Traveling Construction Superintendent

About the role

The Traveling Superintendent oversees mission critical and data center construction projects across the United States, providing on-site leadership from kickoff through commissioning and final turnover. This role manages field operations, coordinates complex MEP-intensive work in active and operational facilities, and serves as a key liaison between trade partners, commissioning teams, facility operators, and client representatives. The position requires extensive travel, a strong focus on safety and quality, and the ability to drive schedule performance and successful project delivery for high-tech, mission critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Participate in project kickoff meetings with project executives and team members to understand project goals, critical systems requirements, commissioning milestones, client expectations, and operational constraints.
• Host field kickoff meetings with trade partners, commissioning agents, vendors, and project managers to align on scope, sequencing, and critical systems execution.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with trade partners and vendors, with a strong focus on critical systems installation, startup, testing, and turnover.
• Maintain effective relationships between site teams, facility operators, client representatives, commissioning teams, and ownership groups to ensure alignment and smooth project delivery.
• Host trade partner gatherings for project closeout and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement across traveling projects.
• Lead weekly toolbox talks on site with all trade partners and document safety discussions and action items in Procore.
• Lead weekly on-site foreman meetings to review three-week lookahead schedules, commissioning activities, constraints, shutdowns, and critical path items.
• Establish and manage site setup, ensuring consistent branding, safety signage, wayfinding, and adequate PPE availability at all times.
• Oversee site logistics, including material flow, equipment deliveries, and storage of long-lead mission critical equipment such as generators, switchgear, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling equipment, and prefabricated assemblies.
• Cookordinate installation sequencing and access requirements for critical electrical and mechanical systems to maintain schedule and quality.
• Coordinate with the Warehouse team for site deliveries and train field staff on inventory systems when implemented.
• Manage, track, and complete punch lists, commissioning deficiencies, and turnover items through project closeout to ensure thorough completion.
• Manage field tickets and on-site change order documentation, ensuring accurate and timely records.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and trade partners to fully vet field claims prior to ticket approval.
• Track and document impacts to critical path activities, commissioning schedules, and equipment delivery milestones to support schedule management and claims.
• Review construction documents, drawings, specifications, and equipment submittals with a focus on critical systems and commissioning requirements.
• Manage and track schedule performance and document schedule claims, delays, and recovery plans to keep projects on track.
• Coordinate with project managers to understand labor allocation, earned value, and production tracking for field operations.
• Draft field RFIs and submit them to project managers to clarify design, scope, and coordination issues.
• Lead field coordination efforts between mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, fire protection, and commissioning teams to resolve conflicts and ensure integrated system performance.
• Support commissioning activities including pre-functional testing, integrated systems testing, deficiency resolution, and final turnover.
• Maintain on-site safety oversight with guidance and support from the Safety Director, ensuring compliance with all safety protocols.
• Ensure safety training, documentation, emergency response procedures, and mission critical operational protocols are implemented and followed on site.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and operational reliability across all project activities.
• Complete daily logs in Procore to capture manpower, activities, issues, and progress.
• Prepare and submit weekly field reports in Procore to keep stakeholders informed of project status and risks.
• Track commissioning progress, turnover documentation, and key project milestones to support timely and successful project completion.
• Travel to project sites nationwide and remain on site for the full duration of each project, providing continuous field leadership.
• Mobilize quickly from the Chicago or home base as project needs require, adapting to changing schedules and locations.
• Represent the company in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts as needed, demonstrating professionalism and technical credibility.
• Mentor, coach, and support junior field staff, contributing to team development and consistency across traveling projects.
• Work flexible schedules, including weekends and extended stays away from home, to meet mission critical project demands.

Qualifications

• 5–15+ years of experience as a Superintendent with significant experience delivering mission critical, data center, high-tech, or complex MEP-intensive projects.
• Proven experience managing mission critical projects from preconstruction through commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness, including sitework, structural work, major MEP systems, and critical equipment installation.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating critical electrical infrastructure, including switchgear, UPS systems, generators, PDUs, and associated distribution systems.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating critical mechanical infrastructure, including cooling systems, chilled water systems, CRAH/CRAC units, controls, and building automation systems.
• Strong understanding of commissioning processes, startup procedures, integrated systems testing, turnover requirements, and outage management protocols within active mission critical environments.
• Experience working within active data centers or operational facilities with strict uptime requirements (preferred but strongly beneficial).
• Strong professional communication skills with clients, design teams, commissioning agents, trade partners, facility operators, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated proactive problem-solving skills, including early identification of design, constructability, and coordination issues during preconstruction and active construction phases.
• Ability to represent the company in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and support junior field staff to build consistent practices across traveling projects.
• Ability to work flexible schedules and weekends, with extended stays away from home to support nationwide project needs.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout the United States and remain on site for the full duration of each project.
• Experience managing projects of $1M or greater in value.
• Familiarity with mission critical and data center environments and MEP-focused construction.
• Commitment to safety and quality in high-stakes, operationally sensitive environments.