Utility Project Manager – Data Center Infrastructure

Role Overview

The Utility Project Manager will lead scope, cost, schedule, quality, and safety for utility and substation work supporting data center developments. You will collaborate with internal energy teams, engineering, construction, utilities, and AHJs to ensure reliable, on-time energization of data center campuses.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Single Point of Contact for all utility and substation scope (transmission, distribution, substations)
• Lead weekly design and site coordination meetings with Energy, Engineering, Construction, Utilities, and AHJs
• Coordinate utility design reviews, approvals, and signoffs using Adobe Sign / DocuSign
• Manage design coordination using latest AutoCAD and BIM 360
• Develop and maintain responsibility matrices and stakeholder contact lists
• Track and manage utility agreements, easements, deeds, and ROW documentation to meet project schedules
• Establish and manage budgets, estimates, contingencies, and not-to-exceed values
• Track purchase orders and report funding status at defined milestones
• Ensure scope validation prior to work execution
• Manage all change orders and scope changes through formal change management processes
• Develop and publish detailed utility and substation schedules
• Identify critical path activities and maintain zero-float logic
• Track long-lead equipment (LLE) delivery and on-site readiness
• Provide mitigation plans, recovery schedules, and cost impacts for delays
• Publish weekly progress reports with photos and milestone updates
• Conduct weekly site walks and pre-construction walkthroughs
• Verify substation civil and electrical work meets utility and data center standards
• Identify, document, and escalate quality issues proactively
• Champion safety as a core value on all data center sites
• Develop and submit Energization Safety Plans
• Lead pre-energization coordination walks with all stakeholders
• Review and coordinate Methods of Procedure (MOPs)
• Verify downstream scope completion prior to energization

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of utility experience, including transmission, distribution, and substations
• Proven experience supporting data center or mission-critical infrastructure projects
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Project Management (preferred)
• Strong knowledge of easements, ROW, and utility agreements
• Solid construction project management fundamentals
• Highly organized, adaptable, and comfortable working in fast-paced, high-visibility environments

Disqualifier

• Candidates without direct utility experience will not be considered.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Experience working in hyperscale or campus-style data center environments
• Strong coordination skills across internal teams, utilities, and AHJs
• Ability to manage ambiguity, tight schedules, and multiple stakeholders