Mission Critical Project Executive

Ajax Building Company; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer (

Life & AD&D Insurance

Paid time off

Paid Holidays

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Ajax Building Company, part of STO Building Group, seeks a Mission Critical Project Executive to lead large-scale data center projects from preconstruction through commissioning and turnover. This role is accountable for project profitability, client satisfaction, and team performance, providing executive oversight of safety, quality, schedule, and risk while building long-term client relationships.

The candidate will lead project managers and MEP leaders, oversee preconstruction, budgeting,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of commercial general contractor project management experience, including senior leadership of complex projects.
• Proven success delivering large-scale data center projects from preconstruction through commissioning and turnover; hyperscale experience preferred.
• Willingness to travel and stay near project sites for extended assignments (primarily across the Eastern region and Midwest).
• Strong understanding of critical power and cooling systems, MEP coordination, equipment procurement, commissioning, and phased delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple project teams, manage financial performance and contractual risk, and build lasting client relationships.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead project managers, superintendents, and MEP leaders across assigned data center projects; establish priorities, staffing plans, and accountability.
• Serve as the primary executive contact for owners, design teams, and trade partners; resolve escalated issues and develop repeat business.
• Oversee preconstruction, budgeting, constructability, value engineering, subcontractor selection, and procurement strategy.
• Manage financial performance, including forecasts, cost controls, general conditions, billing, collections, and change orders; identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Review contracts and scopes, manage commercial risk, and ensure compliance with project obligations and company procedures.
• Drive schedules and coordinate long-lead equipment, owner-furnished contractor-installed (OFCI) packages, utility readiness, and phased turnover milestones.
• Oversee integration of critical electrical and mechanical systems, including commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational readiness.
• Hold teams accountable for safety and quality; monitor progress and promptly elevate significant budget, schedule, or delivery risks to leadership.
• Ensure complete closeout, warranties, record documentation, and final financial reconciliation; capture lessons learned to improve future projects.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Travel willingness

Client relationship building

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field

Job description

SUMMARY

Ajax Building Company, part of STO Building Group, is seeking a Mission Critical Project Executive to lead large-scale data center projects from preconstruction through commissioning and turnover. This role is accountable for project profitability, client satisfaction, and team performance, providing executive oversight of safety, quality, schedule, and risk while building long-term client relationships.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Lead project managers, superintendents, and MEP leaders across assigned data center projects; establish priorities, staffing plans, and accountability.
• Serve as the primary executive contact for owners, design teams, and trade partners; resolve escalated issues and develop repeat business.
• Oversee preconstruction, budgeting, constructability, value engineering, subcontractor selection, and procurement strategy.
• Manage financial performance, including forecasts, cost controls, general conditions, billing, collections, and change orders; identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Review contracts and scopes, manage commercial risk, and ensure compliance with project obligations and company procedures.
• Drive schedules and coordinate long-lead equipment, owner-furnished contractor-installed (OFCI) packages, utility readiness, and phased turnover milestones.
• Oversee integration of critical electrical and mechanical systems, including commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational readiness.
• Hold teams accountable for safety and quality; monitor progress and promptly elevate significant budget, schedule, or delivery risks to leadership.
• Ensure complete closeout, warranties, record documentation, and final financial reconciliation; capture lessons learned to improve future projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 15 years of commercial general contractor project management experience, including senior leadership of complex projects.
• Proven success delivering large-scale data center projects from preconstruction through commissioning and turnover; hyperscale experience preferred.
• Willingness to travel and stay near project sites for extended assignments (primarily across the Eastern region and Midwest).
• Strong understanding of critical power and cooling systems, MEP coordination, equipment procurement, commissioning, and phased delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple project teams, manage financial performance and contractual risk, and build lasting client relationships.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to visit and navigate active construction sites and perform essential job duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.

ABOUT AJAX

Founded in 1958, Ajax Building Company is a leading commercial contractor delivering complex, high-impact projects across the Southeast. Our work spans healthcare, K-12, higher education, justice, municipal, mission critical, and other institutional markets-giving our teams the opportunity to build projects that truly impact the communities they serve.

At Ajax, you'll find a collaborative, team-oriented culture where your contributions are valued, backed by the strength and stability of STO Building Group's $15B global platform. As we continue to grow, our employees take on meaningful responsibility, gain exposure to diverse and challenging work, and have clear paths for career advancement.

BENEFITS

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, Life & AD&D Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, Short-term Disability insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Home & Auto Insurance, Family Support, Pre-tax Paid Parking/Public Transportation, Paid time off, Time Away Benefits, Paid Holidays, Group Legal, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program