Program Manager - Data Centers

About the role

2AI-DC supports the development of large-scale, mission-critical data center projects from early planning through operational readiness. Our team brings deep technical experience across the full project lifecycle, helping clients move complex sites from concept to construction with confidence.

Essential Functions

• Pre-Construction & Mobilization

• Participate in constructability reviews, value engineering sessions, and design coordination meetings to ensure construction-ready documents and optimized project delivery.
• Develop comprehensive construction execution plans including phasing strategies, logistics plans, site utilization layouts, and temporary facility requirements for the AI campus.
• Lead the subcontractor procurement process including bid solicitation, scope leveling, bid analysis, contract negotiation, and subcontract award for all major trade packages.
• Establish project-specific procedures for document control, RFI management, submittal processing, change order administration, and progress reporting.
• Carefully coordinate mobilization activities including site access, temporary utilities, construction trailers, laydown areas, and initial site security and safety infrastructure.

• Schedule Management & Production Control

• Develop, manage, and maintain the detailed CPM construction schedule using Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, integrating all disciplines, milestones, and long-lead procurement items.
• Conduct weekly schedule update meetings with subcontractors and trade foremen to track progress, identify variances, and implement recovery strategies to maintain critical path milestones.
• Coordinate the sequencing of concurrent data hall construction, mechanical/electrical infrastructure, central utility plant work, and exterior site development across the campus.
• Maintain oversight of long-lead equipment procurement including generators, switchgear, UPS systems, cooling units, and IT infrastructure support systems to prevent schedule impacts.
• Prepare look-ahead schedules (3-week, 6-week, and 90-day) and milestone tracking reports for internal leadership and ownership review.

• Budget & Cost Management

• Manage the project budget from notice-to-proceed through final closeout, tracking committed costs, actual expenditures, forecasted costs-to-complete, and projected final cost against the approved GMP or lump sum contract value.
• Review and process subcontractor pay applications, ensuring accurate percent-complete assessments, stored material verification, and proper retainage withholding in accordance with contract terms.
• Administer the change management process including evaluating change requests, negotiating change order pricing, preparing change order proposals, and securing timely client approval.
• Prepare monthly cost reports including budget variance analysis, cash flow projections, contingency tracking, and earned value metrics for executive and ownership reporting.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and value engineering alternatives throughout construction while maintaining design intent, quality standards, and operational performance requirements.

• Quality Assurance & Quality Control

• Implement and enforce the project-specific quality management plan, ensuring all work meets the stringent quality standards required for mission-critical AI data center infrastructure.
• Manage the RFI and submittal process to ensure timely resolution of design questions and approval of materials, equipment, and shop drawings prior to installation.
• Coordinate third-party inspections, special inspections, materials testing, and jurisdictional inspections across all disciplines including structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection.
• Oversee the commissioning support process, coordinating with the commissioning agent to ensure MEP systems are installed correctly and ready for functional performance testing.
• Conduct regular quality walks, punch list development, and deficiency tracking to ensure all work is completed to specification prior to system turnover and beneficial occupancy.

• Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture on the project site, enforcing OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and client-specific safety requirements across all contractors and personnel.
• Conduct and participate in regular safety meetings, toolbox talks, job hazard analyses, and site safety audits to proactively identify and mitigate risks.
• Coordinate with the project safety manager to investigate incidents, near-misses, and safety observations, implementing corrective actions and lessons learned.
• Ensure compliance with all building codes, fire codes, environmental regulations, stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPP), and local jurisdictional requirements.
• Manage the permitting process during construction including building permit inspections, temporary certificates of occupancy, and final certificate of occupancy for each phase or building.

• Subcontractor & Stakeholder Coordination

• Manage and coordinate 30+ subcontractors and specialty trade contractors across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and low-voltage disciplines.
• Lead weekly Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings, subcontractor coordination meetings, and MEP coordination sessions, documenting decisions, action items, and issue resolution.
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for the client’s project representatives, design team, commissioning agents, and operations personnel.
• Coordinate with the design team to resolve field conflicts, design discrepancies, and unforeseen site conditions through timely RFIs, field directives, and design clarifications.
• Manage material deliveries, equipment staging, and crane operations to maintain efficient site logistics and minimize trade stacking and productivity impacts.

• Data Center-Specific Construction Management

• Oversee construction of critical data center infrastructure including raised floor systems, hot/cold aisle containment, cable tray and pathway systems, overhead bus duct, and grounding/bonding systems.
• Coordinate the construction and installation of critical power distribution systems including medium-voltage switchgear, transformers, generators, automatic transfer switches, UPS systems, and PDUs.
• Manage construction of mechanical cooling infrastructure including chilled water plants, cooling towers, computer room air handlers (CRAHs), piping systems, and building management system (BMS) integration.
• Ensure proper installation of fire detection and suppression systems including very early smoke detection apparatus (VESDA), pre-action sprinkler systems, and clean agent suppression in IT spaces.
• Coordinate the phased turnover of completed data halls and supporting infrastructure to the client’s commissioning and operations teams, ensuring all prerequisites and documentation are complete.

• Project Documentation & Closeout

• Maintain comprehensive project documentation including daily logs, meeting minutes, progress photos, inspection records, test reports, and correspondence in the project management information system (PMIS).
• Manage the closeout process including as-built drawing collection, O&M manual compilation, warranty documentation, final lien waivers, retainage release, and substantial/final completion certifications.
• Prepare and deliver monthly executive progress reports including narrative summaries, schedule status, cost performance, safety metrics, quality metrics, and key risk/issue updates.
• Coordinate the lessons-learned process, documenting successes, challenges, and recommendations for future AI data center campus projects.
• Ensure seamless transition from construction to operations by facilitating owner training, warranty coordination, and post-occupancy support during the initial operations period.

Position Requirements

• Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressive project management experience in commercial construction, with a strong preference for candidates with data center, mission-critical facility, or heavy MEP construction experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects valued at $500M+ from pre-construction through closeout, with direct accountability for schedule, budget, quality, and safety outcomes.
• Experience with design-build, CM-at-Risk, or GMP contract delivery methods on fast-track construction projects.
• Familiarity with Tier III/IV data center design standards, ASHRAE guidelines for data center cooling, and the unique construction requirements of hyperscale and AI computing facilities preferred.

• Leadership & Communication

• Strong leadership abilities with experience directly managing field engineers, project engineers, and administrative staff while coordinating large subcontractor workforces.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present project status, risk assessments, and recommendations clearly to executive leadership, clients, and design professionals.
• Proven negotiation skills for subcontract scoping, change order resolution, and conflict management among multiple trades and stakeholders.
• Collaborative mindset with demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and commissioning agents.
• Problem-solving orientation with the ability to assess field conditions, evaluate alternatives, make sound decisions under pressure, and communicate resolutions to all affected parties.

• Certifications & Professional Development (Preferred)

• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety certification required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• LEED AP or LEED Green Associate preferred for sustainable data center construction.
• First Aid/CPR certification preferred.
• Continued professional development in data center construction technologies, commissioning practices, and emerging AI infrastructure trends.

• Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or Project Management.
• Professional certifications such as PMI‑SP, PMP, CCM, PSP, or equivalent.
• Primavera P6 certification or formal advanced P6 training.
• Experience with schedule risk and diagnostic tools (e.g., Acumen Fuse, Deltek Acumen, or similar).
• Familiarity with construction management and collaboration platforms such as Procore, Bluebeam, BIM 360, or equivalent tools.
• Experience with earned value management (EVM) and cost‑schedule integration.
• Background supporting claims analysis, delay analysis, or forensic schedul