams.
• Opportunities for professional development and advancement within a growing strategic-accounts organization.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.

Benefits:
We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health & Wellness – Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage to support your well-being.
• Financial Security – 401(k) retirement plan with company match and short/long-term disability coverage.
• Work-Life Balance – Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and an employee assistance program (EAP).
• Professional Development – Ongoing training opportunities and support for continuing education.

The Company provides equal employment opportunity in accordance with applicable laws and prohibits discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on business needs and qualifications.   
The Company complies with disability laws and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals.