Project Manager- Micro Edge Data Center

NextEdge; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

NextEdge is seeking a Project Manager II to lead planning and delivery of medium-scale data center infrastructure projects in the Chicago area. You will coordinate with carriers, ISPs, vendors, and client teams to align scope, schedule, and budgets while ensuring safety and compliance across deployments.

You’ll manage electrical scope beyond typical telecom sites, including power distribution, grounding, and commissioning readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 2–4+ years in project management, construction, telecom colocation, ISP infrastructure or data center roles.
• Experience coordinating with carriers, vendors, and client teams on medium-scale deployments.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of data center infrastructure projects.
• Manage schedules, milestones, deliverables, and dependencies.
• Coordinate with internal teams, subcontractors, and vendors to define scope and execution plans.
• Oversee electrical construction scopes including utility service, grounding, and commissioning readiness.
• Track progress, risks, and change impacts; develop mitigation plans.
• Create detailed project documentation and customer-facing updates.
• Provide insights from data to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure safety, insurance, and contractual compliance across projects.
• Monitor PM systems and reporting dashboards to improve visibility and efficiency.
• Serve as main point of contact for stakeholders and escalate issues as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Scheduling

Project coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Vendor management

Issue tracking

Facility and field coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, construction management, engineering, information technology, telecommunications, or related field

Tools

Project management systems

Job description

The Project Manager II supports Micro Edge Data Center, telecom colocation, ISP infrastructure, and related data center deployment initiatives. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing medium-scale infrastructure projects while ensuring objectives are met within designated timelines, budgets, quality standards, and customer requirements. The role requires experience coordinating with internet service providers, colocation environments, network infrastructure stakeholders, electrical subcontractors, vendors, and client teams to manage scope, schedule, documentation, risks, and deliverables across active deployments. This position also requires a strong understanding of electrical construction practices beyond typical telecom site work, including power distribution, grounding, utility coordination, equipment energization, inspections, commissioning, and site-readiness requirements.

The Project Manager II supports Micro Edge Data Center, telecom colocation, ISP infrastructure, and related data center deployment initiatives. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing medium-scale infrastructure projects while ensuring objectives are met within designated timelines, budgets, quality standards, and customer requirements. The role requires experience coordinating with internet service providers, colocation environments, network infrastructure stakeholders, electrical subcontractors, vendors, and client teams to manage scope, schedule, documentation, risks, and deliverables across active deployments. This position also requires a strong understanding of electrical construction practices beyond typical telecom site work, including power distribution, grounding, utility coordination, equipment energization, inspections, commissioning, and site-readiness requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of Micro Edge Data Center projects and other related data center infrastructure initiatives.
• Manage projects within telecom colocation and ISP-facing environments, including coordination with carriers, internet service providers, cross-connect providers, facility owners, and network infrastructure stakeholders.
• Manage project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and dependencies to support timely delivery of infrastructure deployments.
• Coordinate with internal teams, client stakeholders, subcontractors, vendors, and field resources to ensure project scope, expectations, and execution plans are clearly defined and maintained.
• Coordinate electrical construction scopes that exceed standard telecom site requirements, including utility service, switchgear, panelboards, grounding, conduit pathways, equipment power, inspections, temporary energization, and commissioning readiness.
• Track project progress, risks, issues, and change impacts, developing mitigation plans to support successful project and program execution.
• Create and maintain detailed project documentation, including schedules, status reports, budgets, trackers, meeting notes, closeout documentation, and customer-facing updates.
• Analyze project and program data to generate metrics, identify trends, and provide actionable insights to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with subcontractor, vendor, customer safety, insurance, and contractual requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor workflows across project management systems, reporting tools, and internal processes to improve visibility, efficiency, and consistency across assigned projects and programs.
• Serve as a key point of contact for project stakeholders, facilitating communication, escalating issues, and supporting resolution of project constraints.
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support Micro Edge Data Center and related infrastructure project goals.

Minimum Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, construction management, engineering, information technology, telecommunications, or a related field preferred. Or equivalent experience
• 2-4+ years of project management, construction, telecom colocation, ISP infrastructure, data center, electrical construction, or related infrastructure experience, with demonstrated exposure to projects requiring stronger electrical scope than a typical telecom site deployment

Preferred And Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• PMP Certification or related project management certification preferred
• Direct experience with telecom colocation facilities, ISP deployments, carrier infrastructure, network handoffs, cross-connect coordination, or similar service-provider environments preferred
• Strong electrical construction background preferred, including familiarity with utility coordination, grounding, power distribution, switchgear, panels, conduit, inspection requirements, energization steps, and commissioning support
• Experience supporting data center, micro edge, telecom, construction, or critical infrastructure programs preferred

Skills Required

• Ability to adapt seamlessly to shifting priorities, evolving customer requirements, and changes across active infrastructure deployments.
• Initiative to anticipate project constraints and independently develop practical, forward-thinking solutions.
• Strong critical thinking skills to navigate cross-functional project challenges and provide actionable, well-reasoned recommendations.
• Confidence in decision-making under pressure, effectively managing trade-offs between schedule, cost, risk, and customer expectations.
• Clear and impactful communication skills to foster alignment across internal teams, subcontractors, vendors, customers, and leadership.
• Expertise in managing competing priorities, tracking dependencies, optimizing workflows, and consistently meeting deadlines.
• Working knowledge of project management tools, reporting dashboards, trackers, and documentation practices used to support infrastructure programs.
• Working knowledge of ISP, carrier, colocation, and network infrastructure terminology, including handoffs, cross-connects, demarcation points, network equipment dependencies, and facility access constraints.
• Practical understanding of electrical construction execution, including field coordination, quality expectations, safety requirements, inspection sequencing, and resolving site conditions that impact power delivery or equipment readiness.
• Leadership skills to set an example and contribute positively in cross-functional project and program settings.
• Exceptional attention to detail to proactively identify, document, and mitigate risks across schedules, budgets, scope, and deliverables.
• Commitment to seeking and incorporating feedback while pursuing continuous growth in project management, infrastructure delivery, and program support.

Direct/Indirect Supervisory Responsibility

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, subcontractors, vendors, and field resources to support alignment on project goals, deadlines, and delivery expectations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands/Travel Required

• Office environment with long periods of sitting, computer work, project tracking, and virtual collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Full-time role, 40 hours per week, with occasional travel to client offices, vendor locations, and project sites as needed to support Micro Edge Data Center and related infrastructure deployments.

AAP/EEO Statement

NextEdge provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, NextEdge complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. NextEdge expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of NextEdge employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.