Senior Construction Project Manager (data center customer fit out)

Equinix•Minooka, IL

1d•$150,000 - $224,000•Onsite

About The Position

Equinix is seeking an experienced Senior Construction Project Manager to lead customer fit-out projects within an active data center development in Minooka, Illinois. This role serves as the primary interface between Equinix, customers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of customer-specific infrastructure and white space solutions. The ideal candidate is a strong client-facing leader with a proven track record managing customer fit-outs in mission-critical environments. This individual must excel at schedule management, change order administration, stakeholder communication, and project execution while maintaining exceptional responsiveness, accountability, and attention to detail. This role requires an individual who can independently drive project outcomes, make informed decisions, maintain strong customer relationships, and successfully manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment. Similar Equinix construction project management roles emphasize contract administration, change order management, stakeholder coordination, and oversight of data center construction projects from inception through handover.

Requirements

Typically 5+ years of direct experience managing customer-facing data center fit-out projects
Typically 10+ years of total experience in data center development, design, construction, commissioning, or project delivery
Proven experience delivering projects within mission-critical or live data center environments
Experience serving as the primary customer-facing representative on complex construction projects
Demonstrated experience managing schedules, budgets, contractors, consultants, and customer stakeholders
Strong experience in contract administration, change order management, and scope control
Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders across design, construction, commissioning, and operations teams
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
Builds trust and credibility with customers
Maintains a professional and solutions-oriented approach
Anticipates customer needs and responds with urgency
Demonstrates exceptional follow-through on commitments
Maintains organized project records and documentation
Tracks action items to completion and ensures accountability across teams
Responds quickly and effectively to customer and project needs
Exercises sound judgment in a dynamic construction environment
Evaluates risks and opportunities effectively
Escalates issues appropriately while maintaining project momentum
Exceptional planning and scheduling skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities
Strong attention to detail while maintaining focus on broader project objectives
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Comfortable leading meetings and presenting to senior leadership and customers
Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Highly responsive
Customer-focused
Schedule-driven
Strong in change management
Organized and detail-oriented
Proactive and accountable
Comfortable making independent decisions
Effective at building relationships and managing customer expectations
Working knowledge of data center infrastructure, including: Medium-voltage electrical distribution systems, Utility service coordination, Backup power systems, Mechanical cooling infrastructure, Critical facility construction practices, Customer white space fit-out delivery

Nice To Haves

Colocation data center experience
Hyperscale or mission-critical facility experience
Experience delivering customer fit-outs concurrently with active base building construction programs
Experience working within operational data center environments
Familiarity with Procore, Smartsheet, Primavera P6, and/or Microsoft Project
Experience supporting commissioning and turnover activities

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the fit-out lifecycle
Establish and maintain trusted customer relationships through proactive communication and timely issue resolution
Lead customer meetings and maintain detailed meeting minutes, decision logs, risk registers, and action item trackers
Manage customer expectations regarding scope, schedule, budget, and delivery milestones
Provide regular project updates and executive-level status reporting
Manage customer fit-out projects from initiation through turnover and occupancy
Develop, maintain, and drive detailed project schedules
Coordinate design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities
Monitor project risks and implement mitigation strategies
Ensure project milestones and customer commitments are achieved
Lead change order review, negotiation, documentation, and approval processes
Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost impacts, and customer-requested scope changes
Ensure contract compliance and maintain proper project controls
Coordinate and track all project financial impacts associated with customer modifications
Maintain accurate records supporting project cost and schedule decisions
Coordinate contractors, consultants, commissioning agents, and internal Equinix stakeholders
Monitor construction activities for safety, quality, and compliance
Resolve field issues, RFIs, design conflicts, and schedule impacts
Drive accountability across project teams and vendors
Ensure all documentation is accurate, current, and readily available
Maintain a working knowledge of mission-critical facility infrastructure
Support project decision-making related to electrical, mechanical, and architectural systems
Coordinate technical reviews with subject matter experts
Evaluate design and construction impacts relative to customer requirements