Sr. Data Center Project Manager

NextGen | GTA: A Kelly Telecom Company; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

NextGen | GTA: A Kelly Telecom Company is seeking a Senior Data Center Project Manager to oversee multi-megawatt data center programs from planning through commissioning. The role requires leading the project lifecycle, coordinating with clients, engineers, and contractors, and delivering results on time and within budget.

You will manage budgeting, scheduling, and risk, drive safety culture, and ensure operational readiness while aligning with industry standards such as TIA-942 and Uptime

Qualifications

• 15+ years of Construction Management experience with General Contractors
• 8+ years of mission-critical/data center project delivery experience
• Strong expertise in MEP systems, commissioning, critical infrastructure, and redundancy topologies
• Proven success delivering large-scale, multi-MW projects on budget and schedule
• Advanced knowledge of project management tools and cost-control systems
• Exceptional leadership, client management, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead program strategy, governance, budget, schedule, and scope alignment.
• Build, mentor, and develop project management teams.
• Partner with Superintendents to ensure successful execution and project turnover.
• Provide executive reporting on cost, schedule, risk, quality, commissioning progress, and operational readiness.
• Oversee GMP development, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and contingency planning.
• Drive value engineering initiatives while maintaining reliability and performance.

Skills

Construction management

Data center delivery

MEP systems knowledge

Project scheduling

Cost control

Leadership

Client management

Communication

Primavera P6

MS Project

Procore

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Procore

Job description

Location: Overland Park, KS (Preferred) or Plano, TX

Travel: Regular travel to client sites as needed

Are you an experienced Data Center Construction Leader ready to lead some of the most complex mission-critical infrastructure projects in the industry? Join a team delivering multi-megawatt hyperscale, enterprise, and colocation data center campuses with an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and execution excellence.

About the Role

As a Senior Data Center Project Manager, you will oversee multiple concurrent data center projects and large-scale programs ranging from 1 MW to 20+ MW. You will manage the complete project lifecycle from planning and construction through commissioning and turnover while serving as the executive-level liaison between clients, stakeholders, contractors, and technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead program strategy, governance, budget, schedule, and scope alignment.
• Build, mentor, and develop project management teams.
• Partner closely with Superintendents to ensure successful execution and project turnover.
• Provide executive reporting on cost, schedule, risk, quality, commissioning progress, and operational readiness.
• Oversee GMP development, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and contingency planning.
• Drive value engineering initiatives while maintaining reliability and performance.

Commissioning & Technical Execution

• Direct commissioning strategy, including L1-L5 testing and acceptance.
• Lead Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and operational readiness programs.
• Ensure compliance with TIA-942, Uptime Institute Tier standards, and ASHRAE thermal guidelines.
• Verify BMS and EPMS integration and functionality.

Procurement & Logistics

• Coordinate procurement of critical long-lead equipment, including:
• Switchgear
• UPS Systems
• Generators
• Cooling Infrastructure
• Manage logistics planning and phased energization activities.

Safety & Operational Readiness

• Champion a world-class safety culture.
• Review MOPs, SOPs, EOPs, lockout/tagout procedures, and live cutover plans.
• Drive operational readiness through commissioning and final turnover.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary executive contact for clients.
• Manage relationships with engineering firms, commissioning agents, utilities, AHJs, and contractors.
• Coordinate permits, inspections, and energization approvals.

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of Construction Management experience managing General Contractors
• 8+ years of mission-critical/data center project delivery experience.
• Strong expertise in MEP systems, commissioning, critical infrastructure, and redundancy topologies
• Proven success delivering large-scale, multi-MW projects on budget and schedule
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore, and cost-control systems
• Exceptional leadership, client management, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP, CCM, or similar professional certification
• Experience with Uptime Institute Tier methodology and ANSI/TIA-942 standards
• Background in modular data centers, phased construction, and live-environment upgrades
• Commissioning and operational readiness training