Mission Critical Project Executive

Southland Industries; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with 50% company match

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Annual bonus program

Life insurance

Disability income protection

Pre-tax flexible spending plans

Paid parental leave

Paid holidays, vacation, and personal

Training/pro

Job summary

Southland Industries seeks a Project Executive to lead large-scale data center projects where MEP acts as Prime Contractor, taking full accountability for end-to-end delivery across trades.

The role requires a builder-first mindset, deep MEP fluency, and the ability to manage fast-paced, high-stakes environments with zero tolerance for downtime or delays.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of construction experience with significant tenure in a General Contractor role.
• Proven success delivering large-scale mission critical/data center projects ($100M+).
• Experience leading projects with responsibility for all trades as the Prime/GC.
• Deep understanding of MEP systems in mission critical environments (power distribution, backup systems).
• Strong expertise in CPM scheduling, cost control, contracts, and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-track, high-pressure environments.
• Willing and able to travel up to 50% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the shared point of accountability for project delivery (safety, schedule, cost, quality).
• Lead execution of hyperscale / mission critical data center projects ($100M-$1B+).
• Oversee all scopes including MEP trades.
• Drive alignment across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover.

Skills

Project leadership

Budget management

Risk management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering

PMP or CCM certification

Job description

Position Summary

This is a unique opportunity to lead cutting-edge, large-scale data center projects as our organization expands into a Prime Contractor role. You will help define how we deliver mission-critical projects at scale-combining MEP expertise with full-scope GC leadership-while working on some of the most complex and high-impact builds in the industry.

We are seeking a Project Executive with deep General Contractor (GC) experience and a proven track record delivering large-scale, mission-critical data center projects. This role will lead projects where our MEP organization is serving as the Prime Contractor, taking full accountability for end-to-end project delivery across all trades.

This individual must bring a builder-first mindset, strong technical fluency in MEP systems, and the ability to lead highly complex, fast-paced projects with zero tolerance for downtime, quality issues, or schedule slip.

Position Details

Full-Scope Project Leadership (Prime/GC Role)

• Serve as the shared point of accountability for project delivery (safety, schedule, cost, quality)
• Lead execution of hyperscale / mission critical data center projects ($100M-$1B+)
• Oversee all scopes including MEP trades
• Drive alignment across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover

Mission Critical Execution

• Ensure successful delivery of high-availability systems (power, cooling, redundancy, commissioning)
• Lead teams in achieving strict uptime, redundancy (N/N+1/2N), and commissioning standards
• Integrate phased turnovers, early energization, and critical path systems startup
• Partner with commissioning teams to ensure seamless Level 1-5 commissioning processes

Preconstruction & Strategic Planning

• Lead front-end planning including logistics, phasing, procurement strategy, and long-lead equipment alignment (switchgear, generators, chillers, etc.)
• Drive constructability reviews and value engineering specific to mission critical environments
• Build and manage aggressive, milestone-driven schedules with a focus on speed-to-market

Contract & Commercial Management

• Own the prime contract and all subcontractor/vendor agreements
• Manage large-scale project financials including forecasting, cost control, and margin protection
• Lead change management in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
• Proactively manage risk, claims, and dispute resolution

Client Leadership (Hyperscale/Enterprise Clients)

• Serve as primary interface with sophisticated data center clients (hyperscalers, colocation providers)
• Lead executive-level reporting, schedule reviews, and risk discussions
• Build trust through transparency, urgency, and consistent delivery

Field & Team Leadership

• Lead and align large, matrixed teams (Project Managers, Superintendents, Engineers, external trade partners)
• Drive coordination between field operations and technical MEP teams
• Develop and mentor next-generation leaders within the organization

Safety & Quality

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture
• Enforce strict QA/QC standards aligned with mission critical expectations
• Ensure all installations meet design intent, commissioning requirements, and client standards

Qualifications

Required

• 7-10+ years of construction experience with significant tenure in a General Contractor role
• Proven success delivering large-scale mission critical/data center projects ($100M+; hyperscale preferred)
• Experience leading projects with responsibility for all trades as the Prime/GC
• Deep understanding of MEP systems in mission critical environments (power distribution, backup systems, cooling infrastructure)
• Strong expertise in CPM scheduling, cost control, contracts, and risk management
• Demonstrated ability to operate in fast-track, high-pressure environments
• Candidates must be willing and able to travel up to 50% of the time. Travel requirements will typically range from 40%-50%, depending on business needs.

Preferred

• Experience with hyperscale clients (e.g., large cloud providers) or major colocation developers
• Background in MEP contracting with transition into GC/Prime leadership
• Familiarity with commissioning processes (Level 1-5) and integrated systems testing
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
• PMP, CCM, or similar certification

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with 50% company match (no cap) and immediate 100% vesting
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (100% paid for employee)
• Annual bonus program based upon performance, achievement, and company profitability
• Term life, AD&D insurance, and voluntary life insurance
• Disability income protection insurancePre-tax flexible spending plans (health and dependent care)
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays, vacation, and personal time
• Training/pro