Data Center Vice President of Construction

Job Description

The Role

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Vice President of Construction to lead the delivery of a growing portfolio of hyperscale data center projects across the United States for a leading owner-operator.

This executive will be responsible for setting and executing the construction strategy across multiple concurrent developments, ensuring best-in-class performance in safety, schedule, cost, quality, and operational readiness. You will oversee internal teams and external partners, drive consistency and scalability across projects, and play a critical role in supporting the organization’s rapid expansion.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring deep expertise in mission-critical environments, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced, capital-intensive environment.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Define and execute the construction strategy for a multi-site hyperscale data center portfolio
• Build and lead high-performing regional/project teams, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and excellence
• Establish scalable processes, standards, and governance across all active and future projects
• Partner with executive leadership on long-term capital planning, portfolio growth, and delivery strategy

Portfolio & Program Management

• Oversee the delivery of multiple concurrent hyperscale data center projects (ground-up and expansions)
• Ensure alignment across design, procurement, construction, and commissioning functions
• Drive consistency in execution across geographies while adapting to local market conditions
• Implement robust reporting frameworks to track performance, risks, and key milestones

Commercial & Financial Oversight

• Own overall portfolio budgets, cost controls, and financial performance
• Lead contract strategy, procurement models, and negotiations with general contractors and key trade partners
• Manage capital expenditure, forecasting, and financial risk across all projects
• Drive value engineering and cost optimization without compromising performance or reliability

Design & Technical Integration

• Partner with design and engineering teams to ensure constructability, scalability, and standardization
• Oversee integration of critical systems (power, cooling, network infrastructure)
• Ensure adherence to hyperscale standards for redundancy, uptime, and resilience (N, N+1, 2N architectures)

Construction Execution

• Provide executive oversight of site activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and to specification
• Lead coordination between internal teams, general contractors, consultants, and commissioning agents
• Drive resolution of complex technical and operational challenges

Commissioning & Operational Readiness

• Oversee commissioning strategy and execution, including Level 1–5 commissioning and Integrated Systems Testing (IST)
• Ensure seamless transition from construction to operations, including documentation, training, and handover
• Partner with operations teams to ensure facilities meet performance and reliability expectations

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify and mitigate risks across the portfolio, including schedule, cost, supply chain, and regulatory risks
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA and environmental standards
• Establish governance and escalation frameworks for critical issues

Supply Chain & Procurement

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with key suppliers and contractors
• Oversee procurement of long-lead equipment (generators, switchgear, UPS, chillers, etc.)
• Mitigate supply chain risks and ensure alignment with aggressive delivery schedules

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a senior representative to internal executives, investors, and external partners
• Provide clear, data-driven reporting on portfolio performance
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across all projects

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (Master’s )
• 15+ years of experience in construction leadership roles, with significant experience in hyperscale or mission-critical data center delivery
• Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-project portfolios ($500M+ / $1B+)
• Deep expertise in MEP systems and critical infrastructure
• Strong experience working on the owner/operator side or directly with hyperscale clients
• Demonstrated success leading large, geographically dispersed teams

Experience

• Experience with major hyperscale environments on the General Contractor Side
• Background in fast-track delivery and phased data center deployments
• Experience scaling construction operations during periods of rapid growth
• Familiarity with advanced construction technologies, data analytics, and digital delivery tools

Core Competencies

• Executive leadership and team development
• Strategic thinking with strong execution focus
• Advanced financial and commercial acumen
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity
• Strong risk management and decision-making capability

Key Attributes

• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• High integrity and sound judgment
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence at all levels
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Passion for innovation and continuous improvement