Owners Representative

Insight Global; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global is seeking an experienced Construction Manager/Project Manager to lead the ground-up construction and turnover of hyperscale data center facilities in Buffalo, NY. The role requires delivering large-scale, mission-critical projects from dirt through commissioning and turnover, with an aggressive cadence and minimal oversight.

The successful candidate will own major portions of the project, coordinate a full spectrum of trades and vendors, and drive projects toward rapid turnovers

Qualifications

• Experience leading ground-up hyperscale data center construction.
• Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical infrastructure for critical facilities.
• Ability to read construction drawings, specs, schedules and submittals.

Responsibilities

• Manage ground-up hyperscale data center construction from sitework to turnover.
• Own construction schedule, field execution, subcontractor performance, cost, quality and safety.
• Drive a six-month build/turnover cadence while maintaining quality and safety standards.
• Coordinate civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical, controls, fire protection and low-voltage scopes.
• Oversee installation sequencing of major infrastructure including UPS, generators, PDUs, cooling systems, BMS/EPMS and controls.
• Lead coordination between owner, end user, GC, design teams, trade partners and vendors.
• Identify schedule constraints and long-lead equipment risks before impacting milestones.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, change orders, procurement issues and field coordination.
• Support equipment startup, energization, commissioning, IST, deficiency resolution and client acceptance.
• Ensure turnover packages are complete and ready for end user.

Skills

Ground-up construction

Hyperscale data centers

Project management

Construction scheduling

Subcontractor coordination

Vendor management

MEP coordination

Energization/commissioning

Field decision making

Read drawings/specifications

Job description

• 10+ years of construction management/project management experience, ideally with 5 years dedicated specifically to mission-critical/data center construction.
• Proven experience delivering at least one ground-up hyperscale or large mission-critical data center project.
• Strong understanding of the full data center construction lifecycle from dirt through commissioning and turnover.
• Strong working knowledge of electrical and mechanical infrastructure supporting mission-critical facilities.
• Experience managing large general contractors, specialty contractors, MEP trades, equipment vendors, and commissioning teams.
• Experience with energization, equipment startup, commissioning, integrated systems testing, turnover, and client acceptance.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, schedules, submittals, RFIs, and MEP coordination documents.
• Comfortable operating in a high-speed construction environment with minimal oversight.
• Strong understanding of critical path scheduling and construction sequencing.
• Ability to anticipate problems, make decisions in the field, and drive issues through resolution without waiting for direction.
• Must be able to work on-site in Buffalo, NY M-F 40 hours

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Construction Manager/Project Manager to lead the ground-up construction and turnover of hyperscale data center facilities in Buffalo, NY. This position requires someone who has built large-scale, mission-critical data centers from the ground up and understands the entire construction lifecycle, from site development and foundations through MEP installation, energization, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and final turnover. The project is operating on an aggressive delivery model, with the goal of completing and turning over a data center to the end user approximately every six months. This individual must be capable of owning major portions of the project with minimal oversight, proactively identifying schedule and construction risks, driving subcontractors, coordinating MEP activities, and keeping the project moving toward critical turnover milestones. This is not an opportunity for someone looking to learn data center construction. We need a proven mission-critical construction professional who can step onto the project and immediately take ownership.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Manage ground-up hyperscale data center construction from sitework through final turnover.
• Own construction schedule, field execution, subcontractor performance, cost, quality, safety, and project documentation.
• Drive an aggressive approximately six-month build/turnover cadence while maintaining quality and safety expectations.
• Coordinate civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical, controls, fire protection, and low-voltage scopes.
• Manage installation and construction sequencing of major mission-critical infrastructure, including:
  • Utility and medium-voltage electrical systems
  • Switchgear and transformers
  • UPS systems
  • Generators and backup power
  • PDUs and electrical distribution
  • Chillers, cooling towers and/or air-cooled systems
  • CRAH/CRAC systems
  • Pumps, piping and mechanical distribution
  • BMS/EPMS and controls
  • Fire alarm and fire suppression systems
• Lead coordination between the owner, end user, general contractor, design teams, trade partners, vendors, commissioning teams, and utility stakeholders.
• Identify schedule constraints and long-lead equipment risks before they impact critical milestones.
• Drive subcontractors and vendors against short-interval schedules, look-ahead plans, and turnover dates.
• Oversee RFIs, submittals, change orders, design conflicts, procurement issues, punch lists, and field coordination.
• Support equipment startup, energization, commissioning, IST, deficiency resolution, and final client acceptance.
• Ensure construction documentation and turnover packages are complete and ready for the end user.
• Independently make field decisions and elevate only issues requiring executive/client involvement.