Director, Data Center Construction

About Our Company

Cologix is a leading North America network-neutral interconnection and hyperscale edge data center company. Our platform provides 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 serve nearly 2,000 customers with direct access to local operations teams, delivering strong partnerships supported by exceptional operational support and customer service.

Backed by a major North American infrastructure fund, Cologix focuses on ESG initiatives and values our people, environment, and clients.

About the Position

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Director of Construction, based in the Ashburn, VA market, to oversee all construction operations in the Ashburn region. The construction director will lead and manage construction teams, whether supporting development work, supply chain management, project accounting, or the direct execution of construction projects.

The ideal candidate will be adept at managing complex construction projects, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving project success from inception to completion. The role requires strategic planning and the ability to collaborate 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 project efforts to secure entitlements, including building permits and local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approvals. Experience with in the Columbus area market is strongly desired.
• Oversee and support collaboration with design and construction teams to develop and maintain schedules that achieve critical project milestones. Balance multiple project drivers and make 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 success. Stay current with all projects within their purview to anticipate potential risks and provide mitigation.
• Prepare and oversee construction and development estimates, project budgets, and unit cost reports, ensuring financial accuracy and alignment with company goals. Maintain 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 onsite management teams monitor contractor material and equipment procurement, buyout, and submittals, aligning with budgets and schedules.
• Negotiate change orders, manage budget impacts, and review/approve monthly pay requests with onsite project management teams.
• Ensure project teams coordinate with 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, are 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, including at least 5 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…