Director of Construction

Prime Data Centers; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary (USD 210k–230k)

Performance bonuses

401k match up to 4%

Comprehensive health benefits

Paid time off + sick time

Job summary

Prime Data Centers seeks a Senior Director of Construction to lead end-to-end data center delivery from conception through commissioning across multiple regions. You will oversee planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout, partnering with Sales, Operations, Acquisitions, and Engineering to optimize cost, schedule, and reliability.

In this role you will build and guide high-performing teams, manage CAPEX budgets over $100M, enforce safety and quality standards, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive construction experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing large-scale, mission-critical projects (data centers preferred).
• Proven track record of delivering data center projects on time and within budget across multiple regions.
• Deep understanding of hyperscale and colocation construction requirements, including power, cooling, network, and security infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems, critical infrastructure, and Tier-rated data center design and operations (e.g., Uptime Institute standards).
• Familiarity with construction codes, safety regulations (OSHA), permitting processes, and environmental compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional teams including project managers, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing CAPEX budgets exceeding $100M+.

Responsibilities

• Lead construction delivery across all phases including planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Oversee construction operations across multiple regions and concurrent projects.
• Drive schedule, cost, quality, and safety performance across the project portfolio.
• Establish and implement construction standards, processes, and best practices.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing construction and project management teams.
• Manage resource allocation and project workloads across multiple business units.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Own CAPEX budgets, forecasting, financial controls, and reporting.
• Support value engineering initiatives while maintaining operational sustainability.
• Partner with Finance and Development teams to optimize project costs and schedules.
• Manage contractor, consultant, and vendor relationships.
• Lead procurement, negotiations, and performance management activities.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Finance, and Operations teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in client-facing activities and support customer engagements.

Skills

Leadership

Construction management

Budgeting

CAPEX budgeting

Data center know-how

OSHA/compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Contractor management

Vendor management

Uptime / Tier standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Eng., Electrical/Mechanical Eng.

Job description

About this position

About Prime Data Centers

Prime Data Centers develops, acquires, and operates data centers for some of the world's largest enterprises. A private firm owned by a group controlling $6 billion in assets, with a 15-year tenure in technology and real estate development, Prime provides customers with ownership options and dynamic leasing models, defining a true corporate partnership.

About the role

The Senior Director of Construction is responsible delivering data center commercial construction from conception through commissioning while working with Sales, Operations, Acquisitions, and Engineering. Responsibilities will include construction operations oversight and delivering data center projects of increasing size and complexity: Collaboration and integration in the sales lifecycleprocessincluding clientinterfaceis integral to the role: Partner with Development/Engineering and Finance teams focused on cost and schedule reduction to integrate change management and product optimization into new and ongoing projects: Provide lessons learned into the overall feedback loop for analysis and modification.

This role will work closely with stakeholders and contractors toimplement a vertically-integrated design and manage these partners to deliver the data center projects on schedule and within budget. Additional responsibilities include the alignment of long-term operational sustainability with value engineering and cost metrics to deliver products aligned with corporate goals.

What you'll do

• Lead construction delivery across all phases including planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Oversee construction operations across multiple regions and concurrent projects.
• Drive schedule, cost, quality, and safety performance across the project portfolio.
• Establish and implement construction standards, processes, and best practices.

Team Management

• Build, lead, and develop high-performing construction and project management teams.
• Manage resource allocation and project workloads across multiple business units.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Own CAPEX budgets, forecasting, financial controls, and reporting.
• Support value engineering initiatives whilemaintainingoperational sustainability.
• Partner with Finance and Development teams tooptimizeproject costs and schedules.
• Managecontractor,consultant, and vendor relationships.
• Lead procurement, negotiations, and performance management activities.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Finance, and Operations teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in client-facing activities and support customerengagements.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, regulatory, permitting, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Lead commissioning activities and transition completed facilities to operations teams.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and lessons-learned programs for future projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 15+ years of progressive construction experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing large-scale, mission-critical projects (data centers preferred).
• Proventrack recordof delivering high-value, complex data center projects on time and within budget across multiple regions.
• Deep understanding of hyperscale and colocation data center construction requirements, including power, cooling, network, and security infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems, critical infrastructure, and Tier-rated data center design and operations (e.g., Uptime Institute standards).
• Familiarity with construction codes, safety regulations (OSHA),permittingprocesses, and environmental compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional teams including project managers, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing CAPEX budgets exceeding $100M+.
• Experience implementing standardized construction processes, quality assurance protocols, and risk management frameworks at scale.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align construction initiatives with overall business goals, growth projections, and market demands.
• Competitive salary rangeof $210-230k along with a performance bonuses
• A dollar-for-dollar 401k match up to 4% that is fully vested upon enrollment
• 100% employee premiums paid by employer for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability
• Over 4-weeks of Paid Time Off + Sick time

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Prime is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, protected veteran or military status, disability status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

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