Executive Data Center Program Director (Owner’s Rep)

Socket.dev; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 225,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Accident Insurance

Long Term Disability

401(k) retirement plan with 4% Kalcon

15 days of paid time off

8 paid National Holidays

Reimbursement for professional Licens​

Reimburse professional licenses and·s

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking an experienced Project Director to provide executive Owner Representation for planning, design, construction, commissioning, and turnover of hyperscale data center campuses. You will lead programs across multiple projects and manage senior relationships with clients, design teams, and contractors to ensure scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and operational readiness.

The role requires 15+ years in large construction programs, 10+ years in data centers or related

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in managing large-scale construction programs.
• At least 10 years in data centers, critical facilities, semiconductor, mission critical, industrial, or advanced technology projects.
• Experience leading programs exceeding $500M in construction value.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and large multi-disciplinary teams.
• Executive-level communication and leadership skills.
• Advanced knowledge of project controls, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and contract administration.
• Proficient with Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore, and project management platforms.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior Owner's Representative for all assigned data center construction projects and campus development programs.
• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and project closeout activities.
• Direct and oversee Project Managers, Project Engineers, consultants, contractors, and third-party vendors to ensure successful project delivery.
• Act as the primary liaison between client leadership, project stakeholders, design teams, construction managers, and operational personnel.
• Establish and maintain program governance, reporting structures, and communication protocols.
• Ensure project objectives are achieved related to scope, budget, schedule, quality, safety, and operational readiness.
• Lead executive-level project meetings, steering committee reviews, and client presentations.
• Evaluate project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impacts to cost, schedule, and operations.
• Provide leadership in resolving complex project issues, disputes, and escalated matters.
• Oversee program-wide scheduling activities, including milestone management, critical path analysis, and recovery planning.
• Monitor project performance and implement corrective actions as necessary to maintain project objectives.
• Lead project budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and cost management across multiple projects and workstreams.
• Review and approve major contracts, change orders, budget modifications, and funding requests.
• Drive value engineering initiatives and identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising quality or requirements.
• Ensure construction activities are executed in accordance with contract documents, standards, and client expectations.
• Oversee quality assurance, quality control, and safety programs.
• Manage contractor and consultant performance through regular evaluations and accountability measures.
• Direct design management to align owner requirements with operations and construction.
• Coordinate integration of owner-furnished equipment, tech infrastructure, and fit-out requirements.
• Lead commissioning, start-up, and turnover activities to ensure facilities are fully operational.
• Oversee project closeout processes, including financial reconciliation and warranty management.
• Manage relationships with AHJs, utilities, and regulatory agencies to support permitting and occupancy.
• Develop and maintain strategic client relationships and identify future growth opportunities.
• Mentor and develop project management staff and foster accountability and collaboration.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Communication

Project controls

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Procore

Microsoft Office Suite

Project management platforms

Job description

Socket.dev is seeking an experienced Project Director to provide executive Owner Representation for planning, design, construction, commissioning, and turnover of hyperscale data center campuses. You will lead programs across multiple projects and manage senior relationships with clients, design teams, and contractors to ensure scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and operational readiness.

The role requires 15+ years in large construction programs, 10+ years in data centers or related