Data Center Construction Senior MEP Manager

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior Owner’s Representative and primary technical authority, setting the standard for MEP execution across all phases of mission-critical data center construction.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate Owner risk by holding contractors accountable to construction documents and enforcing rigorous compliance standards throughout project execution.
• Lead cross-functional stakeholder engagement at the program level, driving rapid resolution of complex technical and logistical issues across Owner, GC, subcontractor, and design teams.
• Provide executive-level oversight of MEP construction activities, including master schedule management, critical path analysis, material procurement, and senior reporting to Owner leadership.
• Champion site safety culture, ensuring full integration and enforcement of the site safety plan across all MEP trades and subcontractors.
• Direct all commissioning phases in close partnership with the CxA, providing senior technical leadership from pre-functional testing through integrated systems testing and Tier-level certification.
• Establish and enforce QA/QC frameworks across all Cx levels, leveraging internal engineering resources and external specialists to ensure systems meet design intent and Owner requirements.
• Hold the General Contractor accountable to program milestones, providing strategic direction and escalation management to maintain schedule integrity across all MEP scopes.
• Lead MEP change order review and negotiation, providing senior-level analysis to validate scope alignment, cost reasonableness, and schedule impact relative to project documents.
• Serve as the senior technical liaison between OFCI vendors, contractors, and design teams, resolving complex coordination challenges and ensuring consistent alignment with project requirements.
• Lead comprehensive review and approval of MEP submittals, shop drawings, and RFIs, leveraging deep systems knowledge to identify design gaps, constructability issues, and risk items early.
• Oversee and represent the Owner at factory witness tests for critical OFCI equipment, ensuring compliance with project specifications prior to shipment.
• Direct equipment inspection programs, leading deficiency identification, root cause analysis, and resolution management across all subcontractors, vendors, and contractors.
• Ensure full compliance with CxA documentation standards, coordinating and driving testing activities across all stakeholders with the rigor required for mission-critical Tier certification.
• Lead site-specific testing strategy and utility coordination, aligning all parties on sequencing, requirements, and Owner-critical milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or relevant field experience preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive MEP experience in mission-critical construction, including senior management or Owner’s Representative roles on large-scale data center programs.
• Deep technical expertise in mission-critical MEP systems including high-voltage power distribution, UPS, generators, cooling infrastructure, and BMS/controls integration.
• Experience in building mission-critical data centers.
• Expert-level knowledge of applicable building codes, NFPA standards, and complex mechanical/electrical system integration in Tier III/IV data center environments.
• Proficiency in project management platforms, scheduling tools (P6/MS Project), BIM coordination software (Navisworks/Revit), and standard MS Office suite.
• Willingness to travel.
• Initiative, self-direction, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary project teams in a high-performance, fast-paced environment.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to influence contractors, design teams, and senior Owner stakeholders to drive project outcomes.
• Capable of troubleshooting and resolving complex construction problems.
• Effective planning and organization skills.
• Flexibility and commitment to responsibilities.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.