JLL

Sr. Technical Project Manager, Data Centers

In short

Senior Technical Project Manager role at JLL in Austin, TX, leading end-to-end delivery of complex, high-value mission-critical data center construction projects. Owns cost, schedule, scope, procurement and client outcomes, directs PMs/APMs/Coordinators, and handles commercial execution including RFPs, GMP/NTE contracts and MEP systems. Requires 7+ years of construction project management experience in data center or mission-critical environments, with proven delivery of $50M+ projects, deep MEP/critical power knowledge, and up to 100% travel; no visa sponsorship is provided.

What this job involves
Lead the end-to-end delivery of the program's complex, high-value, and high-profile mission-critical and data-center infrastructure projects. This is a senior project management role for the large and technically demanding engagements — projects where the technical scope, financial exposure, schedule risk, and client profile demand the deepest level of experience and commercial command. The Senior Project Manager owns performance across cost, schedule, scope, procurement, and client outcomes for their assigned projects, directs PMs, APMs and Project Coordinators supporting those projects, and operates as the primary point of accountability to the client and internal leadership on every engagement they carry.
Your day-to-day tasks will include
•Lead full project delivery on the program's complex and high-value engagements, owning all performance outcomes across cost, schedule, scope, weekly OAC meetings, quality, and client satisfaction.
•Provide guidance and direction to PMs, APMs and Project Coordinators assigned to support their projects, maintaining delivery standards, documentation integrity, and workstream alignment.
•Lead pre-design and feasibility efforts alongside engineering, including due diligence, constructability review, capacity validation, and value engineering, to establish viable design paths and ROM estimates with the highest confidence possible given compressed timelines.
•Drive the compressed, parallelized delivery methodology required for speed-to-market commitments, adapting conventional pre-planning sequencing and contractor coordination norms for projects of the large scale and technical complexity.
•Develop and review Method of Procedures (MOPs) for critical infrastructure, providing detailed status reports and maintaining comprehensive project documentation.
•Execute procurement and commercial execution, including RFP development, vendor qualification, negotiation, and direct contracting of vendors and suppliers under NTE/GMP arrangements.
•Coordinate prime and trade contracts (electrical, mechanical, controls, fire protection, structural, and general trades) through complex, phased, and overlapping delivery.
•Manage project-level performance, including GMP/NTE budgets, ROM development, change orders, forecasts, pay applications, and variance analysis, exercising the greatest degree of commercial discipline on projects where cost risk is highest.
•Serve as the primary day-to-day client interface on assigned projects, translating technical requirements into actionable plans and delivering rigorous, data-driven reporting to demanding clients.
•Identify, document, and escalate risk on projects with notable technical, schedule, and commercial exposure, exercising sound judgment on decisions within established guidelines and escalating high-stakes issues appropriately.
•Ensure quality assurance and commissioning of critical power, cooling, life-safety, and control systems within active, energized environment.
•Perform comprehensive field assessments including onsite electrical equipment evaluations, operational testing, and commissioning activities. Conduct regular inspections of buildings and equipment to identify maintenance and repair needs, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and industry best practices. Supervise electrical equipment maintenance, testing activities, and contractor work to ensure quality standards are met.
•Collaborate on designing project plans, specifications, and engineering drawings using CAD software. Ensure all designs comply with applicable codes, regulations, and industry standards. Provide technical expertise in building systems including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire safety systems, and reliable power systems (UPS, batteries, emergency generators, transfer switches, switchgear, and distributed generation).
•Enforce site safety protocols, including lockout-tagout (LOTO) and safe work practices; lead safety stand-downs and corrective actions when incidents occur on assigned projects.
•Support contract administration, compliance, insurance documentation, and governance on all assigned engagements.
Desired experience and technical skills
Requirements
•Bachelor's degree in construction management, Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.
•7+ years of construction project management experience in data center, industrial, or other mission-critical environments, with demonstrated ownership of full project delivery on large, complex, high-value projects.
•Proven track record delivering projects at scale: $50M+ total project cost, high schedule intensity, and technically complex MEP scopes.
•Direct oversight of trade contractors (electrical, mechanical, generator, controls, structural) in active, energized construction settings.
•Proven commercial and contract leadership, including RFP development, negotiation, and administration of GMP, NTE, or similar contract structures on large, consequential project scopes.
•Advanced proficiency with project management, scheduling, and financial management software.
•Deep working knowledge of MEP systems, critical power/cooling infrastructure, and commissioning standards (NFPA, ASHRAE) across the full range of data center system types.
•Exceptional communication, negotiation, and executive-level presentation and reporting skills; comfortable as the primary face of the project to the most demanding clients.
•Demonstrated ability to operate with high autonomy and decisive judgment in ambiguous, high-pressure, fast-track environments where conventional sequencing does not apply.
•Availability to travel up to 100% for specific projects as needed.
Preferred
•Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, CCM, CDCP®, or DCDC®.
•Experience with design-build, EPC, or accelerated/parallelized schedule delivery models on large-scale projects.
•Experience leading speed-to-market delivery for colocation operators or hyperscale clients where aggressive timelines are a core business requirement.
•Familiarity with UPS systems, generators, chillers, CRAC/CRAH units, BMS networks, and alternative cooling technologies across a broad range of capacity scales.
•Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical systems, testing, and commissioning protocols for 24/7 mission-critical operations.
•Experience managing multiple concurrent or geographically distributed sites with high complexity and financial exposure.
•Demonstrated ability to manage and recover projects under significant financial, schedule, or technical stress.
•Commitment to professional development and continuous improvement in mission-critical construction delivery.
This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Location
On-site – Austin, TX
Benefits
•401(k) plan with matching company contributions
•Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
•Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
•Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
•Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

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