Senior Director, Data Center Construction

Our client is a fast-scaling, well-capitalized data center platform with a national footprint spanning almost 50 facilities across a dozen-plus markets in the US and Canada, purpose-built around one of the industry's most connected ecosystems, with almost 1000 network partners, hundreds of cloud on-ramps, and a growing edge-to-hyperscale portfolio serving nearly 2,000 customers. Backed by one of the largest infrastructure funds in North America, this organization has quietly become one of the most trusted names in the interconnection space, known for a people-first culture, strong ESG commitments, and long-term client partnerships that keep customers coming back.

With an expanding development pipeline and an ambitious growth trajectory, this is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership seat at a company on the rise.

We are conducting a confidential search on behalf of this client for both construction and development staffing needs.

Our client is looking for a driven, senior-level construction leader to take ownership of all data center construction activity across an active Ohio market. This person will sit at the center of a growing portfolio in COLUMBUS, OHIO, overseeing everything from development support and procurement coordination to cost tracking and hands‑on project execution. Success in this seat requires sharp strategic instincts, strong relationship‑building skills, and the ability to shepherd complex builds from early planning all the way through delivery, without losing sight of budget, timeline, or quality.

• Serve as the face of the organization to clients, vendors, and partners, deepening relationships that reinforce the company's reputation in the market
• Run day‑to‑day construction operations across several active data center builds simultaneously, keeping every project aligned on cost, timeline, and quality
• Work hand‑in‑hand with design partners to shape and protect project schedules, weighing competing priorities and making the right calls on the company's behalf
• Build, lead, and develop a blended team of outside project managers and in‑house staff, cultivating a strong team culture
• Liaise with internal stakeholders on procurement and logistics for company‑furnished materials and equipment, keeping delivery timelines intact
• Make jobsite safety non‑negotiable, holding every site accountable to safety policy and regulatory standards
• Guide projects through the entitlement process, including permitting and coordination with local jurisdictional authorities; regional market familiarity is a strong plus
• Push for smarter ways of working, bringing fresh ideas and process improvements into how projects get built

• Keep a constant pulse on cost, contingency, and budget health using financial tracking tools, arming leadership with the data to make sound calls
• Own the closeout process from start to finish on every job, including as‑built records, closeout packages, and final completion sign‑off
• Partner tightly with commissioning teams to guarantee a smooth, clean transition to the customer
• Handle change order negotiations, assess budget impact, and sign off on monthly payment applications alongside site teams
• Weigh in on value engineering and contract negotiations to keep costs in check without cutting corners on quality
• Run pre‑construction and pre‑award planning sessions to make sure every project starts aligned and organized
• Build and vet cost estimates, budgets, and unit pricing across a full slate of active projects
• Stay closely plugged into every active job to catch risk early and get ahead of it
• Lead by influence, keeping stakeholders engaged and projects moving in the right direction

• A bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline
• 15+ years leading construction projects, with at least 5 years specifically in mission‑critical or data center environments
• A demonstrated history of running large, complicated builds — data center experience strongly preferred
• The organizational chops to juggle multiple active projects at once without losing momentum
• Communication skills sharp enough to manage relationships across clients, vendors, and internal teams alike
• Real experience developing and mentoring the people on your team
• Comfort working across project management software, standard office tools, cloud‑based commissioning platforms, and financial systems
• Working knowledge of building codes and construction regulations relevant to the region