Program Controls Manager HPC

Gilder Search Group; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Program Controls Manager to support data center construction projects, focusing on cost control, scheduling, forecasting, and earned value management for HPC/hyperscale facilities. You will lead planning across design, procurement, construction, turnover, manage milestones, and coordinate with EPCs, vendors, and contractors.

The role requires PMP/PMI-Scheduling and 10–15+ years of experience, with travel to project sites.

Qualifications

• 10 to 15+ years in project financial controls and scheduling for data center construction
• 5+ years of management experience
• PMP or PMI-Scheduling certification a plus
• Experience with fast-track or design-build delivery across multiple sites
• Data Center / Mission-Critical Facility Construction experience (Colo/HPC/AI/crypto) required
• Strong communication and leadership capabilities

Responsibilities

• Develop and govern integrated project schedules across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases
• Manage milestones and risk, with recovery plans and escalation of issues
• Coordinate with procurement, vendors, EPCs, GCs and contractors
• Provide regular reports to upper management on project controls
• Drive standardized company delivery standards across all projects
• Oversee day-to-day activities impacting delivery of critical facilities construction projects

Skills

Project leadership

Scheduling

Cross-functional collaboration

Budgeting

Communication

Travel willingness

Independence

Education

BA/BS/Associates Degree

Certifications in PM/Construction

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

MS Project

Oracle Primavera P6

Job description

Program Controls Manager HPC - Denver, CO

This opportunity is working directly with a leading mission-critical data center developer / wholesale provider. This company provides turnkey data center solutions for High Performance Computing (HPC) / Hyperscale environment to custom-fit to the requirements of their client's ever-changing mission-critical facilities operational needs. They accomplish this by providing reliability of mission-critical facilities for many of the world's largest organizations (Hyperscale Customers). This opportunity provides a career-growth minded role with exciting projects with leading-edge technology and innovation as well as competitive salaries and benefits.

We are looking for a Program Controls Manager to support critical facility construction projects. The Program Controls Manager will be responsible for overseeing project teams responsible for cost control, forecasting, change management, scheduling, planning integrity, reporting, manage milestones and earned value management for various fast tracked HPC / hyperscale data center construction projects. The ideal candidate will own the Project Controls Scope of multiple new Data Center construction sites projects supporting HPC, AI and crypto mining operations. They will lead action-oriented weekly and monthly meetings with team members while maintaining open communication across projects with internal and external stakeholders through turnover, driving planning discipline and exposing risks early to ensure execution teams are aligned with project schedules.

Candidate will have a strong understanding of how decisions impact construction, commissioning, reliability, and long-term data center operations. You will effectively work with / communicate / coordinate with trades, contractors, external stakeholders and utilities, and participating directly in project, vendor, and customer discussions.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, govern and oversight of integrated project schedules across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases


• Establish standardized milestone frameworks and ensure master program schedule is based on logic, resources, while partnering with procurement, vendors, OEMS, suppliers, and contractors while keeping site constraints aligned and avoidinggaps and unrealistic durations


• Define and develop planning strategies for fast-track delivery, including phased turnover and parallel workstreams, and establish planning standards


• Own and manage key program milestones, tracking adherence and proactively addressing / mitigating risks, develop recovery plans, and quantify impacts of changes and delays


• Manage areas such as: due diligence, programming, design, entitlements, bidding, permitting, procurement, design team selection, schedule creation/management, contractor selection, vendor selection, sustainability and post construction services


• Maintain liaison with contractors and vendors to manage day-to-day activities impacting the delivery of critical facilities construction projects to ensure successful setup, implementation and delivery of project controls strategies


• Make data-driven decisions regarding Project Controls performance by collecting and analyzing relevant statistics; streamline and communicate project controls processes


• Evaluate and incorporate lessons learned from all sites to enhance current and future data center construction successes


• Regularly update upper management with reports on Project Controls activities


• Drive uniform Company Standards for Project Delivery across all projects

Qualifications:

• 10 to 15 + years related project financial controls and scheduling for data center / critical facilities construction projects as a Colo / Hyperscale or as a general contractor on large commercial,industrial, or infrastructure projects


• 5 or more years of previous management experience


• BA/BS/Associates Degree/Relevant Certifications (Project Management, Construction Management, Business, Engineering) a plus but not required; Master's degree a huge plus


• Project Management Professional (PMP) or PMI-Scheduling Professional a plus


• Advanced project management skills


• Proven success in fast-track or design-build delivery models and multi-site programs


• Data Center / Mission-Critical Facility Construction experience a must with Colo,HPC, AI, or crypto infrastructure


• Demonstrated project leadership, including scheduling, cross-functional collaboration, and milestone tracking


• Working knowledge of accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, scheduling and processes as they relate to corporate real estate, design and construction


• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, procurement impacts, integrating utility schedules and commissioning workflows


• Experience managing or mentoring planners and schedulers


• Must be a team player and be able to build long-term cooperative partner relationships with internal and external stakeholders - EPCs, GCs, and engineering firms


• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, MS Project, etc.)


• Proficient in Oracle Primavera P6 or equivalent enterprise scheduling tools


• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize


• Effective communicator via email, phone, and in-person


• Ability to work independently; self-starter, self-motivated, attention to detail, taskmaster, problem solver, and effective with time management


• Willingness to travel to project sites as needed

Company offers competitive salaries and benefits package including medical insurance, a 401(k) plan

EOE/AA Employer M/F/D/V