Position Summary
The Data Center New Build Deployment Enablement Manager (DEM) serves as the central coordination point for network infrastructure deployment at new data center builds - from cable start through Production Ready (PR). This role is "the glue" between Design, Engineering, Construction and Network Deployment teams and all cross-functional partners, ensuring milestones are tracked, dates are committed, and teams are aligned across every phase of the network build.The DEM heavily influences cross-functional teams to provide and commit to dates, serves as the single source of truth for deployment milestones, and drives accountability when timelines slip. This is not a passive tracking role - it requires deep technical fluency in Data Center network infrastructure, the ability to navigate complex multi-team political dynamics, and the confidence to elevate blockers to senior leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Milestone Coordination & Tracking
- Own and maintain the New Build Deployment Tracker for assigned buildings - tracking milestones from Cable Ready to Production Ready (PR)
- Drive weekly New Build coordination calls with cross-functional and internal teams
- Track dependencies across multiple network layers
- Integrate with construction and network schedules and maintain alignment between multiple schedule sources
Cross-Functional Leadership & Communication
- Lead or co-lead New Build calls starting at cable start for data centers being built
- Post weekly program updates - highlighting new/changed risks, milestone achievements, and upcoming milestone dates
- Serve as the bridge between Construction Managers, Deployment Engineers, Connectivity Engineers, and all supporting teams
- Influence cross-functional partners to provide and commit to dates
- Facilitate SEV creation and escalation for schedule risks and cross-team blockers
Site Deployment Execution
- Coordinate network infrastructure deployment across multiple concurrent buildings (typically 2-4 simultaneous sites)
- Track hardware delivery SLAs, material logistics (warehouse locations, shipping from nearest facility), and upstream dependencies
- Understand and manage differences between building types
- Monitor and drive resolution of deployment blockers
Risk Management & Escalation
- Identify schedule risks early by understanding SLA back-off calculations and hardware delivery timelines relative to project milestones
- Create and manage SEVs for deployment blockers
- Proactively communicate timeline impacts - provide specific information about expected impacts and revised timelines
- Escalate to leadership when cross-functional commitments are not being met
Process Development & Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to template standardization across building types
- Conduct lessons-learned reviews to identify recurring gaps in the deployment process
- Mentor and train incoming DEMs through reverse shadow model and milestone sessions
Required Skills & Qualifications
Technical & Domain Knowledge
- Strong understanding of data center network infrastructure and production network layers
- Familiarity with network deployment processes: rack & stack, provisioning, circuit audits, device scanning, and activation/undrain workflows
- Understanding of material logistics: hardware delivery SLAs, BOM management, warehouse operations, and vendor coordination
- Proficiency with project tracking tools
- Hands-on experience with AI tools and agentic frameworks for workflow automation and reporting
Leadership & Interpersonal Skills
- Proven ability to influence without authority across cross-functional teams simultaneously
- Comfort navigating political dynamics between organizations - diplomatically asserting ownership of network deployment milestones
- Ability to operate independently in ambiguous, high-pressure environments where schedules are aggressive and remediation cycles are frequent
- Outstanding communication skills - ability to distill complex multi-site status into clear leadership readouts
- Track record of driving accountability: following up, not accepting "we'll get to it next week" when milestones are at risk
Experience
- 5-8 years of progressive experience in project/program management within data center construction, network infrastructure, telecommunications, or critical facility deployment
- Experience managing projects in the $1M-$10M range with multiple concurrent workstreams and cross-functional dependencies
- Direct experience with data center construction phases: foundation, cable start, TFO, commissioning, and network turn-up
- Experience working with MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and field operations teams in a data center environment
- Prior experience in hyperscale data center environments (Google, AWS, Microsoft, or similar) strongly preferred
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related technical field - or equivalen