Director of Construction - Mission Critical

Ryan Companies US, Inc.•Austin, TX

About The Position

Ryan Companies US, Inc. has an immediate career opportunity for a Director of Construction to join our team National Mission Critical team! Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Operations, the Director of Construction, Mission Critical is the senior leader responsible for driving the successful planning, setup, and execution of all projects within a Mission Critical client portfolio. This strategic role serves as the critical bridge between business development and project execution. You will lead the entire preconstruction lifecycle, from initial client engagement and conceptual design through to the seamless handover to the construction delivery team. Your primary objective is to ensure that projects are meticulously planned, accurately budgeted, set up for predictable and successful execution, and managed effectively through the entire project lifecycle to meet the rigorous demands of our hyperscale and co-location partners. The Director of Construction manages Project Executives, Project Managers and Project Teams to build top talent and achieve highest customer satisfaction. The position oversees teams of 2 to 20 individuals with customer accounts ranging from 100M to 500M+.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
You must have 10+ years of construction project management experience including 5+ years of Design-Build construction project management experience with leadership on projects handling accounts from $100 million to $250+ million (Mission Critical data center experience preferred).
Demonstrate relationship building skills with third party clients and vendor partners.
Promptly and effectively resolve issues with win-win solutions and display natural leadership skills and qualities to guide multiple project teams with direct responsibility of project personnel.
Are a team player who leads by example, displays honesty, integrity, and good judgment while maintaining the highest professional standards at all times.
Recognize, select, and hire top talent at the appropriate time; and develop talent to all levels within construction operations.
Ability to travel for projects as needed.
Position requires verification of employment to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Large-scale data center project experience.

Responsibilities

Strategic Preconstruction / Planning Leadership: Develop and lead the overall preconstruction strategy for the Mission Critical sector, establishing standardized processes for estimating, scheduling, logistics planning, and risk assessment.
Act as the primary point of contact for key clients during the project planning phase, building trust and aligning Ryan’s delivery strategy with their specific goals for speed, cost, and scalability.
Oversee the development of comprehensive project execution plans, ensuring all strategic elements—including procurement, labor strategy, safety, and quality—are defined and integrated before construction begins.
Design Integration and Management: Lead the collaboration between internal design teams, external architecture and engineering partners, and client stakeholders to drive design completion.
Champion a "design-to-budget" and "design-for-constructability" mindset, ensuring that design decisions are continuously evaluated for cost, schedule, and supply chain impacts.
Oversee the value engineering process, proactively identifying opportunities to optimize the project's design for cost-effectiveness and efficiency without compromising quality or client requirements.
Estimating, Budgeting, and Cost Certainty: Take ultimate ownership of all estimates and budgets produced during the preconstruction phase, from early conceptual models to detailed, final construction budgets.
Direct the procurement and buyout strategy, overseeing the qualification and selection of key trade partners and vendors to ensure capability, capacity, and cost-competitiveness.
Analyze and manage commodity and equipment volatility, developing strategies to mitigate cost escalation risks for long-lead items like generators, switchgear, and cooling systems.
Construction Execution & Lifecycle Management: Provide senior leadership and oversight for the construction execution phase, ensuring that project management staff are upholding the standards and plans established during preconstruction.
Manage and mentor the project management teams, fostering a culture of accountability, proactive problem-solving, and excellence in execution.
Champion the rigorous implementation of all project controls—including cost, schedule, quality, and safety protocols—throughout the build, ensuring that performance is tracked accurately and that deviations are addressed swiftly.
Client Partnership and Performance Optimization: Maintain and strengthen relationships with key hyperscale and co-location clients throughout the construction lifecycle, acting as a senior point of contact to ensure satisfaction and alignment.
Work directly with client counterparts to continuously improve performance, refine communication protocols, and address challenges transparently.
Actively drive efforts to secure repeat business by demonstrating exceptional project delivery, exceeding client expectations, and solidifying Ryan's position as a trusted partner.
Schedule, Logistics, and Risk Management: Oversee the development of detailed preconstruction and construction schedules, ensuring that all critical path activities, owner decisions, and material delivery milestones are accurately mapped.
Continuously monitor project risk from preconstruction through final closeout, leading the team in the identification and proactive mitigation of potential issues related to design, cost, schedule, safety, and quality.
Ensure a seamless transition and knowledge transfer from the preconstruction team to the construction operations team, confirming that all assumptions, risks, and strategic plans are clearly communicated and understood.
Team Leadership and Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of preconstruction managers, estimators, planners, and project managers, fostering a culture of accuracy, strategic thinking, and client focus.
Collaborate with other Mission Critical leaders to ensure alignment between all functions.
Champion the use of technology and innovative tools (e.g., VDC/BIM, advanced estimating software) to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and value of the entire project lifecycle.