Data Center Construction and Development Director

Daksta | Connecting Mission Critical Talent; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Daksta | Connecting Mission Critical Talent seeks a experienced Director to lead data center development and construction across the United States from Virginia on-site with some hybrid work considered. You will drive delivery of large-scale mission-critical projects through planning, design, procurement, construction and handover.

This senior role requires 10+ years in complex construction, strong data center or high-density environments background, mastery of budgeting, scheduling and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience delivering mission-critical, industrial or highly technical construction projects.
• Strong exposure to data centres, high-density MEP environments, semiconductor facilities, advanced manufacturing or similar infrastructure sectors.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• A strong understanding of project controls, budgeting and commercial management.
• Knowledge of permitting, planning and development processes.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Experience with project scheduling tools and construction management software.

Responsibilities

• Leading projects through planning, entitlement, design, procurement, construction and completion.
• Managing budgets, financial reporting and project schedules.
• Coordinating consultants across environmental, utility, geotechnical and infrastructure workstreams.
• Overseeing permitting and regulatory approvals with relevant authorities.
• Managing tender processes, contractor selection and commercial negotiations.
• Administering construction contracts and project documentation.
• Monitoring programme milestones, risk mitigation strategies and delivery performance.
• Managing RFIs, change orders, invoicing and quality assurance processes.
• Supporting sustainability initiatives and tracking key operational metrics.
• Providing regular reporting to senior leadership and investment stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Construction management

Regulatory understanding

Scheduling tools

Tools

Primavera P6

Procore

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Job description

Data Center Construction and Development Director

Salary: Flexible base (experience linked) + Bonuses and Benefits

Location: Virginia(On site/some hybrid working considered)

A leading institutional real estate investment and development platform is seeking an experienced Director of Data Center Development & Construction to lead the delivery of large-scale, mission-critical infrastructure projects across the United States.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an individual with extensive experience managing the full lifecycle of hyperscale or technically complex developments, from early-stage planning and permitting through design, construction, commissioning, and handover.

Location

Travel requirements will vary depending on project activity and portfolio growth.

The Opportunity

You will take ownership of major data centre developments and work closely with internal leadership teams, engineering consultants, contractors, utility providers, local authorities, financial stakeholders, and end users to ensure successful project execution.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading projects through planning, entitlement, design, procurement, construction and completion.
• Managing budgets, financial reporting and project schedules.
• Coordinating consultants across environmental, utility, geotechnical and infrastructure workstreams.
• Overseeing permitting and regulatory approvals with relevant authorities.
• Managing tender processes, contractor selection and commercial negotiations.
• Administering construction contracts and project documentation.
• Monitoring programme milestones, risk mitigation strategies and delivery performance.
• Managing RFIs, change orders, invoicing and quality assurance processes.
• Supporting sustainability initiatives and tracking key operational metrics.
• Providing regular reporting to senior leadership and investment stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of experience delivering mission-critical, industrial or highly technical construction projects.
• Strong exposure to data centres, high-density MEP environments, semiconductor facilities, advanced manufacturing or similar infrastructure sectors.
• Experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• A strong understanding of project controls, budgeting and commercial management.
• Knowledge of permitting, planning and development processes.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Experience with project scheduling tools and construction management software.

Preferred Experience

• Sustainability strategies and operational efficiency metrics.
• Professional certifications such as PMP or CCM.
• Experience with platforms such as Primavera P6, Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud or similar systems.

If you are interested in learning more, please apply or contact us for a confidential discussion.