Director, Data Center Development & Construction

Umbilical Advanced; Virginia; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Job summary

Umbilical Advanced is seeking a Director of Data Center Development & Construction to drive large-scale, mission-critical infrastructure projects from development through completion. You will work across real estate development, commercial strategy and construction delivery to turn opportunities into operational assets.

You'll own development budgets, manage procurement strategy, coordinate with public agencies and external stakeholders, and lead GC selection and contract negotiations while

Qualifications

• Experience delivering data center projects from development through delivery.
• Strong commercial sense with budgets, procurement and change management.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead site development, entitlements, permitting and utility coordination.
• Oversee development budgets, cost forecasts and procurement strategy.
• Manage GC selection, bid evaluation, contract negotiations and risk allocation.
• Maintain programme, schedule, quality and contractor performance.
• Oversee commissioning, readiness and handover to operations.
• Provide recommendations on cost, risk, scope and delivery strategy.

Skills

Data center development

Construction management

Budget & procurement

Stakeholder management

Entitlements & permitting

GC management

Leadership

Job description

Director, Data Center Development & Construction

We’re partnering with a growing data center development platform to appoint a Director, Data Center Development & Construction to help deliver its next phase of large-scale, mission-critical infrastructure.

This is an opportunity to take meaningful ownership of complex data center projects, working across real estate development, commercial strategy and construction delivery.

You’ll play a key role in turning development opportunities into operational assets, navigating the challenges of land, power, permitting, procurement and construction along the way.

Working closely with senior leadership, you’ll have the visibility and autonomy to influence important decisions, solve problems directly and drive projects forward in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.

What You’ll Do

• Drive development: Lead site development, entitlements, permitting, utility coordination and design progression, working with public agencies, consultants and external stakeholders.
• Own commercial performance: Oversee development budgets, cost forecasts, procurement strategy and change management, understanding the financial and programme implications of key decisions.
• Lead contractor strategy: Manage GC selection, bid evaluations, contract negotiations, consultant appointments and commercial risk allocation.
• Drive construction delivery: Maintain accountability for programme, schedule, quality, contractor performance and resolution of complex project risks.
• Deliver through completion: Oversee commissioning, operational readiness, closeout and handover, ensuring projects are delivered with a clear focus on outcomes.
• Influence senior decisions: Provide clear recommendations on cost, risk, scope and delivery strategy, connecting day-to-day project execution with broader development objectives.

What We’re Looking For

We’re interested in people who combine strong project delivery credentials with commercial judgement and a broader understanding of development.

You may have developed your experience within a data center developer, hyperscaler, owner’s representative, mission-critical contractor or construction management organisation.

The key is your ability to see the bigger picture while remaining close enough to the detail to make things happen.

You’ll ideally bring:

• Proven experience delivering data center projects, preferably in a hyperscale environment.
• Experience spanning development activities and construction execution, with a practical understanding of the full project lifecycle.
• Knowledge of land development, entitlements, permitting, utilities and multidisciplinary design coordination.
• Strong commercial capability across budgets, procurement, contracts, change orders and cost control.
• Experience managing general contractors, consultants and complex stakeholder relationships.
• An understanding of development economics, capital requirements and the impact of project decisions on overall outcomes.
• A hands-on, collaborative leadership style, with the confidence to take ownership, challenge assumptions and resolve issues.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Meaningful ownership: Take responsibility for major project outcomes rather than operating within a narrow functional remit.
• Direct influence: Work closely with senior decision-makers and contribute to important development, commercial and construction decisions.
• A broad remit: Bring together real estate development, commercial management and construction delivery in one role.
• An entrepreneurial environment: Join a lean, collaborative team where initiative, accountability and practical problem-solving are valued.
• A significant infrastructure opportunity: Help deliver large-scale data center capacity in a market where power, speed and execution are increasingly critical.
• Relocation support available for the right candidate.

Interested?

If you’re a data center development or construction leader looking for broader ownership, greater influence and the opportunity to deliver complex projects from development through to completion, we’d welcome a confidential conversation.