Data Center Project Manager

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the dedicated senior project manager for one to two large-scale data center fire and life safety construction programs, maintaining deep familiarity with every aspect of each project at all times.
• Develop comprehensive project plans encompassing scope of work, schedules, budgets, manpower requirements, and procurement timelines across all trade scopes.
• Maintain and manage all assigned projects to comply with safety, quality, productivity, and profitability requirements specific to mission-critical data center environments.
• Track project expenditures and installation progress through regular review of status reports; modify schedules and plans as required.
• Identify and communicate changes in project scope, schedule, or labor requirements in a timely manner.
• Coordinate change orders promptly across all trade scopes and drive toward overall margin improvement on every project.
• Understand and apply all relevant published codes, standards, and project-specific specifications, including NFPA 13, NFPA 72, NFPA 750, NFPA 2001, and FM Global data sheet requirements.

Customer & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout project execution; positively represent the company in all interactions with data center owners, hyperscale developers, colocation operators, general contractors, and construction managers.
• Provide responsive, concise, accurate, and professional support to all customers and internal personnel; ensure timely follow-up on all customer concerns and issues.
• Oversee and communicate project progression to all project team members, customers, and management.
• Coverage of job site pre-construction meetings, coordination meetings, and owner/GC meetings as required.
• Attend inspections as a licensed representative, as needed.
• Coordinate with Superintendents to ensure customers receive timely responses and project updates.
• Convey professionalism, fairness, and genuine concern for customers, field labor, and management in all interactions.

Coordination & Collaboration

• Participate actively in turnover meetings, design meetings, post-job reviews, and department meetings.
• Attend job site pre-construction meetings, coordination meetings, and owner/GC meetings as required.
• Attend inspections as a licensed representative, as needed.
• Coordinate with the Data Center Operations Manager on long-range project planning and scheduling.
• Coordinate with Construction Project Coordinators on pipe-on-job schedules, inspections, fabrication deliveries, and equipment deliveries.
• Gather fabrication quotes for Data Center Operations Manager release to suppliers.
• Review loose material quotes on new projects to ensure budgets are accurate before award.
• Coordinate with other departments — including Designers, Estimators, Construction Administrators, and trade-specific teams — to ensure proper handover of project information and cross-trade alignment.
• Coordinate with individual trade superintendents, project coordinators, and line-of-business managers to ensure seamless execution across all scopes on assigned data center projects.

Leadership & Growth

• Operate as a senior-level individual contributor, setting the standard for project management excellence within the data center vertical.
• Share knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned with the broader project management and operations team.
• As the vertical grows, assume leadership responsibilities over junior project managers or project coordinators as directed by the Data Center Operations Manager.
• Recommend improvements in project management procedures and overall company business practices.
• Contribute to the development of data center-specific project management standards, tools, and workflows.

Knowledge

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Higher education degree or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Deep familiarity with NFPA 13, NFPA 72, NFPA 750, NFPA 2001, and FM Global data sheets relevant to data center fire protection.
• Working knowledge of data center construction phases, critical environment protocols (hot aisle/cold aisle, raised floor, MEP coordination), and commissioning processes.
• Ability to read and understand complex architectural, mechanical, and electrical construction documents in the context of mission-critical facilities.

Work Experience

• 7+ years of fire and life safety construction project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Data center or mission-critical construction project management experience required; candidates must bring demonstrated familiarity with the schedule demands, owner expectations, and technical requirements of the data center environment.
• Experience managing large-scale, complex projects — not just high-volume smaller jobs — is essential; candidates should be comfortable with the depth of focus required when managing one to two major programs simultaneously.
• Experience managing projects involving pre-action systems, clean agent suppression, or fire alarm in mission-critical environments strongly preferred.
• Multi-trade project management experience preferred; single-trade candidates with strong data center backgrounds and demonstrated leadership capability are encouraged to apply.
• Experience interfacing with hyperscale developers, colocation operators, or data center general contractors preferred.
• Demonstrated financial management experience, including budget tracking, cost-to-complete reporting, and change order management.

Work Expectations

• Believe in, live, and support our Mission Statement and Core Values daily.
• Continually set the standard of excellence in fire and life safety.
• Live and support our Core Values: Safety First, Integrity, Customer Focused, Humility, Ownership, and Teamwork.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all internal and external customers, including data center owners, commissioning agents, general contractors, and field personnel.
• Understand and follow all HR and safety initiatives and processes.
• Support and ensure adherence to all company SOPs across every trade scope on assigned projects.
• Maintain quality control across all aspects of assigned project operations.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and respond to customer satisfaction survey feedback.
• Travel to project sites throughout Texas and to remote areas in other states where data center work is being performed, as required by project activity.

Skills And Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of fire and life safety systems in data center environments, including pre-action, clean agent suppression, fire alarm, and VESDA/early warning detection.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with both internal and external customers, including executive-level stakeholders.
• Meticulous attention to detail with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to locate, interpret, and apply applicable codes, standards, and owner specifications across multiple trade scopes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and construction project management and ERP platforms (e.g., Sage Intacct or equivalent).
• Strong adherence to deadlines with the ability to effectively prioritize within a complex, multi-scope program environment.
• Ability to interact effectively with employees, customers, and stakeholders in challenging situations.
• Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites in Texas and remote locations in other states.