Data Center Preconstruction Manager
Worldwide Mission Critical
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: United States
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About the role
- Serve as a key member of the preconstruction team, acting as the owner’s representative responsible for overseeing the full preconstruction lifecycle across a portfolio of data center projects.
- Responsible for GC and trade partner procurement, establishing buyout strategy, and preconstruction process oversight.
- Assist in the development of procurement strategies, lead GC selection processes, and establish the frameworks and deliverable standards expected from contractors.
- Develop and recommend procurement strategies for GC and trade partner selection, including evaluation of delivery methods (GMP, CM-at-Risk, Design-Build).
- Lead the development of comprehensive RFP packages, including project specifications, scope of work, evaluation criteria, and contract terms.
- Manage the bid process end-to-end: solicit proposals, conduct bid leveling and normalization, and prepare formal written recommendations for GC selection.
- Facilitate contractor interviews and selection meetings, providing objective analysis and recommendations to client stakeholders.
- Evaluate contractor proposals based on experience, qualifications, cost competitiveness, approach to preconstruction, and past performance.
- Provide coordination of long-lead equipment, prefabricated equipment skids, and schedule-driven procurement items.
- Establish framework for GC and trade partner cost reconciliation to ensure transparency, scope alignment, and competitive pricing.
- Serve as the owner’s primary point of contact for managing the GC’s preconstruction effort, from GC onboarding through GMP execution.
- Attend design, development and utility coordination meetings, representing preconstruction and procurement interests.
- Define and communicate the framework of preconstruction deliverables expected from the GC, including cost trend reports, risk registers, schedule updates, value engineering studies, and trade procurement plans.
- Monitor and hold the GC accountable for the quality, completeness, and timeliness of preconstruction deliverables.
- Coordinate regularly with development, design, estimating, and project management teams to ensure alignment on procurement status, budget, and schedule.
- Review GC cost trends, estimates, and reconciliation packages to ensure alignment with project budgets and owner expectations.
- Coordinate with the WWMC estimating team to validate GC-submitted costs, quantities, and assumptions through independent reconciliation.
- Identify and escalate preconstruction risks, gaps, and misalignments early, driving resolution with the GC and project stakeholders.
- Travel to project sites as required for pre-bid walks, kick-off meetings, constructability reviews, and key project milestones.
- Conduct constructability reviews to identify potential challenges, design conflicts, and opportunities for improvement.
- Collaborate with design teams, GCs, and trade partners to develop and implement value engineering solutions that optimize cost, schedule, and quality.
- Provide oversight of the GC’s preconstruction and construction schedules, ensuring alignment with project milestones and delivery commitments.
- Review and validate GC-submitted baseline schedules, look-ahead plans, and phasing strategies.
- Coordinate scheduling input across design, procurement, and construction activities to identify sequencing conflicts and optimization opportunities.
- Support the development of phasing plans for multi-phase or campus-style data center programs.
Requirements
- 7–10 years of experience in preconstruction management, GC procurement, cost management, or estimating within data center, mission-critical, or heavy industrial construction.
- Demonstrated experience leading GC and trade partner procurement processes, including RFP development, bid leveling, contractor evaluation, and award recommendations.
- Strong understanding of construction delivery methods, including GMP, CM-at-Risk, and Design-Build, with the ability to recommend optimal procurement strategies based on project requirements.
- Experience overseeing GC preconstruction efforts and establishing deliverable frameworks for cost trending, risk management, schedule management, and trade procurement.
- Familiarity with change order forensics, cost reconciliation, and contract compliance review.
- Working knowledge of data center construction, including familiarity with MEP infrastructure, prefabricated equipment skids, and long-lead procurement coordination.
- Experience with constructability reviews and value engineering across CSA and MEP disciplines.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, and familiarity with cost management and scheduling tools.
- Comfortable working directly with clients, GCs, design teams, and executive stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex preconstruction information into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Self-directed problem solver; proactive in driving preconstruction processes and holding stakeholders accountable.
- Willingness to travel to project sites for meetings, pre-bid walks, and key milestones.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
- Paid time off
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
preconstruction managementGC procurementcost managementestimatingRFP developmentbid levelingcontractor evaluationchange order forensicsvalue engineeringscheduling management
Soft Skills
communication skillsproblem solvingstakeholder managementteam collaborationanalytical skillsorganizational skillsleadershipclient relationsdecision makingproactive approach