Project Manager / Construction Manager – Data Centre Projects

Qu Data Centres Limited Partnership; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Qu Data Centres Limited Partnership is seeking a Project Manager / Construction Manager to lead data centre builds from design through handover, coordinating architects, engineers, contractors and trades to meet milestones.

The ideal candidate combines engineering fundamentals with hands-on delivery of mission-critical facilities, applying disciplined project controls for cost, schedule, risk and safety across multiple projects from office and site locations in Canada.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in project or construction management for data centres or mission-critical facilities.
• Knowledge of data centre design, electrical distribution, UPS, generators, cooling systems.
• Experience with commissioning and turnover to operations.
• Ability to manage cost, schedule and scope with budgeting and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Owns delivery of assigned projects, the look-ahead schedule, and site safety compliance; reviews designs and change orders and recommends budget adjustments and contractor awards.
• Develops and maintains project plans and schedules, tracks long-lead equipment, and issues weekly progress reports with recovery plans.
• Supports cost control: track actuals vs budget, review change orders, validate progress claims, and prepare cost forecasts.
• Coordinates procurement and contract administration: tender/bid evaluation, scope clarification, contractor awards and compliance.
• Coordinates installation of critical infrastructure (MV/LV distribution, UPS, batteries, generators, cooling, BMS/EPMS) with GC and vendors.
• Oversees commissioning with the commissioning agent, witnesses tests, closes deficiencies, and delivers turnover documentation to Operations.
• Champions health and safety, enforces safety plans, and manages permits-to-work for work near live systems.

Skills

Data centre project management

Construction coordination

Budgeting & cost control

Reading architectural/engineering docs

Safety & quality enforcement

Education

Electrical or Mechanical Engineering degree

Job description

Role Overview

The Project Manager / Construction Manager plays a key role in delivering Qu Data Centres’ critical infrastructure projects safely, on schedule, within budget and to the required quality and uptime standards. Working from the office and project sites under the direction of the reporting manager, this role leads projects from concept and design through construction, commissioning and handover to Operations, and acts as Qu’s representative with architects, engineers, general contractors, trade partners and vendors. The role is expected to manage more than one project at a time.

The ideal candidate combines a strong foundation in electrical or mechanical engineering with hands-on experience delivering mission-critical facilities and a disciplined approach to project controls: cost, schedule, risk, quality and safety.

Key Responsibilities

Owns delivery of assigned projects, the look-ahead schedule and site safety compliance; reviews designs and change orders and recommends budget re‑forecasts, scope changes and contractor awards to the reporting manager for approval; partners closely with Engineering/Design, Procurement, Finance, Operations and commissioning agents.

• Manage data centre build and fit-out projects (e.g., new data halls, power and cooling upgrades) from concept through handover, coordinating architects, engineers, general contractors and trades to hit baseline milestones.
• Review design packages, drawings and specifications at each stage for constructability and contractual compliance, and recommend approval to the reporting manager.
• Develop and maintain project plans and schedules with the reporting manager; track the critical path and long-lead equipment (UPS, generators, switchgear, chillers/CRAH units) and issue weekly progress reports with recovery plans for any slippage.
• Support project cost control: track actuals against budget, review change orders and support negotiations, validate progress claims and invoices, and prepare the monthly cost report and forecast-at-completion.
• Support procurement and contract administration: tender and bid evaluation, scope clarification, contractor awards and contract compliance.
• Coordinate the installation of critical infrastructure (MV/LV electrical distribution, UPS and batteries, standby generation, mechanical cooling, fire suppression, BMS/EPMS) with the general contractor, subcontractors and vendors, ensuring work meets design intent, codes and quality standards.
• Coordinate commissioning (Levels 1–5 / IST) with the commissioning agent: witness factory and site acceptance tests, track and close deficiencies, and deliver complete turnover documentation (as-builts, O&M manuals, test records) to Operations.
• Champion health and safety: enforce the site safety plan, lead coordination and toolbox meetings, manage permits‑to‑work and method‑of‑procedure (MOP) approvals for work near live systems, and target zero lost‑time incidents.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, shop drawings and inspections with the design team, authorities having jurisdiction and utility providers, resolving issues quickly to protect schedule.
• Maintain the project risk and issue log, develop mitigation strategies, and report status, risks and issues regularly to the reporting manager, senior management and internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, and lead post‑project reviews to capture lessons learned and improve Qu’s delivery standards.

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Requirements (must-haves):

• 3–5 years of experience in project or construction management, including delivery of data centre or other mission‑critical facilities (e.g., hospitals, telecom, industrial) from design through handover.
• Working knowledge of data centre design, construction processes and critical infrastructure: electrical distribution, UPS, generators, cooling systems and controls.
• Practical experience with the commissioning process and turnover to operations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cost, schedule and scope, including budgeting, contract and change‑order management, and progress reporting.
• Strong site management skills: contractor coordination, reading architectural and engineering drawings and specifications, and enforcing safety and quality standards.