Senior Construction Project Manager (data center customer fit out)

Job Summary

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.

Responsibilities

Customer Relationship Management

• 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

Project Delivery

• 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

Commercial and Change Management

• 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

Construction Management

• 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

Technical Coordination

• 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

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 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

Preferred Experience

• 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

Technical Knowledge

Candidates should possess a strong understanding of construction project delivery and a 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

While deep technical engineering expertise is not required, the successful candidate must be capable of understanding technical discussions and making informed project decisions.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

Leadership Competencies

Customer Focus

• Builds trust and credibility with customers

• Maintains a professional and solutions-oriented approach

• Anticipates customer needs and responds with urgency

Responsiveness and Accountability

• 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

Decision Making

• Exercises sound judgment in a dynamic construction environment

• Evaluates risks and opportunities effectively

• Escalates issues appropriately while maintaining project momentum

Organization and Execution

• Exceptional planning and scheduling skills

• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities

• Strong attention to detail while maintaining focus on broader project objectives

Communication

• 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

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is known for being:

• 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

This individual will be trusted to represent Equinix in front of customers while successfully delivering fit-out projects within the Minooka data center development program.