📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Development Program Manager (Data Center Construction)
Company: QTS Data Centers
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Project Management, Construction Management, Data Center Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-02-06
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead and manage data center construction projects from design to completion
Collaborate with various stakeholders, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, and Operations staff
Create and manage development programs, budgets, and schedules for multiple projects on a campus
Effectively communicate project status and updates to executive levels
Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and represent QTS interests in OAC meetings
Travel up to 50% of the time to manage projects and maintain relationships

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires strong leadership, communication, and project management skills to oversee data center construction projects and ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Project Management: Lead and manage multiple data center construction projects, maintaining updated budgets, schedules, and status reports for each
Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with various stakeholders, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff
Program Development: Create and manage development programs, including a complete campus design solution and capital budget
Entitlement and Permitting: Manage entitlement and permitting needs for each assigned site project
Construction Management: Implement and manage multi-phased site development plans to achieve time, budget, and quality standards in a predictable fashion
Procurement and Cost Estimation: Write scopes of work for design, construction, commissioning services, and participate in procurement and project cost estimates
Budget and Schedule Management: Monitor project budget/cost-to-date against overall project budget and establish project schedules and manage teams to on-time completion
Change Order Management: Review and approve monthly pay applications from contractors and review change order requests from contractors and negotiate pricing
Relationship Building: Establish and maintain relationships serving as a liaison with key QTS stakeholders and represent QTS interests as a leader in OAC meetings
Custom Deal Solutioning: Collaborate with Sales Engineers and Product teams to aid in custom deal solutioning for prospective clients within the applicable schedule and budget for an assigned location
Due Diligence: Aid in due diligence efforts for potential new sites on an as-needed basis
Process Improvement: Work with the internal development team to enhance project management processes and protocols

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering or equivalent professional experience

Experience: Eight or more years of professional experience in commercial construction practices and procedures, including management of Lump Sum, Construction Management at Risk, and Design Build project delivery methods from conceptual development through procurement to close out

Required Skills:

Strong project management skills, with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, to interact with various stakeholders and present information to executive levels
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, specifically PowerPoint for use in communicating program updates to executive level, and Excel to create and maintain site program and individual project budgets
Ability to travel up to 50% of the time

Preferred Skills:

MBA, Masters in Engineering, Management, or related field
Experience with delivery of mission critical data center facilities
Extensive experience with management of MEP trades

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements (N/A for this role)

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on market research for data center construction project managers in the United States)

Benefits:

Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Flexible spending and HSA accounts
Paid holidays, paid time off, and paid volunteer days
Employee assistance program, tuition assistance, parental leave, and military leave assistance
QTS scholarship for dependents
Wellness program
Bonus eligibility
Equity eligibility

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with the possibility of overtime during critical project phases

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data center real estate and infrastructure

Company Size: Large (approximately 1,000 employees)

Founded: 2001

Team Structure:

The Development Program Manager will work closely with various teams, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff
This role reports directly to the Vice President of Development

Development Methodology:

Agile project management methodologies for data center construction projects
Collaborative approach to project planning, execution, and delivery
Regular project status updates and stakeholder communication

Company Website: QTS Data Centers

📝 Enhancement Note: QTS Data Centers is a leading provider of data center real estate and infrastructure, focusing on delivering secure, reliable, and scalable data center solutions for its clients. The company's success is built on its ability to attract and retain talented professionals who can manage complex data center construction projects and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Project Manager (Data Center Construction)

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Vice President of Development

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on data center construction projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. The Development Program Manager is responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously and collaborating with various stakeholders to achieve project success.

Growth Opportunities:

Career Progression: With experience and proven success in this role, there may be opportunities to advance to a Director or Vice President level within the Development team
Technical Skill Development: This role provides opportunities to develop and enhance project management, construction management, and stakeholder communication skills
Leadership Potential: As the role involves managing multiple projects and collaborating with various stakeholders, there is potential for growth into a leadership position within the Development team

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate office environment with a focus on collaboration and communication

Office Location(s): Cedar Rapids, IA (with the possibility of travel up to 50% of the time)

Workspace Context:

The Development Program Manager will work in a collaborative office environment, with access to multiple monitors, testing devices, and development tools as needed
This role requires frequent communication with various stakeholders, both in-person and remotely, to ensure project success

Work Schedule: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with the possibility of overtime during critical project phases

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment for this role is dynamic and fast-paced, with a strong focus on collaboration and communication. The Development Program Manager will work closely with various teams to ensure data center construction projects are completed successfully, and will have the opportunity to develop and enhance their project management and leadership skills.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the role, qualifications, and expectations
On-site Interview: A full-day on-site interview, including meetings with various stakeholders, a tour of the data center facility, and a working session to discuss project management and construction management skills
Final Interview: A final interview with the Vice President of Development to discuss the role, career growth opportunities, and next steps

Portfolio Review Tips: N/A (not applicable for this role)

Technical Challenge Preparation: N/A (not applicable for this role)

ATS Keywords: Project Management, Construction Management, Data Center, Budget Management, Scheduling, Communication Skills, Procurement, Design Management, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, MEP Management, Entitlement Management, Permitting, Data Center Operations, Team Leadership, Decision Making, Due Diligence

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's project management, construction management, and communication skills, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders. The on-site interview provides an opportunity to tour the data center facility and discuss project management and construction management skills in a practical context.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure (N/A for this role)

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Quality: Deliver high-quality data center construction projects that meet or exceed client expectations
Collaboration: Work closely with various teams, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff, to ensure project success
Innovation: Continuously seek new and improved methods for data center construction and project management
Integrity: Uphold the highest ethical standards in all aspects of the role

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Collaborate with various teams to ensure data center construction projects are completed successfully
Code Review Culture: Regularly review project plans, budgets, and schedules with stakeholders to ensure project success
Knowledge Sharing: Share knowledge and best practices with team members to enhance project management and construction management skills

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at QTS Data Centers is focused on collaboration, innovation, and integrity. The Development Program Manager will work closely with various teams to ensure data center construction projects are completed successfully, and will have the opportunity to develop and enhance their project management and leadership skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Managing multiple data center construction projects simultaneously, each with its own unique set of requirements and constraints
Collaborating with various stakeholders, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff, to ensure project success
Managing project budgets and schedules, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget
Navigating the complexities of data center construction, including MEP management, entitlement management, and permitting
Representing QTS interests as a leader in OAC meetings and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Career Progression: With experience and proven success in this role, there may be opportunities to advance to a Director or Vice President level within the Development team
Technical Skill Development: This role provides opportunities to develop and enhance project management, construction management, and stakeholder communication skills
Leadership Potential: As the role involves managing multiple projects and collaborating with various stakeholders, there is potential for growth into a leadership position within the Development team

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical challenges for this role are significant, requiring strong project management, construction management, and communication skills. The Development Program Manager will need to be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, collaborate with various stakeholders, and navigate the complexities of data center construction. However, the role also provides numerous opportunities for career progression, technical skill development, and leadership growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Project Management: Describe your experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and how you ensure project success
Construction Management: Explain your approach to managing data center construction projects, including MEP management, entitlement management, and permitting
Stakeholder Communication: Discuss your experience collaborating with various stakeholders, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff, to ensure project success
Budget and Schedule Management: Describe your approach to managing project budgets and schedules, and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget
Change Order Management: Explain your experience reviewing and approving monthly pay applications from contractors and reviewing change order requests from contractors and negotiating pricing

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Describe what you understand about QTS Data Centers' company culture and how you think you would fit into the team
Team Dynamics: Explain how you would work collaboratively with various teams, including Facilities, Contractors, Designers, Engineers, Commissioning Agents, Vendors, and Data Center Operations staff, to ensure project success
Project Management Methodologies: Describe your experience with Agile project management methodologies and how you would apply them to data center construction projects

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: N/A (not applicable for this role)

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is designed to assess the candidate's project management, construction management, and communication skills, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders. The interview questions are focused on the candidate's experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, their approach to construction management, stakeholder communication, budget and schedule management, and change order management. The company and culture questions are designed to assess the candidate's fit with QTS Data Centers' company culture and their ability to work collaboratively with various teams.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Development Program Manager (Data Center Construction) position:

Submit your application through the application link provided
Prepare a detailed project management and construction management portfolio, highlighting your experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, your approach to construction management, stakeholder communication, budget and schedule management, and change order management
Research QTS Data Centers' company culture and be prepared to discuss how you think you would fit into the team during the interview process
Prepare for technical interview questions focused on project management, construction management, stakeholder communication, budget and schedule management, and change order management, as well as company and culture questions designed to assess your fit with QTS Data Centers' company culture and your ability to work collaboratively with various teams

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and data center construction project management industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with QTS Data Centers before making application decisions.

Development Program Manager (Data Center Construction)