Pre-Construction Project Manager at OVERWATCH in Location not listed

The Opportunity

Overwatch Construction Battalion is seeking an experienced Data Center Construction Manager with a strong General Contractor background to lead and support the pre-construction phase of mission-critical data center projects. This role is responsible for establishing the foundation of successful project delivery by driving early planning, constructability, budgeting, scheduling, procurement strategy, and risk mitigation.

The ideal candidate has direct experience delivering data center projects from the GC side and understands how decisions made during pre-construction directly impact field execution, cost certainty, and schedule performance.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction Leadership

• Lead pre-construction efforts for data center projects, ensuring scope, cost, schedule, logistics, and execution strategies are fully developed prior to mobilization.
• Establish and maintain the Master Project Schedule and Master Project Budget, incorporating procurement timelines, long-lead items, and phased turnover strategies.
• Perform detailed constructability reviews of design documents and drive value engineering initiatives without compromising performance or reliability.
• Identify project risks early and develop mitigation strategies aligned with field execution realities.

Estimating, Bidding & Procurement

• Manage contractor pre-qualification, bid solicitation, bid leveling, analysis, and award recommendations.
• Collaborate with estimating teams to validate quantities, pricing assumptions, and scope alignment.
• Develop buy-out strategies and support early procurement of long-lead and mission-critical equipment (MEP, electrical, switchgear, generators, etc.).

Design & Coordination

• Coordinate closely with design partners to ensure alignment with data center standards, constructability, and sequencing requirements.
• Drive design development coordination to minimize RFIs, rework, and field conflicts.
• Support permitting, entitlement, and AHJ coordination efforts to maintain schedule certainty.

Cost, Schedule & Financial Controls

• Maintain pre-construction cost control, forecasting, and cash flow projections.
• Track scope evolution and manage pricing impacts through design development and GMP establishment.
• Support project handoff from pre-construction to field teams with clear cost, schedule, and execution alignment.

Construction Execution Oversight

• Manage General Contractor compliance with contracts, schedules, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Support field teams through construction start-up, including logistics planning, phasing strategies, and subcontractor coordination.
• Oversee change management, including pricing, negotiations, and resolution of scope changes.

Commissioning & Closeout Support

• Coordinate commissioning planning, sequencing, and documentation requirements from early project phases through completion.
• Support punch list, substantial completion, final completion, and project closeout processes.
• Prepare final project accounting and budget reconciliation.

Communication & Leadership

• Implement project communication plans and documentation governance aligned with Overwatch Construction Battalion standards.
• Provide clear, concise reporting to leadership on project status, risks, and execution readiness.
• Collaborate across pre-construction, estimating, procurement, and field operations teams to ensure seamless execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related technical discipline (preferred).
• 7+ years of experience working for a General Contractor in commercial construction.
• 5+ years of direct experience delivering mission-critical or data center construction projects.
• Proven expertise in pre-construction, estimating, bidding, and early-phase project planning.
• Strong understanding of data center construction systems, sequencing, and MEP coordination.
• Demonstrated experience with cost management, forecasting, and financial controls.
• Fully adept with skills to execute and drive the RFP and RFQ processes.
• Highly organized with strong planning and execution skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence decisions and align stakeholders.
• Comfortable working with complex financial data and translating it into actionable execution strategies.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and support high-visibility, fast-paced projects.

Driver’s License Requirement:

For roles that require on-site presence or travel between work locations as an essential function of the position, candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license appropriate for the role and be eligible to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with applicable laws.

Communication Skills:

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a professional work environment, including preparing written reports and documentation, conveying information clearly to team members, clients, and stakeholders, and responding appropriately to verbal and written communications related to job duties.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an active data center construction environment, encompassing both indoor and outdoor work settings. The role requires the physical ability to perform essential job functions safely and effectively in a dynamic environment that includes ongoing construction activity and evolving site conditions.

The work environment includes areas and temporary structures owned, leased, or controlled by third parties over which Overwatch may have limited or no control. Because the project remains under construction, certain areas of the site — including access routes, staging zones, and temporary structures — may not yet be fully ADA-compliant until construction is complete or those third-party areas are finalized.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, twist, bend, and climb stairs or ladders for extended periods while navigating uneven, unpaved, or obstructed terrain.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to drive between job sites and access all areas of an active construction zone, including raised platforms, scaffolding, and confined spaces.
• Must be able to tolerate exposure to outdoor weather conditions, dust, and construction-related noise, vibrations, and odors.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with contractors, engineers, and site personnel, and maintain situational awareness in high-activity environments.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety vests, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots, is required.
• Must have sufficient visual acuity to read drawings, specifications, and safety signage, and to observe site activity.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in and around active construction areas, which may include unfinished buildings, temporary field offices, staging areas, and partially completed infrastructure. These locations may contain uneven surfaces, limited accessibility, and other conditions typical of construction projects prior to final completion. Overwatch does not control and cannot modify accessibility conditions within areas, facilities, or temporary structures owned or managed by third parties.

Reasonable Accommodation:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, provided such accommodations do not create safety hazards, impede essential mobility within active work zones, or require modification of facilities not owned or controlled by Overwatch.

Benefits:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid time off.

OVERWATCH is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. OVERWATCH considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.