Director of Construction

Verrus, LLC; California; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Verrus, LLC is seeking an experienced Director of Data Center Construction to lead hyperscale and enterprise data center developments across a growing portfolio of projects. You will oversee the full construction lifecycle—from site acquisition and entitlement through design, procurement, contractor management, and turnover—driving cost, schedule, quality, and safety.

This executive role focuses on building high-performing teams, implementing best practices, and delivering scalable, reliable

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in data center development or construction management.
• Proven leadership of large-scale data center projects from acquisition to completion.
• Strong entitlement, permitting, site development knowledge.
• Experience managing budgets, schedules, contracts, and contractor performance.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in complex environments.
• Willingness to travel ~30%.

Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery for hyperscale and enterprise data center developments, including ground-up and retrofit projects.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle from site acquisition, due diligence, and entitlement through construction completion and turnover.
• Maintain accountability for portfolio cost, schedule, quality, safety, and client satisfaction.
• Partner with design, development, and deployment teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Review and optimize designs to improve constructability, efficiency, and project value.
• Lead contractor procurement, bid evaluations, negotiations, and contractor selection.
• Develop relationships with General Contractors, consultants, owners, and stakeholders.
• Support budgeting, cost forecasting, and construction input for investment decisions.
• Monitor milestones and ensure timely delivery of critical deliverables.
• Drive continuous improvement in construction methods and process execution.
• Promote standardized construction processes across projects and markets.

Skills

Leadership

Construction management

Team building

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & forecasting

Contract negotiations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related field

Tools

MS Project

Bluebeam

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client, a leading developer and owner of mission-critical real estate, is seeking an experienced Director of Data Center Construction to lead the delivery of hyperscale and enterprise data center developments across a growing portfolio of new-build and retrofit projects.

This executive leadership role will oversee the full construction lifecycle, from site acquisition support and entitlement through design development, procurement, contractor management, construction execution, and project turnover. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving portfolio performance across cost, schedule, quality, and safety while developing high-performing teams and implementing best practices across the organization.

This is an opportunity to join a rapidly expanding data center platform and influence the delivery strategy behind some of the industry's most significant digital infrastructure investments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery for hyperscale and enterprise data center developments, including ground-up and retrofit projects.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle from site acquisition, due diligence, and entitlement through construction completion and turnover.
• Maintain overall accountability for portfolio performance across cost, schedule, quality, safety, and client satisfaction.
• Partner with design, development, and deployment teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Review and optimize project designs to improve constructability, efficiency, and overall project value.
• Lead contractor procurement efforts, bid evaluations, contract negotiations, and contractor selection processes.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with General Contractors, consultants, owners, and key stakeholders.
• Support investment planning by providing budgeting, cost forecasting, and construction input for development and investment decisions.
• Monitor project milestones and ensure timely execution of critical deliverables.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across project delivery, construction methodologies, and operational processes.
• Implement and promote best practices in project controls, reporting, risk management, and execution planning.
• Support the development and implementation of standardized construction processes across multiple projects and markets.

Leadership & Team Development Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight to project management and construction teams.
• Build and develop high-performing teams while supporting long-term succession planning.
• Conduct performance reviews, staffing assessments, and development planning for direct reports.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Promote continuous learning and professional growth throughout the organization.
• Lead organizational initiatives focused on improving construction performance and project outcomes.
• Support regional teams by providing guidance on complex project and development challenges.

Construction & Development Responsibilities

• Oversee project execution from land acquisition through permitting, entitlement, construction, commissioning, and turnover.
• Manage project financial performance, including budget planning, forecasting, reporting, and cost control.
• Lead value engineering, design optimization, and constructability review efforts.
• Drive lean construction initiatives and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Partner with procurement teams to implement cost-saving strategies and supply chain improvements.
• Identify project risks and establish effective mitigation plans.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, company standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with external consultants, utility providers, agencies, and project stakeholders throughout the development process.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in data center development, construction management, real estate development, engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience leading large-scale data center construction projects from acquisition through completion.
• Strong understanding of entitlement, permitting, site development, procurement, and construction processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, and contractor performance.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in complex development environments.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to evaluate project financial performance.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
• Proficiency with MS Project, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office Suite, and related project management tools.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% in support of projects and business objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate Development, or a related field.
• Experience working for developers, owners, owner's representatives, or major general contractors.
• Strong understanding of site development, entitlement, and land development processes.
• Knowledge of emerging construction technologies, automation, digital construction tools, and AI-driven project solutions.
• Experience negotiating major construction contracts and managing strategic contractor relationships.