Vice President, Preconstruction, NA

Vantage Data Centers; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 270,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life and AD&D insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Vantage Data Centers seeks a VP of Preconstruction to lead strategic planning, design integration, and execution readiness for hyperscale data center developments. You will drive the full preconstruction lifecycle from site validation through transition to construction.

The role focuses on fast, scalable delivery, high-density infrastructure, and power-aligned campus development, working with cross-functional teams and key partners.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in preconstruction, development, design, or construction leadership within data centers or large-scale industrial projects.
• Proven experience delivering hyperscale or campus-style developments with multi-phase project execution.
• Deep expertise in power-driven site selection, due diligence, design management, and cost estimation.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead preconstruction strategy, standards, and scalable delivery models for hyperscale and AI deployments.
• Lead due diligence with power availability, utility coordination, and long-term scalability; oversee environmental, zoning, and permitting processes.
• Lead early-stage design coordination, campus master planning, high-density layouts, and basis-of-design development.

Skills

Executive leadership

Power-driven site selection

Preconstruction leadership

Cost estimation

Travel up to 30%

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Real Estate, or related field

Job description

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world's well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Market Development Department

The Market Development (MD) team is responsible for 4 key functions within the North American business: 1) Market Strategy, 2) Site Selection & Acquisition, 3) New Site Development and 4) Preconstruction. The team drives the business plans and execution of our geographic and vertical market expansions across North America. We are at the front-end of the process of ensuring we have the critical capacity required to meet the evolving requirements of our wholesale and hyperscale customer base. We evaluate supply, demand, pricing, network, power, and a myriad of other factors when developing our market and site plans. We then acquire sites that align with those plans. The team collaborates with Commercial Management, Sales, Solution Engineering, Design Engineering, Construction, Operations, Finance, and Senior Management along the way. We also help ensure optimal revenue realization post-construction through development of commercial constructs and pricing that aligns to the objectives of both Vantage and our customers.

Position Overview

This role can be based in any of our US locations: Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Santa Clara, CA; or Ashburn, VA.

The Vice President, Preconstruction is responsible for leading the strategic planning, design integration, and execution readiness of Vantage's hyperscale and AI-driven data center developments. This role drives the full preconstruction lifecycle—from site validation and power feasibility through design development and transition to construction—ensuring projects are optimized for large-scale deployment, accelerated delivery, and high-density performance.

Grounded in Vantage's core values of trust, integrity, accountability, teamwork, responsibility, and agility, the VP, Preconstruction serves as a critical connector across development, design, and construction. This leader ensures projects are fully de-risked, power-aligned, and scalable to support multi-phase campus builds and next-generation AI workloads, enabling confident investment decisions and predictable execution across a rapidly expanding portfolio.

Essential Job Functions

• Define and lead preconstruction strategy, standards, and scalable delivery models to support hyperscale and AI deployments. Establish repeatable processes that enable rapid campus expansion, multi-phase development, and speed-to-market execution. Align preconstruction priorities with power-first development strategy and customer-driven capacity needs.
• Lead comprehensive due diligence efforts with a strong emphasis on power availability, utility coordination, and long-term scalability. Oversee environmental, zoning, and permitting processes to ensure sites are entitled and executable at scale. Validate sites for large contiguous power capacity, phased expansion capability, and high-density infrastructure readiness.
• Lead early-stage design coordination, including campus master planning, high-density layouts, and basis-of-design development. Ensure alignment of design solutions with hyperscale and AI requirements, including liquid cooling readiness, high rack densities, and flexible infrastructure design. Drive integration between internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver efficient, scalable, and future-ready designs.
• Establish disciplined cost models and schedules that support rapid delivery timelines and phased capacity deployment. Drive decision-making that balances cost, speed, and scalability while maintaining transparency and financial rigor. Identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies to protect delivery certainty in power-constrained or fast-moving markets.
• Ensure seamless project handoff with fully defined scope, aligned budgets, and construction-ready documentation. Enable construction teams to execute quickly by delivering well-defined, de-risked, and permit-ready projects. Maintain continuity and accountability through strong partnership with construction leadership.
• Partner with real estate, development, design, construction, operations, and commercial teams to ensure alignment with enterprise growth objectives. Support customer engagement by aligning preconstruction solutions with hyperscale and AI workload requirements. Drive enterprise-first decision-making that prioritizes portfolio scale, repeatability, and operational excellence.
• Champion new design strategies, delivery methods, and technologies that enhance density, efficiency, and deployment speed. Continuously improve preconstruction processes based on lessons learned across the portfolio and evolving AI infrastructure demands.
• Represent Vantage with utilities, jurisdictions, and strategic partners to secure power, entitlements, and project approvals. Build trusted relationships that accelerate timelines and position Vantage as a preferred partner in key hyperscale markets.
• Additional duties as assigned by Management.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Real Estate, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in preconstruction, development, design, or construction leadership within data centers, infrastructure, or large-scale industrial projects.
• Proven experience delivering hyperscale or campus-style developments, including multi-phase project execution.
• Deep expertise in power-driven site selection, due diligence, design management, and cost estimation.
• Experience supporting projects with high-density compute environments and evolving AI infrastructure requirements preferred.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen with the ability to influence investment decisions and portfolio strategy.
• Demonstrated leadership aligned with Vantage values—building trust, driving accountability, and fostering teamwork.
• Exceptional executive presence with experience engaging senior leadership, utilities, and hyperscale customers.
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale, fast-moving projects in competitive and power-constrained markets.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% or more based on business needs.

Physical Demands and Special Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Additional Details

• Salary Range: $270-290K Base + Bonus (this range is based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations).
• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.
• Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.