Operations Director | Data Center

Colonial Group; Fayetteville (GA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group is seeking an experienced Senior Project Leader to drive financial performance, preconstruction planning, scheduling, and site operations across multiple construction projects. You will oversee GMP development, budgets, and cost reporting while coordinating with owners, design teams, subcontractors, and suppliers to ensure on-time, on-budget project delivery.

You will lead the project team, mentor staff, and promote safety, quality, and customer satisfaction through effective

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a construction-related field or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated leadership of medium-to-large teams on multi-project programs.
• Proven ability to oversee budgets, GMP processes, and cost controls.
• Strong knowledge of subcontracting management and vendor coordination.
• Experience with project scheduling and cross-functional coordination on complex projects.
• Excellent communication with customers and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee budgeting and GMP development for projects.
• Review owner contracts, bonds, insurances, costs, and reporting requirements.
• Lead monthly Projected Final Cost (PFR) projections and financial planning.
• Create project incentive plans within 30 days of GMP acceptance.
• Collaborate with operations and Preconstruction on budget reporting and estimates.
• Supervise subcontracting processes from scope review to final execution.
• Coordinate schedules with PMs, superintendents, and suppliers to meet timelines.
• Ensure safety, risk management and compliance across sites.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

GMP Development

Subcontracting

Project Scheduling

Client Relations

Safety Compliance

SMartsheet

Primavera P6

Procore

Microsoft Office

Excel

Education

BS in Construction Management

Civil Engineering

Architecture

Tools

Smartsheet

Primavera P6

Procore

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

Assists the Business Unit Leaders and all project leadership to develop, grow and maintain business units, from the project lead stage through preconstruction, construction and closeout. Ensures operational excellence in the execution of all required policies and procedures by the business unit’s employees. Maintains a relentless focus on meeting and exceeding customer needs and expectations. Builds business with current customers by delivering on our promises and creates new business with potential customers in a proactive manner, promoting all our construction services.

Essential Functions

Project Financial Responsibilities

• Oversees the process of creating and managing the project’s budget and coordinates the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) development.
• Has complete knowledge of the requirements of owner’s contract, including bonds, fees, insurances, notifications, schedules, reporting, and costs.
• Oversees the Project Manager in the development of the monthly Projected Final Cost Report (PFR) projections on time.
• Creates Project Incentive Compensation Plan within 30 days of GMP acceptance.

Preconstruction Services

• Collaborates with the project’s operations team and Preconstruction to prepare, review, and monitor information and reports related to all costs involved in developing the project’s budget.
• Takes ownership of process of determining the quantity of budget estimates/deliverables to client.
• Supervises the project’s operations team on the subcontracting process, which includes holding initial scope review meetings, finalizing agreed price, developing subcontract scope of work, and managing the subcontract distribution and final execution process.
• Ensures the project’s operations team develops a plan, complies with, and reports on Minority Business Entity (MBE) requirements for the project, as required.
• Collaborates with project team to establish Mission Alignment Plan (MAP) with the client.

Project Start-up and Scheduling

• Collaborates with the project manager, scheduling, superintendent, subcontractors, and suppliers to create a construction schedule.
• Supervises the development of an organizational and responsibilities matrix at the start of each project and determines the resources needed for the project (e.g., people, tools, equipment, materials, internal and external services).
• Reviews the owner contract with all project participants (e.g., customers, employees, subcontractors, suppliers, government regulators, utilities) to ensure work is completed on time and within budget.
• Collaborate with the operations team to coordinate and deliver all requirements for subcontractors and suppliers to meet project schedules.

Project Administration, Operations and Close-out

• Responsible for supervising the project operations team on project administration and daily operations. Ensure the project manager prepares and maintains the project schedule, milestone dates, and close-out checklist. Reviews with project staff each quarter and assigns responsibilities, execution, and follow‑up plans.
• Establishes relationships and communication tools as needed with suppliers and other key people to verify all materials, supplies, tools, equipment, and personnel are obtained and/or delivered when necessary. Ensures that all understand performance standards and expectations.
• Ensures that project site and company assets are secure and maintains a safe and respectful working environment at all times by implementing programs for safety and loss prevention, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), risk management, training, and quality control.
• Routinely visits all assigned project sites to assess progress, quality of work and compliance with all required policies and procedures. Meets with all levels of

Promote Customer Relations

• Builds effective relationships with customers, design team, subcontractors, suppliers, and user groups that reflect and support company core values and meets or exceeds the customer’s expectations.
• Actively participates in industry, client, and community relations to enhance company image.
• Makes presentations to proactively seek new business opportunities through relationships.

Culture, Leadership and Employee Development

• Promotes our People-First Culture and communicates our Cultural Framework.
• Serves as a role model and promotes professional behavior.
• Participates in and support operations training programs (including facilitation & development of training programs as requested) and commits to the development of project staff and of self.
• May prepare performance and salary reviews for employees, including annual development plans and related follow up.
• Develops and mentors operations employees at all levels. Assists project leadership (VP/PX/PM) as needed.

Working Conditions

• The majority of work is completed on job sites in an office trailer or in an existing structure. Due to daily condition changes on construction projects, when employees are outside of the office trailer or structure, they must wear appropriate personal protective equipment as required by the company's safety policies and as required for weather conditions.
• The project team and/or team member may need to move to other projected work geographic locations, if necessary.

Required Education, Experience and Knowledge

• 15+ years of construction industry experience. Depending upon the project size, scope, and complexity the years of experience may vary. Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple projects at a time.
• 10+ years’ experience in leadership position with medium to large-size teams.
• B.S. in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field.
• Demonstrates leadership skills with ability and willingness to face challenges, solve problems, and motivate others, while maintaining effective relationships with customers by meeting or exceeding their requirements and expectations.
• Supervises and develops direct reports while prioritizing and delegating significant responsibilities to others.
• Manages essential functions effectively by consistently driving for quality, profitable, safe, and timely results on the assigned project.
• Demonstrates solid presentation skills and verbal/written skills.
• Demonstrates proficiency using a personal computer (PC) and company communication tools and software, such as email, internet, Microsoft products (e.g., Word, Excel, Office, Outlook), Smartsheet, Primavera P6, Procore, digital documents and BIM models.

Preferred Education, Experience and Knowledge

• M.S. in Business Administration
• 20+ years’ experience in leadership position with large teams.
• Experience working in remote locations.