Job Title: Traveling SuperintendentJob Description
The Traveling Superintendent oversees mission critical and data center construction projects across the United States, providing on-site leadership from kickoff through commissioning and final turnover. This role manages field operations, coordinates complex MEP-intensive work in active and operational facilities, and serves as a key liaison between trade partners, commissioning teams, facility operators, and client representatives. The position requires extensive travel, a strong focus on safety and quality, and the ability to drive schedule performance and successful project delivery for high-tech, mission critical environments.
Responsibilities
Participate in project kickoff meetings with project executives and team members to understand project goals, critical systems requirements, commissioning milestones, client expectations, and operational constraints.
Host field kickoff meetings with trade partners, commissioning agents, vendors, and project managers to align on scope, sequencing, and critical systems execution.
Manage day-to-day relationships with trade partners and vendors, with a strong focus on critical systems installation, startup, testing, and turnover.
Maintain effective relationships between site teams, facility operators, client representatives, commissioning teams, and ownership groups to ensure alignment and smooth project delivery.
Participate in closeout meetings and provide detailed feedback on trade partner performance, quality, commissioning readiness, and turnover execution.
Host trade partner gatherings for project closeout and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement across traveling projects.
Lead weekly toolbox talks on site with all trade partners and document safety discussions and action items in Procore.
Lead weekly on-site foreman meetings to review three-week lookahead schedules, commissioning activities, constraints, shutdowns, and critical path items.
Establish and manage site setup, ensuring consistent branding, safety signage, wayfinding, and adequate PPE availability at all times.
Oversee site logistics, including material flow, equipment deliveries, and storage of long-lead mission critical equipment such as generators, switchgear, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling equipment, and prefabricated assemblies.
Coordinate installation sequencing and access requirements for critical electrical and mechanical systems to maintain schedule and quality.
Manage and coordinate construction activities within active data centers, mission critical facilities, and other operational environments while respecting uptime and operational constraints.
Coordinate with the Warehouse team for site deliveries and train field staff on inventory systems when implemented.
Manage, track, and complete punch lists, commissioning deficiencies, and turnover items through project closeout to ensure thorough completion.
Manage field tickets and on-site change order documentation, ensuring accurate and timely records.
Collaborate with the Project Manager and trade partners to fully vet field claims prior to ticket approval.
Track and document impacts to critical path activities, commissioning schedules, and equipment delivery milestones to support schedule management and claims.
Review construction documents, drawings, specifications, and equipment submittals with a focus on critical systems and commissioning requirements.
Review and maintain the superintendent binder in Procore, ensuring all mission critical project documentation is current and organized.
Collaborate with project managers to develop and maintain detailed construction schedules focused on MEP rough-in, equipment installation, startup, testing, and turnover milestones.
Create and manage three-week lookahead schedules in Outbuild, coordinating field activities and resource allocation.
Manage schedule performance and document schedule claims, delays, and recovery plans to keep projects on track.
Coordinate with project managers to understand labor allocation, earned value, and production tracking for field operations.
Draft field RFIs and submit them to project managers to clarify design, scope, and coordination issues.
Lead field coordination efforts between mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, fire protection, and commissioning teams to resolve conflicts and ensure integrated system performance.
Support commissioning activities including pre-functional testing, integrated systems testing, deficiency resolution, and final turnover.
Maintain on-site safety oversight with guidance and support from the Safety Director, ensuring compliance with all safety protocols.
Ensure safety training, documentation, emergency response procedures, and mission critical operational protocols are implemented and followed on site.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, and operational reliability across all project activities.
Manage and upload progress photos in Procore or Sway to document work in place and project milestones.
Complete daily logs in Procore to capture manpower, activities, issues, and progress.
Prepare and submit weekly field reports in Procore to keep stakeholders informed of project status and risks.
Track commissioning progress, turnover documentation, and key project milestones to support timely and successful project completion.
Travel to project sites nationwide and remain on site for the full duration of each project, providing continuous field leadership.
Mobilize quickly from the Chicago or home base as project needs require, adapting to changing schedules and locations.
Represent the company in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts as needed, demonstrating professionalism and technical credibility.
Mentor, coach, and support junior field staff, contributing to team development and consistency across traveling projects.
Work flexible schedules, including weekends and extended stays away from home, to meet mission critical project demands.
Essential Skills
5-15+ years of experience as a Superintendent with significant experience delivering mission critical, data center, high-tech, or complex MEP-intensive projects.
Proven experience managing mission critical projects from preconstruction through commissioning, turnover, and operational readiness, including sitework, structural work, major MEP systems, and critical equipment installation.
Demonstrated experience coordinating critical electrical infrastructure, including switchgear, UPS systems, generators, PDUs, and associated distribution systems.
Demonstrated experience coordinating critical mechanical infrastructure, including cooling systems, chilled water systems, CRAH/CRAC units, controls, and building automation systems.
Strong understanding of commissioning processes, startup procedures, integrated systems testing, turnover requirements, and outage management protocols within active mission critical environments.
Experience working within active data centers or operational facilities with strict uptime requirements (preferred but strongly beneficial).
Strong professional communication skills with clients, design teams, commissioning agents, trade partners, facility operators, and internal stakeholders.
Demonstrated proactive problem-solving skills, including early identification of design, constructability, and coordination issues during preconstruction and active construction phases.
Comfort representing the company in client presentations, interviews, and pursuit efforts.
Ability to mentor, coach, and support junior field staff to build consistent practices across traveling projects.
Ability to work flexible schedules and weekends, with extended stays away from home to support nationwide project needs.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently throughout the United States and remain on site for the full duration of each project.
Experience managing projects of $1M or greater in value.
Familiarity with mission critical and data center environments and MEP-focused construction.
Commitment to safety and quality in high-stakes, operationally sensitive environments.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience using Procore for project documentation, daily logs, superintendent binders, progress photos, and weekly field reports.
Experience using Sway for progress photo documentation.
Experience creating and managing three-week lookahead schedules in Outbuild.
Understanding of labor allocation, earned value, and production tracking in coordination with project managers.
Exposure to coordinating mechanical, electrical, plumbing, controls, fire protection, and commissioning teams on complex projects.
OSHA 30 certification is preferred; if not currently held, the company will sponsor completion of OSHA 30.
Ability to quickly mobilize from a Chicago or home base to various project sites.
Comfort working in mission critical, data center, and other high-tech environments with complex MEP systems.
Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy, integrity, perseverance, curiosity, humility, and respect in team interactions.
Interest in contributing to an inclusive, innovative culture focused on continuous improvement and doing what is right.
Ability to support client-facing activities and pursuit efforts in a professional and confident manner.
Work Environment
This is a traveling role supporting small to mid-size data center and mission critical projects across the United States, with the first assignment anticipated in Kansas. The superintendent remains on site for the full duration of each project and must be comfortable with extended travel and time away from home. Work takes place in active data centers and operational mission critical facilities, where strict uptime requirements and operational constraints shape how construction is planned and executed. The environment involves overseeing site logistics, managing long-lead mission critical equipment such as generators, switchgear, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling equipment, and prefabricated assemblies, and coordinating complex MEP installations. Field work is supported by technologies including Procore, Sway, and Outbuild, and collaboration with warehouse and commissioning teams is routine. Schedules may include flexible hours, weekend work, and occasional night or off-hours activities to accommodate shutdowns and critical path work. The culture emphasizes safety, quality, empathy, integrity, perseverance, curiosity, humility, and respect, with a focus on building an inclusive and innovative future in the construction industry. Dress code aligns with typical construction site standards, including appropriate PPE such as hard hats, safety vests, and other required protective gear.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chicago, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $57.69 - $96.15/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 12, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
