Petrogate has been retained to appoint a VP of Construction to lead multi-site delivery of large-scale data center campuses (single phases 30–120 MW; campus pipelines 200–600+ MW). The brief: build a high-trust, repeatable delivery engine that hits power-to-rack dates with predictable cost, quality, and safety.
What success looks like (12–18 months)
On-time TCO/IST: ≥90% phases delivered to Level 5/IST on or ahead of baseline, with <3% rework.
Cost control: GMP discipline and CO governance holding total variance within board-approved range; clear cash-flow and VOWD.
Playbooks at scale: Standardized campus playbooks (MEP, controls, liquid cooling, white space) adopted across regions.
Supplier leverage: National/MSA strategy for GC, key trades, OEMs (UPS, switchgear, chillers, transformers, CDUs), improving lead times and warranty terms.
Safety & quality: TRIR below portfolio benchmark; audit-ready QA/QC with punch/NCR burn-down to plan.
Team & bench: A high-performing regional CM leadership team with succession for Director and Sr. CM roles.
Scope & responsibilities
Portfolio leadership: Own the national construction portfolio from pre-con through TCO; steer regional Directors, CMs, and GC partners.
Pre-construction: Shape scopes, delivery models (CMAR/GMP/EPC), bid strategies, and long-lead forecasts; align with Development and Design on constructability and phasing.
Schedule governance: Approve L1–L4 schedules and recovery plans; enforce readiness gates tied to Commissioning (L1–L5) and Power Delivery milestones.
Commercial management: Lead CO/EOT strategy, claims avoidance/defense, and risk management; partner with Finance on VOWD/cash and with Legal on contract frameworks.
Technical stewardship: Ensure consistent standards for MV/LV power trains, mechanical plants, BMS/EPMS, white space, and (where applicable) liquid cooling (direct-to-chip/immersion) readiness.
Interfaces: Tight alignment with Power Delivery (substation & interconnect) and Commissioning (IST program) to protect energization dates.
Supplier strategy: Build national MSA/vendor capacity plans; negotiate factory slots and spares; drive QA at OEM FAT/SAT.
People & culture: Hire, coach, and performance-manage regional leadership; embed a safety-first, data-driven culture with clear KPIs and executive dashboards.
Executive reporting: Present monthly to ELT/Board on schedule, cost exposure, risks, and decisions required.
Ideal profile
15+ years delivering mission-critical or large industrial programs; 8+ years specifically in data centers with multiple phases ≥40–100 MW taken to TCO.
Proven executive ownership over GC/trades and OEM ecosystems; fluent in CMAR/GMP, CO mechanics, and claims.
Depth across MEP and controls; familiar with liquid-cooling integration and high-density hall sequencing.
Strong partnership with Commissioning (L1–L5/IST) and Power Delivery/Utility; understands interconnect dependencies.
Builds teams and systems: playbooks, metrics, and repeatable processes—not just heroics.
Articulate, board-facing communicator with crisp narrative and numbers.
Reporting line & team
Reports to: SVP or EVP, Development/Delivery (C-suite exposure).
Leads: Regional Directors of Construction, Sr. CMs, Pre-Con leads; dotted-line interfaces to Power Delivery and Commissioning leadership.
Location, travel & work pattern
USA hub (Texas preferred; also open to VA/AZ/OH/CA).
Travel 30–40% across campuses, OEM factories, and utility partners; hybrid work pattern.
Compensation (indicative)
Executive base $260k–$350k + 25–40% annual bonus; equity/LTI commensurate with seniority.
Comprehensive benefits and relocation.
Confidential expressions of interest
Email simon@petrogateco.com with subject “VP of Construction — USA (Developer/Owner)”.
Please include a 1-page impact brief: top 3 campuses/phases (MW, schedule, budget), your supplier/MSA strategy, and the most material schedule recovery you led.