Construction Manager

ACTalent; Kansas; On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

ACTalent seeks an experienced Construction Manager / Owner’s Representative for large-scale data center projects in the United States. You will oversee from site selection through turnover, coordinating architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and operations to safeguard the Owner’s investment and ensure performance, resiliency, and compliance.

You will lead owner-side meetings, validate design against standards, manage budgets and schedules, review submittals and change orders, and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent.
• 7–10+ years of progressive construction management experience.
• 5+ years in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Experience overseeing projects valued at $100M+ with fast‑track delivery.
• Interface with Owners, A&E firms, GC, trades, and commissioning providers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary Owner point of contact across design, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases.
• Lead Owner-side meetings, steering committees, and milestone reviews with clear communication.
• Align project execution with Owner objectives, standards, and risk policies.
• Support site selection, feasibility studies, and due diligence for decisions.
• Review design development to meet resiliency, scalability, and standards.
• Coordinate with architects/engineers to validate constructability and compliance.
• Provide input on procurement, contracts, and bid evaluations to optimize value.
• Oversee contractor performance on scope, budget, schedule, and QA/QC.
• Review submittals, RFIs, and change orders; track costs and progress.
• Monitor safety and enforce project-specific safety/environmental protocols.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, and commissioning activities (Levels 1–5).
• Ensure deficiencies are tracked and resolved through QA/QC systems.
• Support integrated systems testing for redundancy and operation sequences.
• Report to Owner executives on budget performance and forecast-to-complete.

Skills

Construction management

Data center experience

Budget & schedule management

QA/QC oversight

Stakeholder communication

Submittals & RFIs

Cost tracking & reporting

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related

Job description

Job Description

Job DescriptionJob Title: Construction Manager / Owner’s Representative – Data Center ProjectsJob Description

This role serves as the Owner’s Representative and central point of accountability for large-scale, mission-critical construction projects, with a strong focus on data center facilities. You will provide technical oversight, strategic project management, and proactive issue resolution across the full project lifecycle—from site selection and design through construction, commissioning, and turnover. By coordinating architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and operations teams, you will safeguard the Owner’s investment and ensure each facility meets long-term performance, resiliency, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact and advocate for the Owner throughout design, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases.
• Lead Owner-side project meetings, steering committees, and milestone reviews, ensuring clear communication and direction across all project participants.
• Align project execution with the Owner’s business objectives, operational standards, and risk management policies.
• Participate in site selection, feasibility studies, and early due diligence to support informed decision-making.
• Review design development documents to ensure alignment with the Owner’s standards, resiliency goals, and scalability requirements.
• Coordinate with architecture and engineering firms to validate constructability, operational maintainability, and compliance with applicable codes and industry standards.
• Provide input on procurement strategies, contract structures, and bid evaluations to optimize value and manage risk.
• Oversee the general contractor’s execution of scope, budget, schedule, and QA/QC requirements, ensuring adherence to project objectives.
• Review and approve contractor submittals, requests for information (RFIs), and change orders on behalf of the Owner.
• Track schedule milestones, cost exposures, and contingency usage, escalating issues to the Owner’s leadership with actionable recommendations.
• Monitor safety performance on site and enforce strict adherence to project‑specific safety and environmental protocols.
• Provide technical expertise in evaluating equipment submittals, installation practices, and integration of MEP systems.
• Participate in factory witness testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning activities across Levels 1–5.
• Ensure deficiencies are documented, tracked, reported, and resolved through a structured QA/QC and issue‑management system.
• Support integrated systems testing to validate redundancy, failover capabilities, and sequences of operations for mission‑critical systems.
• Monitor contractor invoices, pay applications, and progress reports to ensure financial transparency, accuracy, and alignment with contract terms.
• Provide detailed reporting to Owner executives on budget performance, change management, and forecast‑to‑complete.
• Enforce the Owner’s contractual rights, warranty protections, and performance guarantees throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure timely delivery of as‑built drawings, operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals, commissioning reports, warranty binders, and training sessions for operations staff.
• Support a smooth transition from construction to operations, ensuring the facility is ready for day‑one occupancy and long‑term reliability.
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of the Owner’s data center delivery standards and processes.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• 7–10+ years of progressive experience managing large-scale construction projects.
• At least 5 years of experience in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Proven experience overseeing construction projects valued at $100M or more, including fast‑track delivery schedules.
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with Owners, architecture and engineering firms, general contractors, trade contractors, and commissioning providers.
• Strong knowledge of construction management practices, including scope, budget, schedule, and QA/QC oversight.
• Experience with data center construction and operations requirements, including resiliency, scalability, and mission‑critical systems.
• Ability to lead cross‑functional meetings and communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proficiency in reviewing and managing contractor submittals, RFIs, change orders, and pay applications.