Vice President of Construction

JDL Recruitment are partnering with an ambitious Data Centre Developer who are expanding their US team with a VP of Construction to be based in Texas .

Applicant must have the right to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Own the US data center construction strategy, aligned with the company’s global capacity roadmap and Lead-to-Load (L2L) process.
• Provide executive oversight of all US data center construction projects, from site due diligence through handover to operations.
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing US construction organization including project management, site supervision, cost management, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).
• Establish and continuously improve standard methods of procedure (MOPs) and playbooks for data center construction and fit-out.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of US new builds, expansions, and retrofits: preconstruction, budgeting, design coordination, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning.
• Drive predictable execution against schedule, cost, and quality targets, with transparent reporting to senior leadership.
• Oversee contractor selection, RFPs, and contract negotiation in partnership with Procurement and Legal.
• Champion safety, quality, and compliance across all US construction sites.
• Collaborate with Design & Engineering to align on design standards, value engineering, and innovation in MEP, cooling, and sustainability.
• Collaborate with the GPU Co (AI Services) to coordinate the hand off of data center space for GPU deployment and fitout.

Requirements

• 10–15+ years of experience in large-scale construction, including significant experience delivering mission-critical or data center facilities in the US.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Director / VP of Construction, Program Director, or equivalent) with multi-site or regional remit
• Proven track record delivering complex MEP-heavy projects on time and on budget in live or near-live data center environments
• Deep understanding of construction insurance and bonding requirements and industry norms.
• Familiarity with US building codes, electrical and safety standards, and permitting processes relevant to data centers.
• Experience in hyperscale, colocation, or AI/HPC-focused data centers.
• Experience coordinating with utility providers, network carriers, and AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) in major US data center markets.