Job Title: Construction Manager / Owner's Representative - Data Center ProjectsJob Description
This role serves as the Owner's Representative and central point of accountability for large-scale, mission-critical construction projects, with a strong focus on data center facilities. You will provide technical oversight, strategic project management, and proactive issue resolution across the full project lifecycle-from site selection and design through construction, commissioning, and turnover. By coordinating architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and operations teams, you will safeguard the Owner's investment and ensure each facility meets long-term performance, resiliency, and compliance requirements.
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary point of contact and advocate for the Owner throughout design, construction, commissioning, and turnover phases.
Lead Owner-side project meetings, steering committees, and milestone reviews, ensuring clear communication and direction across all project participants.
Align project execution with the Owner's business objectives, operational standards, and risk management policies.
Participate in site selection, feasibility studies, and early due diligence to support informed decision-making.
Review design development documents to ensure alignment with the Owner's standards, resiliency goals, and scalability requirements.
Coordinate with architecture and engineering firms to validate constructability, operational maintainability, and compliance with applicable codes and industry standards.
Provide input on procurement strategies, contract structures, and bid evaluations to optimize value and manage risk.
Oversee the general contractor's execution of scope, budget, schedule, and QA/QC requirements, ensuring adherence to project objectives.
Review and approve contractor submittals, requests for information (RFIs), and change orders on behalf of the Owner.
Track schedule milestones, cost exposures, and contingency usage, escalating issues to the Owner's leadership with actionable recommendations.
Monitor safety performance on site and enforce strict adherence to project-specific safety and environmental protocols.
Provide technical expertise in evaluating equipment submittals, installation practices, and integration of MEP systems.
Participate in factory witness testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), and commissioning activities across Levels 1-5.
Ensure deficiencies are documented, tracked, reported, and resolved through a structured QA/QC and issue-management system.
Support integrated systems testing to validate redundancy, failover capabilities, and sequences of operations for mission-critical systems.
Monitor contractor invoices, pay applications, and progress reports to ensure financial transparency, accuracy, and alignment with contract terms.
Provide detailed reporting to Owner executives on budget performance, change management, and forecast-to-complete.
Enforce the Owner's contractual rights, warranty protections, and performance guarantees throughout the project lifecycle.
Ensure timely delivery of as-built drawings, operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals, commissioning reports, warranty binders, and training sessions for operations staff.
Support a smooth transition from construction to operations, ensuring the facility is ready for day-one occupancy and long-term reliability.
Capture lessons learned and contribute to continuous improvement of the Owner's data center delivery standards and processes.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline.
7-10+ years of progressive experience managing large-scale construction projects.
At least 5 years of experience in mission-critical or data center environments.
Proven experience overseeing construction projects valued at $100M or more, including fast-track delivery schedules.
Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with Owners, architecture and engineering firms, general contractors, trade contractors, and commissioning providers.
Strong knowledge of construction management practices, including scope, budget, schedule, and QA/QC oversight.
Experience with data center construction and operations requirements, including resiliency, scalability, and mission-critical systems.
Ability to lead cross-functional meetings and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Proficiency in reviewing and managing contractor submittals, RFIs, change orders, and pay applications.
Strong understanding of safety and environmental protocols on construction sites.
Ability to monitor and report on project financials, including budget performance, contingency usage, and forecast-to-complete.
Experience supporting commissioning activities, including FAT, SAT, and multi-level commissioning processes.
Proven capability to manage complex issues proactively and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, CxA, LEED AP, or equivalent are strongly preferred.
Experience with integrated systems testing for redundancy, failover, and sequence of operations in mission-critical facilities.
Familiarity with industry codes, standards, and best practices relevant to data center and mission-critical construction.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage risk and drive continuous improvement.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive-level reports.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse project stakeholders, including design teams, contractors, vendors, and operations staff.
Work Environment
This role operates within large-scale construction and data center project environments, spanning the full project lifecycle from early planning through commissioning and turnover. You will work closely with architects, engineers, general contractors, specialty trade contractors, equipment vendors, commissioning authorities, and operations teams. The position involves a mix of office-based work for planning, documentation, and reporting, as well as frequent on-site presence to monitor construction activities, safety performance, and technical installations. The work environment emphasizes safety, adherence to site-specific environmental protocols, and coordination of complex MEP and mission-critical systems. Project schedules may be fast-track, requiring careful coordination, responsiveness to issues, and flexibility in managing milestones and testing activities.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Lenexa, KS.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $200000.00/yr.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance Life, accident, and disability coverage 401(k) with company match Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives Paid company holidays, floating holidays, and flexible time off Opportunities for training, professional growth, and advancement
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Lenexa,KS.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 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.
