Director of Construction

Air Comfort, Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Comfort, Inc invites a Director of Construction to oversee a portfolio of data center projects in the Chicago area. This role leads diverse teams of project managers and superintendents, ensuring on-time delivery, quality, and client satisfaction.

You will drive budgets, forecasts, and schedules, preserve margins, and advance safety and best practices across projects. The successful candidate has 15+ years in construction and data center experience, with strong leadership and communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 15+ years of construction experience.
• Minimum 3 years of data center construction experience required.
• Proven experience managing multiple large-scale projects and leading diverse teams.
• Strong financial acumen with budgeting and forecasting experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Project; experience with Yardi/Procore/Prolog preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain executive-level client relationships.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a portfolio of data center construction projects, ensuring successful execution, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Oversee project teams, providing hands-on leadership, mentorship, and support to project managers and superintendents.
• Drive financial performance by managing budgets, forecasts, and schedules, and ensuring margin preservation and profitability.
• Develop and maintain strong executive-level client relationships, resolving escalated concerns and generating repeat business opportunities.
• Standardize and improve operational processes, implementing lessons learned and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental standards across all projects.
• Coordinate with subcontractors, consultants, and vendors to ensure timely project completion and quality control.
• Conduct regular site visits, inspections, and meetings to monitor progress, address issues, and support future planning.
• Lead talent development efforts, including identifying future leaders, conducting talent reviews, and creating succession plans.
• Support general leadership of the regional market and contribute to strategic planning sessions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Client relationship management

Communication

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Project

Yardi

Procore

Prolog

Job description

Join a leading provider of customized data center solutions, dedicated to delivering exceptional quality across the entire data center lifecycle—from turnkey development and construction to facilities management and operations. With a team of over 400 engineers, technicians, and professionals, the company fosters an inclusive culture of excellence, innovation, and progression. The Director of Construction will play a pivotal role in overseeing a portfolio of complex projects, leading high-performing teams, and ensuring operational and financial success. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact in a company that values diversity, military veterans, and an owner-operator mindset, all while focusing exclusively on data center projects for enterprise and hyperscale clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a portfolio of data center construction projects, ensuring successful execution, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Oversee project teams, providing hands-on leadership, mentorship, and support to project managers and superintendents.
• Drive financial performance by managing budgets, forecasts, and schedules, and ensuring margin preservation and profitability.
• Develop and maintain strong executive-level client relationships, resolving escalated concerns and generating repeat business opportunities.
• Standardize and improve operational processes, implementing lessons learned and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with safety, health, and environmental standards across all projects.
• Coordinate with subcontractors, consultants, and vendors to ensure timely project completion and quality control.
• Conduct regular site visits, inspections, and meetings to monitor progress, address issues, and support future planning.
• Lead talent development efforts, including identifying future leaders, conducting talent reviews, and creating succession plans.
• Support general leadership of the regional market and contribute to strategic planning sessions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• 15+ years of construction experience, including Division 2-10 (concrete to finished trade).
• Minimum 3 years of data center construction experience required.
• Proven experience managing multiple large-scale projects and leading diverse teams.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget management, forecasting, and margin preservation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Project.
• Experience with Yardi, Procore, and Prolog preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain client relationships at the executive level.
• Commitment to operational excellence, safety, and quality standards.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.