Project Manager

Black Box; DeKalb (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Opportunities for advancement

Job summary

Black Box in DeKalb, Illinois is looking for a Project Manager to oversee the construction of a major data center. In this role, you will manage site operations, maintain project schedules, and ensure safety protocols are adhered to. The ideal candidate should have over 5 years of construction management experience, strong knowledge of data center operations, and be proficient in industry tools like MS Office and Procore. Competitive compensation and opportunities for career advancement are offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of construction management experience.
• Experience managing large data center or structured cabling projects.
• Certifications like OSHA 30, BICSI RCDD preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project execution, ensuring alignment with scope and budget.
• Develop and manage project schedules.
• Handle change events and ensure quality controls.

Skills

Using data and analytics for decision-making

Construction safety protocols

Estimating engineering principles

Change-management processes

Construction accounting

Strong communication

Detail-oriented

Proficient in MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or related field

Tools

MS Office

Bluebeam

Procore

Textura

Job description

Project Manager – Data Center Construction and Operations

At Black Box, we’re not just building infrastructure—we’re shaping the digital backbone of the future. As a Data Center Project Manager, you will lead one of the most transformative infrastructure programs in the country: constructing the largest data center in the United States. This role offers leadership over high‑visibility work that directly impacts connectivity and cloud innovation.

Why Top Talent Thrives Here

• High profile, global technology infrastructure projects
• A fast‑paced environment where your expertise is valued
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Opportunities for advancement in one of the world's largest Technology Solutions Integrators
• The chance to contribute to a historic, industry‑defining build

Responsibilities

• Own day‑to‑day DC Field Ops management (capacity, network services, physical layer)
• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules
• Oversee all phases of project execution, ensuring alignment with scope, timeline, and budget
• Identify and manage change events, applying best‑practice change‑management processes
• Measure and drive service quality against defined SLAs/KPIs
• Act as the on‑site escalation point/coordinator for planning, scheduling, work prioritization, and ticket resolution with cross‑functional partners and site teams
• Define priorities, build roadmaps, and lead cross‑functional delivery by holding owners accountable, tracking progress, and driving adoption
• Manage changes to scope, timelines, and resources with clear stakeholder alignment and communication
• Enforce safety protocols, procedures, and site standards across all project activities
• Ensure quality control through consistent documentation, tracking, and reporting
• Maintain adherence to construction technology platforms, building codes, and industry standards
• Coordinate escalations and incidents, driving action items to closure and delivering concise leadership reports
• Identify delivery risks and blockers early and lead mitigation efforts across teams
• Develop, standardize SOPs, and implement best practices at scale
• Own QA/QC for physical layer work, including structured cabling with plant ownership post‑acceptance and project intake reviews
• Own EHS compliance, driving safe execution through procedural adherence, audits, and correct routing of out‑of‑scope work
• Apply project‑management accounting practices to support forecasting, budget reviews, and financial reporting
• Manage contracting and delivery methods including lump‑sum, cost‑plus, GMP, design/build, and time & material
• Monitor vendor performance, approve invoices, and track project expenditures
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal teams, cross‑functional teams, clients, subcontractors, and senior leadership
• Communicate project status, risks, milestones, and priorities clearly and confidently
• Prepare presentations and lead briefings for small and large groups
• Monitor communication portals and enforce resource utilization, onboarding, and training standards
• Build trusted stakeholder relationships and represent field needs to drive tooling and process improvements
• Provide status reporting: roadmap updates, risks, mitigation plans, and critical changes on a regular cadence
• Facilitate cross‑functional forums (planning sessions, reviews, war rooms) and keep teams aligned under time pressure
• Anticipate issues, mitigate risks, and drive timely resolution of conflicts
• Apply data‑driven insights to influence decisions and optimize project performance
• Promote a culture of innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement on site
• Act as the main customer‑facing POC for communication with other cross‑functional partners
• Adapt to changes in tooling and processes due to continuous improvement initiatives

Requirements

• Proficient in using data and analytics to support informed decision‑making
• Extensive knowledge of construction safety protocols and regulatory requirements
• Strong understanding of estimating engineering principles and construction methodologies
• Experience with change‑management processes and documentation
• Solid understanding of construction accounting, cost forecasting, and budgeting
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder‑management skills
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and self‑driven with the ability to adapt to evolving project needs
• Proficient in business and industry tools including MS Office, Bluebeam, Procore, Textura, and other construction platforms

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum 5 years of construction industry experience in a management or leadership role
• Experience managing large data center or structured cabling construction projects
• Experience across multiple contract and delivery models (GMP, design/build, fixed price, etc.)
• Preferred certifications: OSHA 30, BICSI RCDD, BICSI RTPM, PMI PMP