Project Manager - Campus Construction

Job Description

At Applied Digital, we are the epicenter of AI innovation, crafting cutting-edge data center solutions tailored for the demands of high-performance computing. Designed from the ground up to support AI and machine learning workloads, our infrastructure is the backbone of tomorrow’s technological advancements, including AI-driven video and generative platforms.

We are:

• Forward-Thinkers: With a keen eye on current market trends and future innovations, we adapt swiftly and lead technological evolution.
• Resilient: We navigate complex challenges and emerge stronger, delivering robust and reliable solutions for industry pioneers.
• Innovative Designers: Leveraging the latest technologies, we create visionary solutions that redefine industry standards.

We remain committed and steadfast in solving intricate problems, advancing business initiatives, maximizing operational efficiency, and reducing our carbon footprint. We are a team of resilient, forward-thinking innovators driving the AI revolution.

Project Manager – Campus Construction Role:

As a member of the company’s Design & Construction team, the Project Manager for Offsite & Infrastructure is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all non-building-specific scope associated with campus development. This includes offsite utility work, substation and power delivery infrastructure, AHJ-mandated improvements, site-wide logistics, and other enabling works required to support vertical construction.

This role operates as the single point of accountability for offsite and enabling scope while also serving as a supporting Project Manager to the Senior Project Managers responsible for individual buildings. The position is campus-based and requires close coordination with utilities, municipalities, design consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure offsite work aligns with building schedules, budgets, and commissioning milestones.

Key responsibilities include permitting, coordination with procurement of vendor products and services, contracting, construction management and administration, document control, invoice processing and change management, coordination with commissioning, documentation closeout, and turnover for all assigned scope. This role will also support process improvement initiatives and interdepartmental coordination across development, engineering, operations, and external authorities.

Projects include but are not limited to:

• Offsite utility infrastructure including power, fiber, water, sewer, and roadway improvements
• Substation and utility interconnection scope, including coordination with utilities and transmission providers
• AHJ-required improvements such as roadway upgrades, drainage, traffic control, and permitting-driven infrastructure
• Site-wide logistics planning and execution, including access roads, laydown areas, crane paths, and campus sequencing
• Enabling and early works packages required to support vertical construction across multiple buildings
• Support of Senior Project Managers through schedule integration, risk identification, procurement coordination, and issue resolution

Entitlements & Property Development:

• Assist Real Estate Acquisitions, or other APLD stakeholder responsible for managing the site development process with site exploration and diligence as required by AHJ processes, and in order to assist the Design Manager and Design Team with information crucial to informing the design
• Acts as owner’s representative for all offsite and shared campus infrastructure and manage all applicable vendors

Preconstruction/Predevelopment:

• Lead, in coordination with the Campus Project Director, Design Manager, and other stakeholders, the development of budgets related to offsite works, utility infrastructure, substations, AHJ-mandated improvements, site logistics, and other enabling campus scope.
• Lead, in coordination with the Campus Project Director and Design Manager, the development of schedules for offsite and enabling works, ensuring alignment with overall campus milestones and individual building schedules.
• Lead the development and issuance of Requests for Proposals for offsite infrastructure, utility work, substation scope, site logistics packages, and other enabling construction services.
• Assist the Design Manager, Campus Project Director, and Procurement team with RFP development for building-related scopes as needed.
• Lead the leveling of proposals for offsite and enabling work packages, including scope validation, schedule impacts, risk, and cost comparisons.
• Lead the evaluation and recommendation of contractors for offsite and enabling scopes.
• Assist in the evaluation and selection of General Contractors for vertical construction packages.

Construction Management, Administration & Document Control:

• Manage all aspects of assigned campus and offsite construction scope to ensure expectations for scope, schedule, budget, safety, and quality are achieved. This includes utilities, substations, AHJ-required improvements, site logistics, and other enabling works supporting vertical construction.
• Produce weekly project reporting for offsite and campus-wide scope summarizing key risks, schedule milestones, variances, budget status, and interface impacts to individual building projects.
• Lead project kick-off meetings, contractor coordination meetings, and utility/AHJ coordination meetings for all offsite and enabling work packages.
• Support Senior Project Managers by aligning these activities with building construction sequencing and milestones.
• Lead campus-wide readiness and enabling-work coordination efforts required to support building construction and commissioning, ensuring offsite infrastructure and shared systems are delivered in alignment with overall campus readiness goals.
• Ensure all occupancy, turnover, and punch list requirements related to offsite and campus infrastructure are completed efficiently and in alignment with building turnover schedules.
• Participate in building-level meetings as requested by the Campus Project Director to address cross-scope issues, clarify responsibilities, and maintain alignment with campus execution plans.

Billing and Invoice Processing & Change Management:

• Ensure timely submission and review of invoices for third-party vendors associated with offsite infrastructure, utilities, substations, AHJ-required improvements, and campus-wide enabling works.
• Review and approve invoices for assigned campus and offsite vendors to ensure accuracy, contract compliance, and adherence to approved budgets and payment terms.
• Verify invoices meet Accounts Payable requirements, including appropriate backup, level of detail, and alignment with executed contracts and approved scope.
• Review and manage change order requests for third-party vendors performing campus, offsite, and enabling scope, ensuring compliance with contract terms and proper approval prior to payment.
• Review General Contractor pay applications on a limited, scope-specific basis, focused solely on campus logistics, enabling work, and offsite infrastructure components included in the GC’s billing.

Closeout & Turn-over:

• Assist with the collection, audit, and delivery of As-built Documents, Operation and Maintenance Manuals, Warranties, and other closeout documents to Data Center Operations team from the General Contractor. Save for record in Construction folders.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledgeable of the Permitting and Inspections processes
• Proficient at reading and understanding design drawings and specifications
• Understand CPM scheduling methodology
• Knowledgeable of the design process and designers construction administration process
• Knowledgeable in design characteristics, installation, and operation of all major infrastructure systems involved in both data center and base building operations
• Knowledge of large and complex mechanical and electrical systems
• Experienced in writing Requests for Proposals, reviewing and evaluating vendor proposals and drafting and executing contract documents
• Exceptional communication and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of and familiarity with standard commercial design and construction contracts
• Knowledge of equipment purchasing agreements
• Experienced in cost estimating and budget building in the CSI Master Format
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• The ability to work and communicate with a variety of personalities and cross functional groups

Education/Experience:

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering or Architecture is
• Minimum of (5) Five years of commercial construction project management experience
• Experience leading and managing design teams is required
• Project management experience on data center projects is
• Experience with budget analysis & cost tracking, scheduling, progress reporting, change order management, and procurement of vendor services is required
• Experience with cash flow analysis is

Travel:

Onsite Role

Physical Demands:

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.