Construction Project Manager, Mission Critical

UNAVAILABLE; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

L5 Mission Critical seeks a Construction Project Manager to drive end-to-end delivery of construction, retrofit, and infrastructure upgrades in data centers and other mission critical environments. You will own scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety, coordinating with cross-functional teams while ensuring zero impact on client uptime.

As the primary client contact, you will lead subcontractors, vendors, and field teams from preconstruction through commissioning and closeout, requiring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of construction project management experience in data centers or mission critical environments.
• Experience delivering multimillion-dollar projects in live facilities with uptime requirements.
• Strong scheduling, cost control, and contract administration.
• Experience developing MOPs and using client change management processes.

Responsibilities

• Own the project lifecycle from award through closeout, including scope, schedule, and budget management.
• Plan and sequence work in live data center environments with change management and maintenance windows.
• Lead retrofit and upgrade projects for critical power and cooling systems.
• Manage submittals, RFIs, long-lead equipment, change orders, and documentation.
• Coordinate with commissioning teams for testing and turnover to client operations.
• Provide client leadership, vendor management, and progress reporting.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Scheduling

Budget management

Communication

Risk management

Client liaison

Travel willingness

Education

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

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Procore

Microsoft Office/Excel

Job description

Overview

The Construction Project Manager is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of construction, retrofit, and infrastructure upgrade projects in data centers and other mission critical environments. This role owns scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety, and ensures that work in or adjacent to live, operating facilities is planned and executed with no impact to client uptime. The Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact for the client, directing subcontractors, vendors, and L5 field teams from preconstruction through commissioning and closeout. It is a highly cross-functional role, partnering closely with operations, commissioning, safety, vendor management & procurement, finance, and business development to deliver projects on time, on budget, and without incident.

Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution

• Own the project lifecycle from award through closeout, including scope definition, work breakdown, schedule development, and budget management.
• Plan and sequence work in live data center environments, including method of procedure (MOP) development and review, change management, and maintenance window coordination.
• Lead retrofit and upgrade projects involving critical power and cooling systems, such as switchgear, UPS and battery systems, generators, chillers, and controls.
• Manage submittals, RFIs, long-lead equipment, change orders, and project documentation to keep work moving and protect margin.
• Coordinate closely with L5 commissioning teams so testing, integrated systems testing, and turnover are planned from the start of the project.
• Manage project closeout, including punch lists, as-built documentation, operations and maintenance manuals, and turnover to client operations teams.

Safety, Quality & Risk Management

• Enforce a zero-incident safety culture, including electrical safety, lockout/tagout, work permitting, hot work, and site access requirements.
• Identify, document, and mitigate risks to uptime, schedule, cost, and safety, and elevate issues early with clear recommendations.
• Hold the project team and subcontractors accountable to quality standards, client requirements, and code and regulatory compliance.
• Lead pre-task planning, risk reviews, and post-project lessons learned to improve future projects.

Client, Subcontractor & Team Leadership

• Serve as the day-to-day client lead, providing clear and proactive communication on progress, risks, and changes.
• Select, direct, and manage subcontractors, trade partners, and vendors in partnership with vendor management & procurement.
• Lead project meetings, progress reporting, and client updates, and prepare financial forecasts, cost reports, and invoicing.
• Lead, mentor, and develop project engineers, superintendents, and coordinators.
• Support business development with scoping, estimating, schedule input, and risk review for new pursuits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of construction project management experience, including delivery of projects in data centers, critical facilities, or other mission critical environments.
• Demonstrated success managing multimillion-dollar projects in live, operating facilities with strict uptime and safety requirements.
• Working knowledge of critical power and cooling infrastructure and the construction methods used to install and upgrade it.
• Strong command of scheduling, cost control, contract administration, and
• Experience developing and executing MOPs and working within client change management processes.
• Strong understanding of construction safety standards, including OSHA requirements and NFPA 70E.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead clients, subcontractors, and field teams.
• Proficiency with project management and scheduling tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Procore) and Microsoft Office/Excel.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and deadlines under pressure.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and client locations as needed.
• PMP, CCM, OSHA 30, or similar certifications preferred.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center clients preferred.

What Success Looks Like

• Projects delivered safely, on schedule, and on budget, with no impact to client
• Strong, trusted client relationships that lead to repeat work and expanded
• Seamless handoff between construction, commissioning, and
• Strong working relationships across operations, commissioning, safety, procurement, finance, and executive leadership.

EEO/AA Employer M/F/D/V

L5 Mission Critical is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.