Director Data Center Development & Construction

overwatch; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Overwatch is seeking a Director, Data Center Development & Construction to lead entitlement, design, construction, and project promotion from the Richmond, VA site with travel to HQ and across sites. You will own budgets, schedules, procurement, and contract administration while coordinating with consultants, engineers, and capital partners to deliver complex data center projects.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in mission-critical construction, proven leadership, and strong

Qualifications

• 10+ years of construction or development project management experience on mission-critical or technically complex commercial construction projects.
• Advanced knowledge of data center development, design, and construction principles.
• Ability to interpret federal, state, and local ordinances, regulations and past approvals pertaining to development.
• Skilled in drafting agreements and editing legal documents related to design and construction.
• Ability to manage complete infrastructure development life cycle for multiple projects and deadlines.
• Experience with project risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Strong leadership and written/oral communication with senior management and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the data center project development and project management through the entire project life cycle.
• Coordinate and manage consultant activity during entitlement and design development; review reports and results.
• Assist in preparing project business plans, budgets, and capital requirements.
• Develop and review pro-forma models for financial analysis.
• Develop and execute sustainability plans for projects and monitor related metrics.
• Manage entitlement requirements with public agencies and secure approvals.
• Direct interface with construction general contractors across bidding, award, execution and closeout.
• Prepare development budgets and schedules, resolving critical path conflicts.

Skills

Construction management

Data center experience

Budgeting

Schedule management

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Contract drafting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture/planning, business or related field

Tools

Procore

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Primavera P6

Yardi

Job description

About Overwatch Mission Critical

Overwatch is a service-disabled Veteran-owned small business (SDVOB) certified through the National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC), offering construction professional services, talent acquisition, and general contractor services for the mission-critical infrastructure industry.

Our mission is the construction and management of state-of-the-art data centers with the precision and reliability this industry demands. From high-end engineers to seasoned professionals, we deploy the people you need to get your data center off the ground. At Overwatch, it's more than a job — it's purpose.

Job Description

The Director, Data Center Development & Construction will coordinate the daily activities involved with the entitlement, design, construction, and promotion of data center projects. This position reports to SVP, Data Center Development & Construction. The candidate will interact with consultants, design and engineering teams, general contractors, equipment suppliers, capital partners, and other project stakeholders as necessary.

The incumbent will be directly responsible for all project development tasks, including but not limited to management of project budgets, scheduling, consultant and contractor procurement and contract administration, and overall project and/or development delivery and performance.

This role is based out of the Project Site in Richmond, VA, with minimum 25% travel requirements to HQ. Additionally, travel could expand to additional project sites in the future.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the data center project development and project management throughout the entire project life cycle.
• Coordinate and manage consultant activity during the entitlement and design development stage of projects. Commission reports (utility, wetlands, environmental, geotechnical) and access results as they relate to project development.
• Assist in the preparation of project business plans, including marketing strategy, budget, capital requirements and exit strategies.
• Assist in the preparation of pro-forma models for project financial analysis.
• Assist in development and execution of project Sustainability plans.
• Implement and report on project status on a daily basis.
• Manage entitlement requirements with the responsible public agencies.
• Maintain relationships and coordinate with responsible public agencies on entitlement related issues.
• Prepare development budgets and manage costs to remain within budget constraints. Also prepare and manage development and project schedules including negotiation and resolution of critical path conflicts.
• Help assure that the organization is in compliance with local, state and Federal laws and permits and perform other related duties as assigned
• Directly interface with construction general contractors throughout all phases: bidding, award, execution, and project closeout/punch list.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement RFP requirements for project bids and review bidders' qualifications, analyze and evaluate bids and negotiate contracts as required. Manage contracts and agreements and enforce provisions as necessary.
• Plan and schedule work over the course of one or several months; defines tasks, priorities and work schedules in order to meet overall objectives of broadly defined work assignments.
• Developing comprehensive construction project scopes and requests for proposals.
• Performing financial analysis of construction projects.
• Managing construction documents, including submittal reviews, RFIs, change orders, and invoicing.
• Implementing construction project quality control measures.
• Recording and reporting key construction metrics to team and management.
• Serving as a leader within internal and external teams.

Key Qualifications & Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture/planning, business or related field, or additional significant relevant working experience in lieu of degree.
• 10+ years of construction or development project management experience on mission-critical or technically complex commercial construction projects, including data centers or high-density MEP environments.
• Advanced knowledge of the data center development, design, and construction principles and practices.
• Intermediate experience of financial models to understand the financial feasibility of projects.
• Ability to interpret federal, state, and local ordinances, regulations and past approvals pertaining to the development of assets.
• Skilled in drafting agreements and editing legal documents related to design and construction.
• Ability to handle complete infrastructure development life cycle for multiple projects and deadlines and generate detail-oriented work-product.
• Skilled in developing, coordinating and maintaining project schedules.
• Skilled in developing and executing project level Sustainability plans, including comprehensive understanding of relevant data center sustainability metrics (e.g., PUE, WUE).
• Experience with project risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Self-starter and team-player with ability to identify problems and develop creative solutions in a fast-paced environment with limited supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with senior management, technical consultants, public agency staff, fellow employees, public officials and community members.
• Analytical ability to collect, evaluate, and analyze information to make decisions that affect the overall operations or results.
• Strong proficiency of computer software, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite, Yardi, Primavera P6, Aconex.

Candidates with any or all of the following background are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Advanced business, real estate, or other related degrees.
• Project management (PMP) or construction management (CCM) certifications.
• Experienced in hyperscale turn-key data center projects.
• Specific knowledge of the data center entitlement and permitting process a plus.
• Experienced in real estate development and/or finance.
• Cloud based project management software a plus (Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud).

Sub Specialty Area

• DC Director

Required Software Experience

• Experienced in real estate development and/or finance.
• Cloud based project management software a plus (Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud) Preferred.

Required Training

• Project Management (PMP) or Construction Management (CCM) certifications are preferred

Required Experience

• 10+ years of construction or development project management experience on mission-critical or technically complex commercial construction project.

Data Center Years Experience Needed

• 10 Years

Certifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture/planning, business or related field, or additional significant relevant working experience in lieu of degree

Driver’s License Requirement

For roles that require on-site presence or travel between work locations as an essential function of the position, candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license appropriate for the role and be eligible to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with applicable laws.

Communication Skills

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a professional work environment, including preparing written reports and documentation, conveying information clearly to team members, clients, and stakeholders, and responding appropriately to verbal and written communications related to job duties.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an active data center construction environment, encompassing both indoor and outdoor work settings. The role requires the physical ability to perform essential job functions safely and effectively in a dynamic environment that includes ongoing construction activity and evolving site conditions.

The work environment includes areas and temporary structures owned, leased, or controlled by third parties over which Overwatch may have limited or no control. Because the project remains under construction, certain areas of the site — including access routes, staging zones, and temporary structures — may not yet be fully ADA-compliant until construction is complete or those third-party areas are finalized.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, twist, bend, and climb stairs or ladders for extended periods while navigating uneven, unpaved, or obstructed terrain.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to drive between job sites and access all areas of an active construction zone, including raised platforms, scaffolding, and confined spaces.
• Must be able to tolerate exposure to outdoor weather conditions, dust, and construction-related noise, vibrations, and odors.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with contractors, engineers, and site personnel, and maintain situational awareness in high-activity environments.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety vests, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots, is required.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity to read drawings, specifications, and safety signage, and to observe site activity.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in and around active construction areas, which may include unfinished buildings, temporary field offices, staging areas, and partially completed infrastructure. These locations may contain uneven surfaces, limited accessibility, and other conditions typical of construction projects prior to final completion. Overwatch does not control and cannot modify accessibility conditions within areas, facilities, or temporary structures owned or managed by third parties.

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, provided such accommodations do not create safety hazards, impede essential mobility within active work zones, or require modification of facilities not owned or controlled by Overwatch.

Benefits

Overwatch Construction offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off.

OVERWATCH is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. OVERWATCH considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.