Project Director - Data Centers

Employment Resource Group; Milwaukee (WI, MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Dream Company is seeking a Project Director for data center construction in the Continental US. You will lead every project activity, set strategy, drive profitability, and serve as a bridge between executive leadership and the field.

You will coach a team of managers, measure outcomes, and navigate market conditions with an entrepreneurial mindset. The role emphasizes Integrated Project Delivery, deep technical construction knowledge, and strong business acumen, with a focus on safety, client

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Construction Management required.
• LEED accreditation strongly preferred.
• Data center experience preferred but not required.
• 25+ years of building construction experience and IPD leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project, account, and client performance across the full lifecycle.
• Build and carry out a documented business strategy for each project and account.
• Deliver on sales and gross profit targets for assigned projects and accounts.
• Anticipate and head off margin erosion, forecast slippage, and financial risk.
• Pull profit and margin levers to reach performance goals on new work.
• Establish a strong presence in the local market and cultivate relationships.

Skills

IPD methods

Construction expertise

Leadership

Stakeholder comms

Safety focus

Education

Bachelors/Masters in Eng or CM

LEED accreditation

25+ years experience

IPD leadership

Job description

Project Director – Data Center Construction

Location: Continental US

Dream Company

Leaders here treat coaching as a core part of the job. Across a large, well-established organization, people are given real ownership, honest feedback, and the development support to grow into whatever comes next, whether that means sharpening technical skills or stepping into broader leadership. Integrity, teamwork, and genuine care for colleagues and communities show up in how decisions get made every day, and safety is embraced as a shared personal commitment.

Dream Job

As Project Director for data center work, you will lead every project activity on a complex program, integrating owners, designers, construction partners, systems, and business practices into one unified effort focused on reducing waste and maximizing value for the owner. Beyond delivery, you will own the business: setting strategy, driving profitability, winning new clients, and serving as a trusted bridge between executive leadership and the field. You will coach a team of managers with empathy, measure what matters, and celebrate wins, all while reading market conditions and weighing long-term risk like an entrepreneur. Structured leadership and technical training, paired with an experienced team, keeps your own growth moving in one of construction's fastest-moving sectors.

Role Responsibilities

• Oversee project, account, and client performance across the full lifecycle, working hand in hand with operations and market leaders.
• Build and carry out a documented business strategy for each project and account in your portfolio.
• Deliver on sales and gross profit targets for assigned projects and accounts.
• Anticipate and head off margin erosion, forecast slippage, and financial risk before they affect results.
• Pull the right profit and margin levers to reach performance goals on new work.
• Put company-wide shared services, systems, and processes to work in line with established baselines.
• Establish a strong presence in the local market, cultivating lasting relationships and staying attuned to regional business and political conditions.
• Win new clients and expand existing relationships while keeping client satisfaction high.
• Collaborate with business development on sales strategy, client capture, and account planning.
• Use competitive intelligence to sharpen the company's positioning on pursuits and accounts.
• Strengthen ties with clients, partners, and industry peers so the company is seen as a preferred partner.
• Guide pursuit and contracting milestones from start to finish, including go/no-go decisions, kickoffs, management reviews, fee proposal and contract reviews, estimate and GMP reviews, and contract negotiations.
• Track safety performance across all projects and work with safety leadership to correct issues as they arise.
• Mentor and develop employees through a team of managers who report to you.
• Keep teams engaged and invested, with a focus on retaining top talent.
• Cultivate an inclusive, positive environment where team members feel motivated to do their best work.
• Promote inclusion, community involvement, and engagement initiatives while setting an example of the company's values.
• Translate executive direction into operational priorities, keeping departmental goals aligned with the organization's long-term vision.
• Advise executive leadership with strategic insight to inform key decisions.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Construction Management
• LEED accreditation strongly preferred
• Data center experience strongly preferred, though not required
• 25+ years of building construction experience
• Prior experience leading at the top of an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) structure
• Background serving as Construction Manager at Risk and delivering Design-Build projects
• Experience with commercial construction and R&D projects

Skills and Abilities

• Expert-level command of Integrated Project Delivery philosophy and methods
• Deep technical construction expertise
• Strong business acumen and sound decision-making
• Ability to recognize and adapt leadership and communication approaches to get the best results from diverse teams with varying communication styles
• Ability to articulate the broader impact of decisions within a project and guide key stakeholders accordingly
• Demonstrated active listening skills and the ability to draw out critical information
• Ability to build an environment of trust, hard work, and teamwork
• Communicates as effectively in spontaneous or unrehearsed settings as in prepared ones
• Personal values grounded in integrity, discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence
• Passion for a collaborative culture
• Passion for safety