Data Center Development Manager

Position Summary

The Data Center Development Manager is responsible for leading the full development lifecycle of large-scale, mission-critical data center facilities — from site selection and entitlement through design, construction, and commissioning. This role requires deep construction management expertise combined with the ability to manage complex cross-functional stakeholder relationships, execute multi-hundred-million-dollar capital programs, and deliver high-quality, on-schedule, on-budget data center facilities.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience overseeing general contractors, managing design-build and design-bid-build delivery models, and navigating the technical demands of critical infrastructure including high-density power systems, cooling infrastructure, and structured cabling environments.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Project Leadership

• Own end-to-end development of data center projects from concept through certificate of occupancy and operational handoff.
• Manage project budgets ranging from $100M to $1B+, including cost forecasting, variance reporting, and executive-level financial reviews.
• Drive project schedules, ensuring milestones are met across permitting, design, procurement, and construction phases.
• Lead internal and external project teams including architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and commissioning agents.

Construction Management

• Oversee general contractors and construction management firms; enforce contract compliance, quality standards, and safety protocols.
• Review and approve design drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals, and change orders with a critical eye for cost, schedule, and constructability.
• Conduct regular site visits and OAC meetings; proactively identify and resolve field issues before they escalate.
• Manage procurement strategies for long-lead critical equipment including switchgear, generators, UPS systems, cooling equipment, and prefabricated modules.

Site Selection & Entitlements

• Partner with real estate and acquisition teams on due diligence for greenfield and brownfield data center sites.

Stakeholder Management & Reporting

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders including Operations, IT/Network Engineering, Finance, and Legal teams.
• Deliver regular project status reports to senior leadership, including executive dashboards, risk registers, and schedule updates.
• Build and maintain relationships with key vendors, contractors, and utility partners to ensure a competitive and reliable supply chain.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in construction management or development, with a minimum of 4 years specifically on data center, mission-critical, or large-scale industrial/commercial projects.
• Proven track record managing construction projects exceeding $100M in total project cost.
• Strong working knowledge of data center infrastructure systems including power distribution (medium-voltage through PDU), generator systems, cooling (CRAH, chilled water, evaporative), and structured cabling.
• Demonstrated expertise in design-build and design-bid-build project delivery methods.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Procore, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and standard scheduling/reporting tools.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline or MBA.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license, PMP certification, or LEED accreditation.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, or wholesale data center development.
• Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier standards and BICSI data center design guidelines.
• Experience managing development programs across multiple simultaneous projects or geographies.

Core Competencies

• Decision Quality — Makes timely, well-informed decisions under pressure in complex, high-stakes environments.
• Drive for Results — Consistently meets or exceeds project goals; holds self and others accountable.
• Technical Acumen — Deep understanding of construction means, methods, and critical systems engineering.
• Influence & Collaboration — Builds alignment across diverse teams without direct authority.
• Financial Stewardship — Manages capital budgets responsibly with a strong cost-control mindset.
• Risk Management — Anticipates, quantifies, and mitigates project risk proactively.