Project Manager - AI Data Center Fiber Infrastructure

National OnDemand, Inc.; Monroe (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

National OnDemand, Inc. is seeking an experienced Project Manager for a large-scale fiber optic and OSP build in Louisiana. The role manages field teams, schedules, budgets, and coordination with the GC's program team, from mobilization through turnover.

You will own the project lifecycle, drive quality, safety, and compliance, and partner with cross-functional groups to deliver on-time, within-budget completion at a mission-critical data center campus.

Qualifications

• 6+ years managing data center, campus, or large-scale telecomm OSP construction projects.
• Direct experience overseeing fiber optic and structured cabling installation, splicing, testing/turnover.
• Experience with OTDR testing and fiber documentation (Tier 1/2).
• Familiarity with TIA/EIA and ISO/IEC cabling standards and enforcing them.
• Experience managing labor crews and vendors across multiple areas.
• Must reside within reasonable commute or relocate for 100% on-site work.

Responsibilities

• Own full project lifecycle from initiation to closeout.
• Lead deployment of high-density fiber and copper cabling systems.
• Serve as on-site point of contact to GC program and construction team.
• Develop and maintain schedule, WBS, and RACI with GC.
• Build and maintain CPM schedule, track milestones and critical path.
• Coordinate daily with engineering/construction teams and other trades.
• Manage crews: staffing, mobilization, production, QA.
• Own fiber testing and turnover to GC per industry standards.
• Validate design/installation quality against standards and implement QMS.
• Support SOW, pricing discussions, and change orders.
• Manage project financials: cost tracking, forecasts, margins.

Skills

Data center construction management

Fiber optic cabling installation

OTDR testing knowledge

Cabling standards (TIA/EIA ISO/IEC)

Labor/vendor management

On-site construction oversight

Physical stamina (lift 50 lbs)

PMP certification (preferred)

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or Engineering

Tools

MS Project

MS Office Suite

Bluebeam

Job description

Position Summary

National OnDemand is a telecommunications construction general contractor delivering fiber optic and outside plant (OSP) infrastructure programs nationwide. We are staffing a multi-year, large-scale project to install and test fiber optic and structured cabling infrastructure inside an AI data center campus in Louisiana. NATIONAL ONDEMAND is executing this scope as a construction partner to the general contractor leading the site program, and this role owns NATIONAL ONDEMAND's execution from mobilization through final acceptance and turnover.The Project Manager will run day-to-day field execution, crews, scheduling, budget, and the working relationship with the general contractor's site program team for the duration of the assignment, reporting into NATIONAL ONDEMAND's Program Management Office. The end customer and site cannot be named in this posting full details are provided during the interview process.

Primary Position Duties

• Own the full project lifecycle for NATIONAL ONDEMAND's fiber and structured cabling scope: initiation, planning, mobilization, execution, monitoring, testing and turnover, and closeout.
• Lead deployment of fiber optic and copper structured cabling systems supporting a high-density AI compute environment, including pre-terminated and high-fiber-count cabling solutions.
• Serve as NATIONAL ONDEMAND's primary on-site point of contact to the general contractor's program and construction management team, representing NATIONAL ONDEMAND's scope, schedule, and quality commitments.
• Develop and maintain the project schedule, work breakdown structure (WBS), and communication/governance plan coordinate project org chart, roles and responsibilities, and RACI with the GC's team.
• Build and maintain the master CPM schedule, track milestones and critical path, and manage multi-year phasing across a large, multi-building campus.
• Coordinate daily with the general contractor's engineering and construction teams and other trades (electrical, mechanical, security) on interface sequencing and site access.
• Manage crews performing fiber and copper cabling placement, splicing, and testing: staffing plans, mobilization, daily production tracking, and quality assurance.
• Own fiber optic testing and turnover to GC and industry standards (TIA/EIA, ISO/IEC): OTDR testing and certification, insertion loss and return loss verification, Tier 1/Tier 2 acceptance testing, SMF/MMF and MTP/MPO connectivity validation, splice certification review, and redline/as-built documentation.
• Validate design compliance and installation quality against GC and manufacturer installation standards implement and drive quality management system (QMS) practices for the crew.
• Support SOW development, scope and pricing discussions, and change order negotiation with the general contractor as project conditions evolve.
• Manage project financials: cost tracking and forecasting, pay application review, change order management, and margin protection.
• Identify and document project risks, prepare mitigation plans, and manage change approvals with the GC.
• Ensure compliance with applicable prevailing wage requirements, NESC and OSHA safety standards, and the site's access, security, and safety protocols for a live, mission-critical facility.
• Manage material logistics for fiber cable, splice enclosures, patch panels, and test equipment, including procurement coordination and site staging.
• Lead daily and weekly production reporting, two-week look-aheads, and status updates to both NATIONAL ONDEMAND leadership and the GC's reporting cadence.
• Identify and resolve field issues, RFIs, and constructability conflicts in real time to protect schedule and cost.
• Assemble as-built documentation and closeout packages required for GC and customer acceptance and final turnover.
• Use company project management and reporting tools (Monday.com, PenguinData, Power BI) to maintain schedule, production, and financial visibility.

Position Requirements

• This is a 100% on-site position. Candidates must currently reside in, or relocate to, the local market before start relocation assistance is available.
• 6+ years managing data center, campus, or large-scale telecommunications OSP construction projects.
• Direct experience overseeing fiber optic and structured cabling installation, splicing, and testing/turnover processes, including high-density and pre-terminated systems.
• Working knowledge of OTDR and certification testing, SMF/MMF and MTP/MPO connectivity, and industry-standard fiber test documentation (Tier 1/Tier 2).
• Familiarity with industry cabling standards (TIA/EIA, ISO/IEC) and the discipline to hold crews and vendors to them.
• Experience managing labor crews and vendors across multiple concurrent work areas.
• Must currently reside within a reasonable commute of the site or be willing to relocate to the local area before start this is a 100% on-site role for the duration of the assignment, not a rotational or fly-in/fly-out position.
• Valid driver's license and ability to pass a background check and any site-specific security screening required for access to a mission-critical facility.
• Ability to work on an active construction site, including data center floors and outside plant routes.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and walk extended distances across a large campus.
• Ability to sit for extended periods for administrative and reporting work, and to stand or walk for extended periods during field oversight.
• Ability to work in varying indoor and outdoor conditions as required by the site.

Preferred

• PMP certification or equivalent project management credential.
• FOA CFOT/CFOS certification or comparable fiber optic technician credential.
• Prior experience on hyperscale, AI/ML, or colocation data center construction programs.
• Familiarity with emerging fiber technologies (multicore, hollow-core) supporting increasing AI compute fabric density.
• Experience with Davis-Bacon or other prevailing wage compliance requirements.
• Comfort presenting design solutions, installation methodologies, and project status to senior stakeholders on both the NATIONAL ONDEMAND and GC sides.
• Familiarity with Monday.com, PenguinData, Power BI, or comparable program management and reporting platforms.

Education or Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• Proficiency with CPM scheduling tools (MS Project or equivalent), MS Office Suite, and Bluebeam.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, splice diagrams, and fiber route maps.
• Strong financial acumen: budgeting, cost forecasting, and change order management.