At Applied Digital, we are the epicenter of AI innovation, crafting cutting-edge data center solutions tailored for the demands of high-performance computing. Designed from the ground up to support AI and machine learning workloads, our infrastructure is the backbone of tomorrow’s technological advancements, including AI-driven video and generative platforms.
We are:
- Forward-Thinkers: With a keen eye on current market trends and future innovations, we adapt swiftly and lead technological evolution.
- Resilient: We navigate complex challenges and emerge stronger, delivering robust and reliable solutions for industry pioneers.
- Innovative Designers: Leveraging the latest technologies, we create visionary solutions that redefine industry standards.
We remain committed and steadfast in solving intricate problems, advancing business initiatives, maximizing operational efficiency, and reducing our carbon footprint. We are a team of resilient, forward-thinking innovators driving the AI revolution.
Position Summary
The VP of Construction (Data Centers) is the executive owner for planning, executing, and delivering mission‑critical data center programs greenfield, brownfield expansions, and live-site retrofits. This role leads the full lifecycle from preconstruction and design management through construction, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover, ensuring safety, schedule, budget, and quality while meeting data center performance targets (PUE/WUE), redundancy requirements (N/Tier), and reliability objectives.
The VP partners across Development, Design/Engineering, IT/Network, Security, Real Estate, Finance, Procurement, and Operations to align delivery with business capacity plans and customer SLAs. The role leads internal teams and external GC/CMs, trade partners, commissioning agents, and specialty vendors (MEP, critical power, controls, structured cabling).
Core Responsibilities
Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
- Define the data center construction strategy and multi‑site delivery playbook across regions (hyperscale, colocation/wholesale, edge).
- Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), methods of procedure (MOPs), emergency operating procedures (EOPs), and change management for live sites.
- Build and maintain a rolling portfolio roadmap aligned to capacity forecasts, site readiness, utilities, and supply chain constraints.
- Drive prefabrication/modular strategies (e.g., power skids, e‑houses, modular UPS, prefabricated MEP racks) to reduce risk and schedule.
Preconstruction & Design Management
- Lead site due diligence, constructability, logistics plans, and phasing to protect live operations.
- Oversee estimates, ROM to GMP, risk contingencies, value engineering, and alternates.
- Partner with Design/Engineering on basis of design (BOD), Uptime Tier requirements, TIA‑942, ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines, and NEC/NFPA/IEEE compliance.
- Align sequence of operations for BMS/EPMS/SCADA and integration with security and network systems.
Execution & Delivery
- Own end‑to‑end delivery for civil/structural and MEP/FP scopes, including medium‑voltage distribution, switchgear, UPS/topologies (2N, N+1), generators, fuel systems, CRAH/CRAC, chiller/evap systems, DCIM/BMS/EPMS, structured cabling, white space fit‑out, and yard infrastructure.
- Approve master schedules (L1–L4), staffing plans, procurement logs, and long‑lead critical path (e.g., transformers, switchgear, generators, chillers).
- Manage change orders, claims, and cost controls; run monthly cost reports, cash flow, and forecast-at-complete.
- Ensure rigorous QA/QC, factory acceptance tests (FAT), site acceptance tests (SAT), and commissioning L1–L5/Integrated Systems Testing (IST) with clear acceptance criteria.
Risk, Safety & Compliance
- Champion zero‑incident culture; enforce OSHA, NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout (LOTO), energized work permitting, and hot‑work protocols.
- Lead risk registers for utility interconnects, energization, concurrent maintainability, and live‑site change control.
- Ensure compliance with NEC, NFPA, IEEE, ICC, local AHJ requirements, and environmental permits.
- Own incident response and root‑cause analysis for any commissioning or live‑site events.
Vendor, Contracting & Supply Chain
- Structure sourcing strategies (GC/CM, EPC, trade partners) and negotiate contracts/GMPs to drive best value and schedule certainty.
- Build manufacturer partnerships for long‑lead gear and spares strategies; implement factory witness testing and expediting protocols.
- Enforce performance KPIs and SLAs with vendors; manage dispute resolution.
Stakeholder Communication & Reporting
- Provide executive dashboards on schedule, budget, risk, readiness for power‑on/IST, and handover.
- Coordinate with Operations/DC Ops/Facilities for turnover, MOPs, spare parts, O&M manuals, training, and warranty plans.
- Support customer tours, due diligence, and capacity reservation milestones (for colo/wholesale).
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Deploy BIM/VDC, model coordination, clash detection, and 4D/5D workflows.
- Implement Lean Construction (Last Planner System), takt planning, and progressive commissioning readiness.
- Track and improve PUE/WUE targets, energy efficiency measures, and sustainability certifications (e.g., LEED, WELL, water reuse where applicable).
- Conduct after‑action reviews to capture lessons learned and update standards/details.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in construction management, Electrical/Mechanical/Civil Engineering, or related field.
- 15+ years of progressive construction leadership with 7+ years delivering mission‑critical/data center projects at scale.
- Proven track record managing large, complex MEP programs and commissioning (L1–L5/IST) to successful turnover.
- Deep knowledge of critical power (MV distribution, switchgear, UPS, generators, paralleling gear, ATS/STS) and cooling systems (air/water‑cooled chillers, CRAH/CRAC, containment, economization).
- Demonstrated ability to manage GMP/EPC contracts, cost controls, scheduling (Primavera P6/MS Project), and change management.
- Strong safety leadership with working knowledge of OSHA, NFPA 70/70E, NEC, IEEE standards.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across executives, operators, AHJs, utilities, and customers.
- Ability to travel to job sites and support off‑hours events during energization, cutovers, or incident response.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree (CM, Engineering, or MBA).
- Experience delivering hyperscale campuses and/or colocation facilities across multiple regions.
- Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier design/operational principles, TIA‑942, ASHRAE TC 9.9, and ISO 27001/22301 facility interfaces.
- Background implementing prefab/modular delivery (e‑houses, skids, modular data halls) and design‑for‑manufacture & assembly (DfMA).
- Certifications: CCM, PMP, PE, LEED AP, OSHA 30.
- Experience with BMS/EPMS/DCIM platforms, SCADA integration, and network/security coordination.
- Demonstrated success improving PUE/WUE, water stewardship, and grid/renewables integration (e.g., demand response, on‑site generation, energy storage).
- Proven leadership in live‑site environments with robust MOP/SOP/EOP governance.
Please note that Applied Digital is currently unable to sponsor new applicants for employment authorization or provide immigration-related support for this position. This includes, but is not limited to, visa categories such as H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1, O-1, and any Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) or other work authorizations that require employer sponsorship.
The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents acknowledge that they possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $250,000.00 - $400,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- How many years of experience do you have in hyperscale data center construction?
- How many years of experience do you have with mission critical/data center projects?
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Dallas, TX 75219
