Director, Development (Pre-Construction)

QTS Data Centers • Richmond, VA

10d

About The Position

The Director, Development (Pre-Construction) is part of QTS’s Development team and coordinates preconstruction activities from initial pre-development engagement through the start of onsite construction. The role supports project readiness by aligning design intent, costs, schedules, and planning with business expectations and local regulations. It works with pre-development teams, schedule planners, external partners, consultants, clients, and internal teams to prepare projects for delivery on time, within budget, and to QTS standards.

The position covers preconstruction planning and coordination; estimating and budget oversight; client and stakeholder communications; subcontractor and supplier coordination; early risk identification and mitigation; quality control and regulatory compliance; reporting and record management; team collaboration and mentorship; and the use of project management, estimating, and digital collaboration tools. It also promotes sustainable construction practices and supports continuous improvement in preconstruction processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and/or professional licenses in Construction Management, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, or Architecture.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in the development of mission-critical facilities.
• Five or more years of responsibility for data center project construction with large-scale data centers or data center lease providers.
• Ability to influence cross-discipline teams while managing deadlines and supporting staff.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations at a high-growth company.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage deadlines and support staff.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing multiple large, multifaceted projects.
• Knowledge of construction health and safety.
• Experience with customer deployment technologies and equipment.
• RCDD certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients and internal teams to confirm project scope, milestones, and deliverables.
• Create and manage preconstruction schedules aligned with client timelines and internal targets.
• Coordinate design, procurement, and construction teams to align preconstruction inputs.
• Coordinate early-stage approvals, permits, and documentation in accordance with local and national regulations.
• Collaborate with estimators to develop accurate, competitive cost estimates that reflect market rates and project conditions.
• Monitor preconstruction budgets and flag potential overruns and savings opportunities.
• Participate in cost reviews and recommend materials, systems, or methods that maintain quality while reducing costs.
• Serve as a client point of contact during preconstruction and communicate progress and changes.
• Lead preconstruction meetings with stakeholders, including architects, consultants, and subcontractors, to align scope, budget, and timelines.
• Keep clients informed of risks, changes, and cost implications.
• Support subcontractor selection and onboarding, and coordinate reviews and comparisons of subcontractor bids.
• Monitor subcontractor participation and ensure deliverables and commitments are met.
• Identify budget, design feasibility, procurement, and schedule risks and assist with mitigation and contingency planning.
• Provide input into contract terms to allocate and reduce QTS’s risk exposure.
• Review design, scope, and tender documents for quality and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with compliance and legal teams to ensure adherence to relevant health, safety, and environmental laws.
• Promote sustainable construction practices in early-stage planning.
• Produce reports on budget updates, preconstruction milestones, and risk status for internal and client reporting.
• Maintain current records of estimates, schedules, approvals, and preconstruction decisions, and ensure documentation is audit ready.
• Coordinate with estimators, planners, and bid managers to support efficient workflows and quality deliverables.
• Guide junior staff and support their development in preconstruction planning and project coordination.
• Contribute to process improvement by sharing lessons learned and adopting best practices.
• Use project management and estimating software such as Autodesk Construction Cloud, Procore, Primavera P6, or equivalent.
• Support the implementation of digital tools that improve collaboration, schedule accuracy, and document control.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions and immediate vesting.
• Flexible spending and HSA accounts.
• Paid holidays, paid time off, and paid volunteer days.
• Employee assistance program.
• Tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement.
• Parental leave and military leave assistance.
• QTS scholarship for employee dependents.
• Wellness program.
• Bonus eligibility.
• Potential eligibility for equity.
• Stock Purchase Plan.
• Floating holidays and holiday compensation when worked.
• Pet and legal insurance.
• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program.
• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program.
• Military Benefits Package.
• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program.
• QTS Crisis Fund.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director