Senior MEP Project Manager - Special Construction

Samet Career•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

Samet's Charlotte office is seeking a MEP technical expert who can manage the complete lifecycle of highly complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in mission-critical environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in data center and/or healthcare construction where 24/7/365 uptime is non-negotiable. Responsibilities span from pre-construction and design-assist through commissioning and turnover of technically demanding projects. The Role As a Senior MEP Project Manager for Special Construction, you will be the main point of accountability for the successful delivery of our most technically demanding projects. This is not a standard commercial construction role. You are an MEP expert first and a project manager second. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of complex MEP systems, from pre-construction and design-assist to energization, commissioning, and turnover. You must have a profound understanding of the non-negotiable demands of 24/7/365 operational environments and the specific intricacies of data center and or healthcare construction.

Requirements

This role requires proven expertise in the unique challenges of data centers OR healthcare. Experience in both is highly preferred.
10+ years of project management experience, with at least 5 years in a lead role managing large, complex MEP scopes (MEP values of $50M+).
Expert-level understanding of project controls, scheduling (P6), cost management, and contract negotiation.
Verifiable project experience in at least one of the following: Data Center Intricacies: Deep understanding of electrical redundancies (N, N+1, 2N), UPS systems, PDUs, and generator paralleling gear. Expertise in advanced cooling systems, including chilled water, CRAC/CRAH units, air/water-side economizers, and containment strategies. Proven experience managing Level 4 and Level 5 Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and ensuring 100% uptime during cutovers.
Healthcare Intricacies: Mastery of construction in active medical facilities, including rigorous implementation of Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) and Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM). Expert knowledge of critical healthcare systems: medical gas (MedGas), nurse call, normal vs. essential power (ATS), and sophisticated HEPA filtration/air-change requirements. Experience managing complex phasing and shutdowns to ensure zero disruption to patient care.

Nice To Haves

ASHE Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC)
Data Center Certification (e.g., CDCEP, ATS)
Experience with large-scale modular/pre-fabricated MEP systems
Valid Driver's License

Responsibilities

Provide single-point leadership for all MEP-related activities, serving as the primary expert and point of contact for the owner, engineers, design partners, and specialty trade partners.
Lead MEP design-assist, value engineering, and constructability reviews. Develop and manage detailed MEP budgets and schedules, identifying long-lead equipment and critical path risk.
Manage all financial aspects of the MEP scope ($50M+), including cost control, change order management, and monthly forecasting.
Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to system integration, operational shutdowns, energization, and commissioning.
Support the BIM/VDC coordination process, ensuring all systems are 100% clash-detected and coordinated for pre-fabrication and installation.
Oversee the entire QA/QC program and manage the commissioning (Cx) process, from factory witness tests to functional performance testing and Integrated Systems Testing (IST).
Champion a zero-incident safety culture with a heightened focus on the unique risks of critical environments (e.g., arc flash, energization protocols, infection control).