Vice President of Construction Operations–Mission Critical

Ryan Companies US, Inc.•Dallas, TX

About The Position

The Vice President of Construction is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall construction function of the sector, ensuring best practices of integrated project delivery. Individual project sizes range from $100M to $1B+ with team ranging from 5 – 60 Ryan team members. This position reports to the EVP – Mission Critical Sector and partners with other Operations leaders on best practices and Business Development leaders to win work. Supervises a share of construction project management and field operations for the sector. Strategic Leadership & Market Focus Defines and executes the long-term vision and strategy for the Mission Critical Sector with a specialized focus on hyperscale, colocation, and build-to-suit (BTS) client needs. Drives market expansion and technical specialties in key regions (SouthEast, SouthCentral, Great Lakes, and North), positioning the company as a leader in data center construction. Owns and manages P&L for the Mission Critical construction sector, ensuring financial discipline and profitability across the project portfolio. Client Partnership & Delivery Excellence Acts as a true partner to clients, guiding them from initial design and site selection through construction, power delivery, commissioning, and operational handover. Develops and implements standardized playbooks and best practices for hyperscale, colocation, and BTS projects to ensure consistency, quality, and speed-to-market. Establishes and maintains strong relationships with key customers, design partners, critical equipment vendors, and trade partners. Technical & Operational Innovation Champions innovation in construction delivery models, including prefabrication, modular construction, and advanced technologies (VDC, BIM, ERP) to optimize cost, quality, and project timelines. Oversees the continuous improvement of core construction systems, with a focus on enhancing speed, safety, and efficiency to meet the aggressive timelines required by data center clients. Drives a culture of continuous learning and quality assurance, ensuring the team is at the forefront of data center construction trends, including advanced power and cooling solutions, sustainability practices, and global supply chain management. Team & Cultural Leadership Builds and mentors a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team with deep expertise in mission-critical project management and field operations. Leads succession planning to develop the next generation of leaders in project management and field supervision for the Mission Critical sector. Sets and monitors workforce standards and KPIs (e.g., revenue per PM, project-to-PM ratios) to ensure efficient resource allocation and project delivery. Serves as a cultural leader, both internally and externally, embodying Ryan’s mission and values and taking an active role in the external construction and mission-critical communities. Some things you can expect to do: Exceptional executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus among a wide range of stakeholders, from C-suite executives and clients to field-level personnel. Proven ability to build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team, with a focus on accountability, development, and creating a culture of excellence. A strategic mindset with the financial acumen to manage P&L for a major business sector and drive profitable growth. Adept at navigating a collaborative, matrix-style organizational structure and fostering strong partnerships across internal divisions like Development and Preconstruction. Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field. An advanced degree is a plus. Unwavering commitment to safety, integrity, and quality, with a customer-centric approach and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment. Full alignment with and a commitment to championing our company Values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Stewardship, Family, Excellence, and Fun.

Requirements

Exceptional executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus among a wide range of stakeholders, from C-suite executives and clients to field-level personnel.
Proven ability to build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team, with a focus on accountability, development, and creating a culture of excellence.
A strategic mindset with the financial acumen to manage P&L for a major business sector and drive profitable growth.
Adept at navigating a collaborative, matrix-style organizational structure and fostering strong partnerships across internal divisions like Development and Preconstruction.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Unwavering commitment to safety, integrity, and quality, with a customer-centric approach and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
Full alignment with and a commitment to championing our company Values: Safety, Integrity, Respect, Stewardship, Family, Excellence, and Fun.
A minimum of 15 years of progressive construction experience, with at least 10 years in a leadership role directly overseeing Mission Critical/Data Center projects.
Direct experience with Hyperscale, Co-location, and/or enterprise Build-to-Suit (BTS) data center projects is required.
Proven track record of successfully managing a portfolio of large-scale, complex, fast-track construction projects, preferably valued at $100M or more.
Deep expertise in the full lifecycle of data center construction, from pre-construction and design-build collaboration to commissioning (Cx) and handover.
Advanced knowledge of data center-specific challenges, including MEP-heavy systems, long-lead equipment procurement, global supply chain logistics, and Level 1-5 commissioning processes.
Demonstrated experience leading construction operations across multiple geographic regions, with a strong understanding of both union and open-shop labor environments.
Regular overnight travel expected to project sites and client visits.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is a plus.

Responsibilities

Defines and executes the long-term vision and strategy for the Mission Critical Sector with a specialized focus on hyperscale, colocation, and build-to-suit (BTS) client needs.
Drives market expansion and technical specialties in key regions (SouthEast, SouthCentral, Great Lakes, and North), positioning the company as a leader in data center construction.
Owns and manages P&L for the Mission Critical construction sector, ensuring financial discipline and profitability across the project portfolio.
Acts as a true partner to clients, guiding them from initial design and site selection through construction, power delivery, commissioning, and operational handover.
Develops and implements standardized playbooks and best practices for hyperscale, colocation, and BTS projects to ensure consistency, quality, and speed-to-market.
Establishes and maintains strong relationships with key customers, design partners, critical equipment vendors, and trade partners.
Champions innovation in construction delivery models, including prefabrication, modular construction, and advanced technologies (VDC, BIM, ERP) to optimize cost, quality, and project timelines.
Oversees the continuous improvement of core construction systems, with a focus on enhancing speed, safety, and efficiency to meet the aggressive timelines required by data center clients.
Drives a culture of continuous learning and quality assurance, ensuring the team is at the forefront of data center construction trends, including advanced power and cooling solutions, sustainability practices, and global supply chain management.
Builds and mentors a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team with deep expertise in mission-critical project management and field operations.
Leads succession planning to develop the next generation of leaders in project management and field supervision for the Mission Critical sector.
Sets and monitors workforce standards and KPIs (e.g., revenue per PM, project-to-PM ratios) to ensure efficient resource allocation and project delivery.
Serves as a cultural leader, both internally and externally, embodying Ryan’s mission and values and taking an active role in the external construction and mission-critical communities.