Senior Data Center Program Manager Operations & Infrastructure | Contract | New York, NY (Hybrid / Onsite)

Senior Data Center Program Manager Operations & Infrastructure

Location: New York, NY - Local Or Near by candidates only
Work Arrangement: Onsite 4 Days/Week
Job Type: Contract
Duration: Long-Term

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Center Program Manager to lead complex data center operations, infrastructure, construction, expansion, and modernization initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing physical data center projects and programs, with a strong background in mission-critical facilities, data center construction/build-outs, commissioning, operational readiness, and infrastructure upgrades.

This is not a traditional IT/Software Project Manager position. Candidates must have hands-on project/program management experience specifically within data center or mission-critical environments.

Key Responsibilities

Lead large-scale data center infrastructure and operations projects from planning through completion and operational handover.
Manage data center construction, build-out, expansion, retrofit, upgrade, and infrastructure improvement initiatives.
Develop and manage project/program scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, risks, dependencies, and deliverables.
Coordinate with engineering, facilities, construction, operations, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.
Oversee activities involving critical electrical and mechanical infrastructure, including UPS, generators, switchgear, power distribution, cooling, HVAC, and related systems.
Manage commissioning, testing, integrated systems testing, operational readiness, turnover, and handoff activities.
Track project risks, issues, change requests, dependencies, and mitigation plans.
Manage contractors, vendors, consultants, and third-party service providers.
Prepare executive-level status reports, dashboards, project forecasts, and program updates.
Ensure projects are delivered according to schedule, budget, quality, safety, and operational requirements.
Drive cross-functional communication and issue resolution across multiple workstreams.
Support continuous improvement of data center operational processes and infrastructure delivery.

Required Qualifications

12+ years of overall Project Management / Program Management experience.
7+ years of direct experience managing data center projects or programs.
Strong experience specifically with data center construction, build-out, expansion, infrastructure upgrades, or operational readiness.
Experience working within mission-critical or critical facilities environments.
Strong understanding of data center electrical and mechanical infrastructure.
Experience with commissioning, integrated systems testing, turnover, or operational handover.
Proven experience managing contractors, vendors, engineering teams, and multiple stakeholders.
Strong experience with project planning, scheduling, budget management, risk management, and executive reporting.
Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work onsite in New York City four days per week.

Preferred Experience

Data center construction or infrastructure delivery
Critical facilities operations
Commissioning / IST
ORAT / operational readiness
UPS, generators, switchgear, PDU, ATS/STS
HVAC, chillers, CRAH/CRAC and cooling systems
BMS / EPMS / DCIM
MEP coordination
Capital projects / infrastructure programs
PMP or related project/program management certification

Important Candidate Profile

The strongest candidates will demonstrate long-term experience managing physical data center infrastructure projects, rather than primarily software, application, cloud, or general IT projects.

Candidates with direct experience delivering data center builds, expansions, infrastructure upgrades, commissioning, and transition to operations are strongly preferred.

Senior Data Center Program Manager Operations & Infrastructure | Contract | New York, NY (Hybrid / Onsite)

Key skills

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