Senior Director, Preconstruction

We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. Our culture is founded in passion, engineered from innovation, and driven by the pursuit of operational excellence. We celebrate success across our platform and the teams that drive it. We are dedicated to driving positive change in the industry through continuous data center innovation, diversity and inclusion, and corporate sustainability.

About the role

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Senior Preconstruction Director to lead preconstruction efforts for Aligned Data Centers’ Platform Delivery team across our growing portfolio. This role is central to shaping project feasibility, cost certainty, design optimization, and execution strategy from initial site evaluation through financial close. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of modern data center design drivers, cost structures, and critical facility construction, along with proven leadership experience managing preconstruction teams within a data center developer or general contractor environment.

This position will be based in Phoenix, AZ, Dallas, TX, or Northern Virginia, with consideration given to other major metropolitan markets for exceptional candidates.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Preconstruction Leadership
  • Lead all preconstruction efforts for ground-up data center developments, from site diligence through GMP and financial close.
  • Establish and drive preconstruction standards, processes, and best practices across the organization.
  • Provide both detailed and executive-level cost, schedule, and risk guidance to senior leadership.
• Data Center Design & Technical Expertise
  • Demonstrate deep knowledge of modern data center design drivers, including:
    • Power density and scalability
    • Redundancy configurations (N, N+1, 2N, etc.)
    • Cooling strategies (air-cooled, liquid cooling, hybrid systems)
    • Utility interconnection requirements
    • Phasing strategies and speed-to-market considerations
  • Collaborate with engineering partners to optimize design for cost, constructability, and operational efficiency.
• Cost Drivers & Financial Stewardship
  • Maintain a comprehensive understanding of major CAPEX drivers in data center development, including:
    • Electrical infrastructure (switchgear, transformers, generators, UPS systems)
    • Mechanical systems (chillers, CRAH/CRAC units, cooling towers)
    • Structural systems
    • Site development and utility extensions
    • Long-lead equipment procurement
  • Lead detailed conceptual and design-stage estimating.
  • Develop, analyze, and refine project budgets with a focus on cost predictability and value engineering.
  • Identify and mitigate financial and execution risks early in the development cycle.
• Estimating & Commercial Execution
  • Oversee preparation of conceptual, schematic, and GMP-level estimates.
  • Evaluate contractor proposals and validate assumptions, scopes, and pricing.
  • Lead value engineering exercises and constructability reviews.
  • Support contract negotiations with general contractors and key trade partners.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner closely with Land Enablement, Engineering, Finance, Construction Execution, and Operations teams.
  • Support underwriting assumptions with reliable cost and schedule data.
  • Assist in investor presentations and capital planning discussions as needed.
  • Maintain strong relationships with utilities, engineers, contractors, and key vendors.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Growth
  • Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of preconstruction professionals.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Develop internal talent pipelines aligned with company growth.
  • Champion a growth mindset and scalability within a rapidly expanding development platform.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of modern data center design drivers, cost structures, and critical facility construction.
• Proven leadership experience managing preconstruction teams within a data center developer or general contractor environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of major CAPEX drivers in data center development.
• Experience in conceptual and design-stage estimating, budget development, and value engineering.
• Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Finance, and Operations.
• Ability to lead and mentor a high-performing preconstruction team.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to drive project feasibility and cost certainty.

Skills

• Diversity and inclusion
• Ethics and integrity
• Adaptability in a dynamic work environment
• Cost consciousness and financial stewardship
• Design optimization and attention to detail
• Leadership and team motivation
• Project management and execution
• Quality management and continuous improvement
• Strategic thinking and market analysis
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Visionary leadership and inspiration
• Written and verbal communication

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Continually required to utilize hand and finger dexterity, talk, or hear.
• Occasional work near moving mechanical parts and exposure to outside weather conditions.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

Pay

$200,000 - $230,000 + Bonus

Benefits

• Health Coverage
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
  • HSA with employer contribution for eligible participants
  • FSAs offered for health and dependent care to increase tax savings
• Retirement Savings
  • 401(k) plan with company match and immediate vesting
• Paid Time Off
  • Paid time off and holiday pay
• Company-Sponsored Insurance
  • Short-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (with medical election)
• Optional Benefits
  • Voluntary life, critical illness, legal, and additional disability coverage
• Wellness Programs
  • Employee assistance program (EAP)
  • Wellhub gym membership
  • Other wellness initiatives