Director of Data Center Construction

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Description

Role Overview

Fermi America is seeking a Director of Data Center Construction to lead the owner's representation and field execution oversight for Fermi's hyperscale data center program. This role will serve as the primary interface between Fermi and both the general contractor and the tenant's onsite leadership team-including project executives, construction managers, and commissioning leads-ensuring construction delivery aligns with quality standards, schedule commitments, and budget targets across a multi-building, multi-phase campus environment.

The Director of DC Construction will build and lead a team of DC project managers responsible for shell, core, and site work execution. This is a high-visibility leadership role that requires deep experience managing large-scale construction programs in mission-critical or hyperscale data center environments, with a strong command of GMP/EPC contract structures, field operations, and subcontractor management.

This role reports directly to the Head of DC Service & Delivery and works in close coordination with preconstruction, design integration, technical management, project controls, procurement, safety, and quality functions. This is a matrix environment where success depends on influence and partnership as much as direct authority. The right leader builds strong, collaborative relationships across every function and fosters a culture of transparency, shared accountability, and mutual respect.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner's representative to both the general contractor and the tenant's onsite leadership team for all data center construction activities, ensuring field execution meets Fermi's standards for quality, safety, schedule, and cost
• Lead and manage a team of DC project managers across concurrent building phases, from site mobilization through substantial completion and turnover
• Drive accountability for construction milestones, progress tracking, and schedule adherence across shell, core, MEP rough-in, and building enclosure scopes
• Own the relationship with the GC and the tenant's onsite leadership team at the program level-including project executives, construction managers, and commissioning leads-managing escalations, resolving disputes, and ensuring alignment on priorities, sequencing, and resource loading
• Oversee GMP and construction contract administration, including change order management, pay application review, and scope validation
• Coordinate with the Sr DC Design Integration Manager and engineering teams to ensure design packages are construction-ready and field issues are resolved without schedule impact
• Establish and enforce field quality standards, safety protocols, and inspection programs in partnership with QA/QC and HSE leadership
• Implement earned value and progress measurement systems to provide real-time visibility into construction performance across all active buildings
• Partner with the Sr DC Preconstruction Manager to ensure smooth transitions from preconstruction into active construction phases
• Support commissioning readiness by coordinating construction completion milestones with MEP integration and IT load delivery timelines
• Drive continuous improvement in construction delivery-identifying lessons learned, standardizing processes, and reducing cycle times across successive building phases
• Build and sustain a strong, collaborative culture across the DC delivery organization-fostering open communication, mutual accountability, and trust with procurement, safety, quality, design, and project controls partners to ensure alignment and shared ownership of delivery outcomes

AI-Enabled Execution Philosophy

Fermi America integrates artificial intelligence and advanced analytics into its core project delivery workflows. The Director of DC Construction will be expected to embrace and champion this philosophy, including:

• Leveraging AI-powered schedule analysis tools to identify critical path risks, forecast delays, and optimize construction sequencing across concurrent building phases
• Utilizing predictive analytics for earned value tracking, resource loading optimization, and early warning detection on cost and schedule variances
• Partnering with project controls to deploy AI-driven reporting dashboards that provide real-time field progress visibility to leadership
• Encouraging adoption of AI-assisted document review for RFIs, submittals, change orders, and daily field reports to accelerate decision-making and reduce administrative burden
• Supporting the development of digital twin and BIM integration workflows that connect design intent to field execution in real time
• Fostering a culture of continuous learning where AI tools augment field team capabilities rather than replace human judgment and craft expertise

Requirements

Relevant Experience

• 18+ years of progressive construction management experience, with a minimum of 10 years in hyperscale data center, mission-critical facility, or large-scale industrial construction programs
• Demonstrated experience serving as an owner's representative or senior construction lead managing general contractors on multi-billion-dollar construction programs
• Strong command of GMP, lump-sum, and EPC contract structures, including change order negotiation, claims management, and pay application oversight
• Track record of managing concurrent multi-building construction programs with peak craft workforces exceeding 1,000 personnel
• Deep understanding of data center construction sequencing-shell/core, MEP rough-in, critical power, cooling systems, and IT infrastructure fit-out
• Experience with earned value management systems, construction scheduling in Primavera P6, and field progress tracking methodologies
• Strong safety leadership with demonstrated commitment to zero-incident culture on large construction sites
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a demonstrated ability to build collaborative, high-trust relationships across technical, commercial, and executive audiences-including tenant onsite leadership, contractors, and cross-functional internal teams. Proven ability to operate effectively in a matrix organization where influence, alignment, and partnership are as important as direct authority
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field; advanced degree or PMP certification preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with hyperscale data center programs for major technology companies (e.g., Google, Meta, Microsoft, AWS, Oracle) or leading data center developers
• Familiarity with modular and prefabricated construction methods and their application in accelerating data center delivery timelines
• Experience operating in greenfield campus environments with complex site infrastructure interdependencies
• Working knowledge of Uptime Institute Tier III/IV design and construction standards
• Comfort operating in a high-growth, fast-moving organization where the role will help define processes and standards as the platform scales

Work Requirements

• This is a 100% onsite role based at Fermi's campus in Amarillo with periodic visits to vendor facilities, fabrication shops, and partner offices
• Ability to work on active construction sites, including walking job sites, climbing ladders, and navigating unfinished structures in varying weather conditions
• Willingness to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) including hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest, steel-toe boots, and hearing protection when on-site
• Flexibility to work extended hours during critical construction milestones, commissioning events, or schedule recovery efforts as needed

Why This Role Matters

As Fermi moves from development into large-scale data center delivery, the company needs a senior construction leader who can hold the general contractor accountable, serve as a trusted counterpart to the tenant's onsite leadership team, build a high-performing field oversight team, and ensure every building is delivered safely, on time, and to the quality standards Fermi's customers demand. This role is foundational to establishing Fermi's reputation as a collaborative, credible, execution-driven infrastructure platform.