Senior Construction Project Manager (data center customer fit out)

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.

A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future.

A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact. You’ll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

Equinix is seeking an experienced Senior Construction Project Manager to lead customer fit-out projects within an active data center development in Minooka, Illinois. This role serves as the primary interface between Equinix, customers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of customer-specific infrastructure and white space solutions.

The ideal candidate is a strong client-facing leader with a proven track record managing customer fit-outs in mission-critical environments. This individual must excel at schedule management, change order administration, stakeholder communication, and project execution while maintaining exceptional responsiveness, accountability, and attention to detail.

This role requires an individual who can independently drive project outcomes, make informed decisions, maintain strong customer relationships, and successfully manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced construction environment.

Similar Equinix construction project management roles emphasize contract administration, change order management, stakeholder coordination, and oversight of data center construction projects from inception through handover.

Responsibilities

Customer Relationship Management

Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the fit-out lifecycle

Establish and maintain trusted customer relationships through proactive communication and timely issue resolution

Lead customer meetings and maintain detailed meeting minutes, decision logs, risk registers, and action item trackers

Manage customer expectations regarding scope, schedule, budget, and delivery milestones

Provide regular project updates and executive-level status reporting

Project Delivery

Manage customer fit-out projects from initiation through turnover and occupancy

Develop, maintain, and drive detailed project schedules

Coordinate design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities

Monitor project risks and implement mitigation strategies

Ensure project milestones and customer commitments are achieved

Commercial and Change Management

Lead change order review, negotiation, documentation, and approval processes

Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost impacts, and customer-requested scope changes

Ensure contract compliance and maintain proper project controls

Coordinate and track all project financial impacts associated with customer modifications

Maintain accurate records supporting project cost and schedule decisions

Construction Management

Coordinate contractors, consultants, commissioning agents, and internal Equinix stakeholders

Monitor construction activities for safety, quality, and compliance

Resolve field issues, RFIs, design conflicts, and schedule impacts

Drive accountability across project teams and vendors

Ensure all documentation is accurate, current, and readily available

Technical Coordination

Maintain a working knowledge of mission-critical facility infrastructure

Support project decision-making related to electrical, mechanical, and architectural systems

Coordinate technical reviews with subject matter experts

Evaluate design and construction impacts relative to customer requirements

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Experience

Typically 5+ years of direct experience managing customer-facing data center fit-out projects

Typically 10+ years of total experience in data center development, design, construction, commissioning, or project delivery

Proven experience delivering projects within mission-critical or live data center environments

Experience serving as the primary customer-facing representative on complex construction projects

Demonstrated experience managing schedules, budgets, contractors, consultants, and customer stakeholders

Strong experience in contract administration, change order management, and scope control

Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders across design, construction, commissioning, and operations teams

Preferred Experience

Colocation data center experience

Hyperscale or mission-critical facility experience

Experience delivering customer fit-outs concurrently with active base building construction programs

Experience working within operational data center environments

Familiarity with Procore, Smartsheet, Primavera P6, and/or Microsoft Project

Experience supporting commissioning and turnover activities

Technical Knowledge

Candidates should possess a strong understanding of construction project delivery and a working knowledge of data center infrastructure, including:

Medium-voltage electrical distribution systems

Utility service coordination

Backup power systems

Mechanical cooling infrastructure

Critical facility construction practices

Customer white space fit-out delivery

While deep technical engineering expertise is not required, the successful candidate must be capable of understanding technical discussions and making informed project decisions.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience

Leadership Competencies

Customer Focus

Builds trust and credibility with customers

Maintains a professional and solutions-oriented approach

Anticipates customer needs and responds with urgency

Responsiveness and Accountability

Demonstrates exceptional follow-through on commitments

Maintains organized project records and documentation

Tracks action items to completion and ensures accountability across teams

Responds quickly and effectively to customer and project needs

Decision Making

Exercises sound judgment in a dynamic construction environment

Evaluates risks and opportunities effectively

Escalates issues appropriately while maintaining project momentum

Organization and Execution

Exceptional planning and scheduling skills

Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities

Strong attention to detail while maintaining focus on broader project objectives

Communication

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Comfortable leading meetings and presenting to senior leadership and customers

Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is known for being:

Highly responsive

Customer-focused

Schedule-driven

Strong in change management

Organized and detail-oriented

Proactive and accountable

Comfortable making independent decisions

Effective at building relationships and managing customer expectations

This individual will be trusted to represent Equinix in front of customers while successfully delivering fit-out projects within the Minooka data center development program.

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:

United States - Minooka Office CHCx : 150,000 - 224,000 USD / Annual

United States - CH1 Chicago : 150,000 - 224,000 USD / Annual

Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location. The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting