Senior Director, Construction

Cologix; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401k Plan

PTO

Holidays

Disability Insurance

Employee Discount

Recognition Platform

FSA

Job summary

Cologix is seeking a Senior Director of Construction to oversee all construction operations across multiple data center markets in the U.S. and Canada.

You will lead teams, manage budgets, schedules, and safety, and collaborate with design and commissioning groups to ensure timely, cost-effective delivery. The role requires 15+ years in construction PM, including 7+ years in mission-critical facilities, with domestic and Canada travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in construction-related field required.
• 15+ years in construction project management with 7+ years in mission-critical/data center.
• Proven leadership on large-scale projects with budget oversight.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Willingness to travel domestically and to Canada.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of construction activities across multiple data center projects.
• Mentor external PMs and internal teams to drive performance.
• Coordinate with supply chain for owner-furnished equipment and resources.
• Uphold safety as the top priority on jobsites and ensure compliance.
• Secure entitlements, permits, and AHJ approvals where required.
• Develop and maintain project schedules with design and construction teams.
• Manage budgets, change orders, and monthly pay requests.
• Support turnover with commissioning teams and closeout documentation.
• Track costs and provide data-driven action plans for executives.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder comms

Budgeting

Scheduling

Safety leadership

Vendor management

Project management software

Risk management

Travel readiness

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Cloud-based commissioning platforms

Financial management tools

Excel

Job description

About Our Company:

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Cologix is a leading North America network-neutral interconnection and hyperscale edge data center company. Our platform gives customers access to 45+ digital edge and Scalelogix℠ hyperscale edge data centers in 13 markets across the United States and Canada along with a carrier-dense ecosystem of 710+ networks, 360+ cloud providers, 35+ onramps and seven Internet exchanges. We provide our nearly 2,000 customers with direct access to our local operations teams, resulting in strong partnerships enabled by exceptional operational support and unparalleled customer service. Backed by one of the largest North American infrastructure funds, Cologix's experienced leadership team, certified staff and commitment to ESG initiatives help form a culture that values our people, our environment and our clients.

About the Position:

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Senior Director of Construction responsible for overseeing all our construction operations across multiple markets. The construction senior director will lead and manage construction teams whether supporting development work, tenant fit-out, commissioning, project accounting, or for the direct execution of construction projects.

The ideal candidate will be adept in managing complex mission critical construction projects, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving project success from inception to completion. This role demands strategic planning skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders to maintain schedules, budgets, and quality standards.

What you do daily:

• Lead the day-to-day management of construction activities across multiple data center projects, ensuring they are completed within schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
• Manage and mentor a team of external construction project managers and internal resources, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture across multiple projects.
• Support teams to coordinate internal resources to interface with supply chain management for owner-furnished equipment and resources, ensuring timely procurement and delivery.
• Advocate safety as the top priority on the jobsites, enforcing compliance with company and jobsite safety plans, policies, and all safety-related regulations.
• Support all projects efforts to secure entitlements, including building permits and local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approvals.
• Oversee and support collaboration with design and construction teams to develop and maintain schedules that achieve critical project milestones. Individual must be able to balance the importance of multiple project drivers and be able to make appropriate decisions on behalf of the Company.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, vendors, and stakeholders to enhance Cologix’s position as an industry leader.
• Work with internal and external teams to improve processes and protocols, incorporating innovative solutions for data center construction.
• Demonstrate strong leadership as a team player, fostering collaboration within internal and external project environments and stakeholders.
• Utilize advanced planning skills to lead through influence, proactively partnering with stakeholders to drive project’s success. Must be able to stay current with all projects within their purview to anticipate potential risks and provide mitigation.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of multiple construction and development estimates, project budgets, and unit cost reports, ensuring financial accuracy and alignment with company goals. Maintain consistent knowledge of all projects status.
• Organize and lead pre-award and pre-construction meetings, ensuring thorough project planning and alignment with stakeholders.
• Participate in value engineering, negotiate project scopes of work and contracts, and ensure cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.
• Ensure on all projects that the onsite management teams are monitoring contractor material and equipment procurement, buyout, and submittals, ensuring alignment with budgets and schedules.
• Negotiate change orders, manage budget impacts, and review/approve monthly pay requests with the onsite project management teams.
• Ensure project teams are collaborating closely with the commissioning teams to ensure seamless coordination of vendors and contractors for successful customer turnover.
• Ensure each project’s final closeout procedures, including as-built drawings, closeout documentation, and letters of substantial completion is coordinated and completed.
• Continuously track project costs, allowances, and contingencies using financial software, providing data-driven action plans for executive decision-making.

What Makes You a Good Fit:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in construction project management, with at least 7 years in the mission-critical or data center industry.
• Proven leadership in managing complex, large-scale construction projects, with a focus on data centers or similar facilities.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to engage with clients, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience mentoring and developing project teams.
• Proficiency in project management software, Microsoft Office Suite, cloud-based commissioning platforms, and financial management tools.
• Deep understanding of building codes, zoning regulations, and construction practices.
• Willingness to travel domestically and within Canada to support project and team needs.

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or transfer sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

$185,000 - $220,000 a year

Benefits:

We offer a competitive benefit package for full-time employees that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending account options
• Non-accrued PTO
• Company paid holidays
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Discount Marketplace
• Employee Recognition Platform

Individual compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's experience.

This position will also be eligible for an annual bonus.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Cologix is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) creates privacy rights relating to the collection, sale, disclosure, and deletion of consumers’ personal information. The CCPA requires businesses to provide consumers, including job applicants and employees, with information about their rights, including a description of the categories of personal information to be collected and the purpose for which the information will be used. For additional information regarding your rights, including a description of the categories of personal information to be collected and the purpose for which the information will be used, please see https://cologix.com/privacy-policy/.

Cologix’ data centers are ISO 27001:2022 and ISO 14001:2015 certified. These certifications demonstrate Cologix’s commitment to both information security and environmental stewardship. At Cologix, protecting information assets and minimizing environmental impacts are everyone’s responsibility.

Understanding and following Cologix’s information security, cybersecurity, privacy, and environmental management policies, procedures, and standards.

Ensuring conformance with the requirements of both the Information Security Management System (ISMS) and the Environmental Management System (EMS).

Remaining vigilant and reporting any information security or environmental incidents, vulnerabilities, risks, or non-conformities to the appropriate teams.

Actively participating in Cologix’s efforts to maintain and improve information security and environmental performance.