Director of Data Center Construction

Do you want to work with high-caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure, pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our mission is to deliver reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America’s future. Founded in 2019, SB Energy is a SoftBank Group company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In 2026, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a $1 billion investment to support SB Energy as their leading development and execution partner for data center campuses, while Ares Infrastructure continues its long-standing support of the company’s growth. SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since its founding, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with more than 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also leverages a strong culture of innovation to identify and integrate new technologies into its projects, including its AI-based digital platform, delivering energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and infrastructure future—today. Come join us in accelerating the energy and infrastructure transition! Basic Function The Project Director is responsible for leading the successful delivery of hyperscale data center campuses (1GW–8GW+) through a highly collaborative, integrated approach. This leader is not only accountable for outcomes—schedule, cost, safety, and quality—but also serves as the central facilitator across development, design, construction, and operations, ensuring alignment among diverse stakeholders including internal teams, general contractors, trade partners, utilities, and customers. Success in this role is defined by the ability to provide leadership, create clarity, foster trust, and orchestrate execution across a complex ecosystem. In addition to driving project execution, the Director champions SB Energy’s culture—leading with ownership, accountability, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement while building and mentoring highperforming teams. Responsibilities Program Leadership Lead multi-GW campus delivery by aligning cross-functional teams around shared goals, milestones, and constraints. Establish a culture of transparency, accountability, and proactive communication Facilitate decision-making across stakeholders, ensuring issues are surfaced early and resolved collaboratively Translate executive strategy into clear, executable plans across all teams Ensure program provides incentive structure that ensures exceptional project outcomes with respect to cost, schedule, quality and overall execution Collaborative Execution & Team Integration Act as the integration point across development, engineering, procurement, construction and operations Foster strong partnerships with general contractors and key trade partners, treating them as extensions of the core team Lead structured coordination forums (e.g., multi-GC alignment meetings, pull-planning sessions, interface workshops) Break down silos and ensure seamless information flow across disciplines Integrate the customer to the greatest extent without Execution Strategy & Phasing Co-develop phased deployment strategies with internal and external partners (e.g., 100MW–300MW increments) Align construction sequencing with utility delivery, procurement timelines, and customer commitments Facilitate collaborative schedule development (Last Planner System, pull planning, etc.) Drive shared ownership of critical path milestones Construction & Field Leadership Lead large, distributed teams by empowering field leaders while maintaining alignment to program objectives Promote a culture where field insights inform decision-making at all levels Ensure site logistics, productivity, and sequencing are collectively owned and continuously optimized Encourage cross-contractor collaboration rather than competition Commercial & Contract Strategy (Partnership-Focused) Structure contracts that incentivize collaboration, performance, and shared success Lead commercial discussions with a solutions-oriented mindset, balancing risk and partnership Facilitate resolution of changes, claims, and disputes through alignment and transparency Ensure financial decisions support long-term program success—not just short-term outcomes Design & Preconstruction Integration Lead integrated design and preconstruction efforts with a focus on constructability, scalability, and repeatability Facilitate value engineering sessions that leverage input from all stakeholders Ensure design decisions are informed by real-world execution constraints Promote standardization while allowing flexibility where needed Supply Chain & Procurement Coordination Align procurement strategies with construction sequencing and program priorities Engage contractors and vendors early to ensure feasibility and buy-in Facilitate coordination across global supply chain stakeholders Proactively identify and mitigate procurement risks through collaboration Commissioning & Turnover Lead commissioning strategy with strong coordination between construction and operations teams Ensure all parties are aligned on readiness criteria and turnover expectations Facilitate integrated system testing and issue resolution Deliver facilities that are operationally ready and meet customer expectations Safety & Risk Culture Champion a shared safety culture across all contractors and teams Facilitate open dialogue around risks, near misses, and lessons learned Lead program-level risk workshops and mitigation planning Ensure safety and risk management are collective responsibilities Stakeholder Engagement Serve as a trusted partner to executives, customers, utilities, and regulatory agencies Communicate program status, risks, and opportunities with clarity and transparency Build long-term relationships that support future growth and collaboration Represent the program as a unified effort—not a collection of silos Qualifications/Requirements Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or related field 10+ years of progressive experience managing data centers, or other large-scale capital construction projects 15+ years of professional experience in related fields Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple complex projects and EPC contractors simultaneously Strong financial acumen with expertise in capital budgeting, forecasting, and contract management Experience in multi-prime, design-build, or alternative procurement delivery models preferred Proficiency in MS Office Suite, Primavera P6, MS Project, Monday.com, Procore, or similar project management tools Deep understanding of CSA and MEP construction management principles Experience interfacing with utilities, permitting authorities, lenders, and independent engineers Ability to travel 50-60% as needed Location: California, Texas, Ohio preferred. Base Pay - $190,000 - $240,000 The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. The compensation range provided reflects base pay. Total rewards may also include performance-based bonuses, equity grants, and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process. Our Health & Wellness Benefits At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy: 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents) 401(k) with Company Match Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays 12 Weeks Parental Leave Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions) Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions) Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans Device Purchase Support At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now! SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class. To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com. #LI-HYBRID #LI-AM1