Preconstruction Manager - Data Center

About the role

WWPS is seeking an experienced Preconstruction Manager to support the development and delivery of a large scale hyperscale data center project in St. Joseph County, Indiana, near South Bend.

Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction activities from early planning through construction mobilization.
• Represent the owner during design development, budgeting, procurement, and contractor selection.
• Manage conceptual estimates, detailed cost plans, bid packages, and budget reconciliation.
• Review contractor and subcontractor pricing for scope coverage, accuracy, market competitiveness, and risk.
• Cook with constructability reviews with design, engineering, construction, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Support design decisions by evaluating cost, schedule, procurement, and construction impacts.
• Develop procurement strategies for long lead equipment, critical infrastructure, and major trade packages.
• Lead value engineering efforts while protecting system performance, reliability, schedule, and operational requirements.
• Identify scope gaps, design conflicts, commercial risks, and potential schedule constraints.
• Support the development of master schedules, milestone plans, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans.
• Participate in contractor interviews, bid evaluations, commercial negotiations, and award recommendations.
• Track design progress, estimate changes, procurement status, and preconstruction deliverables.
• Prepare clear reports and recommendations for ownership and senior project leadership.
• Support the transition from preconstruction into field execution.

Requirements

• Seven or more years of preconstruction, estimating, commercial management, or construction management experience.
• Experience supporting data centers, mission critical facilities, semiconductor facilities, advanced manufacturing plants, pharmaceutical facilities, or other technically complex capital projects.
• Experience working for an owner, developer, Owner’s Representative, general contractor, construction manager, EPC firm, or major specialty contractor.
• Strong understanding of MEP systems, electrical infrastructure, mechanical systems, utility systems, controls, and mission critical construction.
• Experience reviewing conceptual budgets, GMP proposals, trade bids, change exposure, and cost forecasts.
• Experience with design development, constructability, value engineering, procurement, and long lead equipment planning.
• Ability to challenge contractor assumptions and provide independent recommendations to the owner.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Equivalent project experience will also be considered.
• Highly Relevant Backgrounds:
• Candidates may come from hyperscale or colocation data center construction, mission critical construction, semiconductor manufacturing, battery manufacturing, pharmaceutical or biotech facilities, advanced manufacturing, large scale industrial construction, or complex MEP infrastructure projects.

Skills

• Strong understanding of MEP systems, electrical infrastructure, mechanical systems, utility systems, controls, and mission critical construction.
• Experience with design development, constructability, value engineering, procurement, and long lead equipment planning.
• Ability to challenge contractor assumptions and provide independent recommendations to the owner.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.