Construction Manager – Utility Power & Data Center Infrastructure (On-site) - South Padre Island, TX, or Amarillo, TX

Decima International is a professional services company, providing project management and controls services to clients in the United States and the Middle East. Our mission is to become the premier professional services provider across all industry sectors we are engaged in. To accomplish this, Decima International’s founders established a simple yet powerful formula:

Approach each client engagement as a partnership, create an environment that attracts the most talented professionals and allows them to flourish, and regulate growth to maintain excellence in our service standards.

We are looking for a driven and capable Construction Manager – Utility Power & Data Center Infrastructure to support us in the development of multiple data center projects for one of the top technology clients in the world. This client-facing role requires strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; the ability to self-direct; and an emphasis on sound project management fundamentals. Candidates must have extensive experience in utility power generation, transmission, substations, medium- and high-voltage electrical systems, and the integration of utility infrastructure with mission-critical facilities. A strong background in hyperscale data center development, utility coordination, energization planning, commissioning, and operational requirements is a major plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Be well-versed in modern project management techniques within complex, multi-functional organizations; possess a solid understanding of engineering, design, procurement and contracting, safety, construction, commissioning, and utility energization

Establish strong relationships with clients and communicate effectively with owners, utility providers, engineers, contractors, commissioning teams, operations personnel, and both technical and management-level stakeholders

Lead construction activities for utility power infrastructure supporting large-scale and hyperscale data center developments

Develop, manage, and report on project scope, schedule, budget, safety, quality, and energization milestones

Manage assigned work from design review and preconstruction through testing, energization, final turnover, and close-out

Develop construction execution strategies that support project schedule milestones and required energization dates

Serve as the single point of contact for the development and delivery of utility power infrastructure

Provide construction oversight for

• Gas-fired power generation plants
• High-voltage substations
• Transmission lines
• Electrical distribution systems
• Underground duct banks
• Medium-voltage distribution systems
• Switchgear installations

Transformers

• Protective relay systems
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) integration
• Utility interconnections
• Emergency generation systems
• Fuel systems

Vendor Management and Contract Compliance

• Oversee the performance and compliance of utility providers, EPC contractors, general contractors, and specialty vendors
• Review and approve vendor scopes of work and design documentation
• Manage the selection, contracting, coordination, and integration of multiple vendors and internal stakeholders
• Facilitate client and sponsor decision-making to drive solutions and manage change as needed
• Apply negotiation strategies to identify options and recommend solutions
• Ensure compliance with audit findings, inspection requirements, and corrective-action recommendations
• Review project plans, specifications, design packages, and technical requirements for constructability, sequencing, safety, and operational readiness
• Prepare Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and other project approval tools and templates
• Collaborate with contractors to establish CPM baseline schedules and integrate utility construction, testing, commissioning, and energization activities
• Lead daily coordination meetings, weekly progress reviews, OAC meetings, and other project meetings; maintain accurate meeting minutes and action items
• Coordinate closely with local authorities and utility providers to support permitting, inspections, testing, interconnection, and successful energization
• Review and validate project progress, contractor pay applications, change orders, and invoices
• Monitor construction activities for compliance with OSHA regulations, NFPA 70E, NEC, NESC, IEEE standards, utility requirements, approved designs, and quality management systems
• Coordinate construction activities with commissioning and operations teams to facilitate safe system startup, turnover, and operational readiness
• Prepare PowerPoint presentations and report to management on project progress, findings, risks, and recommendations
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

10+ years of construction management experience, including 5+ years managing utility infrastructure, high-voltage electrical systems, power generation, or related electrical infrastructure

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, project management, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant industry experience may be considered

Experience delivering power generation, utility infrastructure, mission-critical, or data center projects

Strong knowledge of power generation plants, transmission infrastructure, substations, and medium- and high-voltage electrical distribution systems

Experience coordinating with utility providers, electrical contractors, engineers, commissioning teams, and local authorities

Strong understanding of construction safety, quality management, project controls, construction scheduling, commissioning, and energization planning

In-depth knowledge of pre-design, preconstruction, contract management, project delivery methods, utility construction practices, and mission-critical construction sequencing

Working knowledge of OSHA regulations, NFPA 70E, NEC, NESC, and applicable IEEE standards

Experience developing various reports for multiple audiences

Experience in client-facing roles

Demonstrated ability to understand complex technical construction programs and communicate clearly to both technical and executive stakeholders

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with utility power generation and gas-fired power plants
• Experience with transmission systems and high-voltage substations
• Experience with medium-voltage distribution, switchgear, transformers, and underground duct banks
• Experience with protective relaying, SCADA systems, and utility interconnections
• Prior hyperscale data center or mission-critical facility development and construction experience
• Design, testing, commissioning, and energization experience
• Experience with emergency generation and fuel systems
• Experience integrating renewable energy systems

Experience with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Construction Quality Manager Certification (CCQM)

Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)

Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM)

• Active membership in PMI, CMAA, or a similar professional association
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM) certification

POSITION DETAILS

Location (On-site)

Amarillo, Texas

South Padre, Texas

• Position: Construction Manager – Utility Power & Data Center Infrastructure
• Position Classification: Salary-based full-time hours
• Current work permit required. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment (e.g., H-1B visa sponsorship or transfer not offered)

PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Office

Microsoft 365

Decima International is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to the safety and well-being of all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law.