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Senior Project Manager, Construction & Development

CyrusOne · Aurora, IL · Full time

Posted Sep 21, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time a contractor's performance was slipping. How did you get it back on track?

What they are checking: Whether they manage contractors firmly and fairly using the contract and the relationship.

Tell me about a time you worked with a utility on power for a large project. What made it hard?

What they are checking: Whether they understand utility coordination, which often drives data center schedules.

What would you do

Your GC tells you switchgear delivery is slipping eight weeks. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can find schedule recovery options and communicate the impact clearly to leadership.

A safety incident happens on your site. Walk me through your response.

What they are checking: Whether they put people first, follow reporting steps and use the incident to fix the cause.

Commissioning finds a problem the week before turnover. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect quality over the date and manage stakeholders through the delay.

About the work

Walk me through how you manage a data center project from permitting through commissioning, turnover and closeout.

What they are checking: Whether they understand the full lifecycle and the handoffs where data center projects usually slip.

How do you negotiate a contract with a Commissioning Agent, and what do you make sure is in it?

What they are checking: Whether they know commissioning scope well enough to protect the owner on mission-critical MEP systems.

How do you build and maintain a project budget and forecast that a Director can trust each week?

What they are checking: Whether they track cost with discipline and flag risk early instead of surprising leadership.

What do you watch for in OFCI equipment coordination, and how does it go wrong?

What they are checking: Whether they understand owner-furnished equipment risks like delivery timing, warranties and interfaces.

How would you put together a capital expenditure presentation for Director review?

What they are checking: Whether they can make a clear, defensible case for spending that leadership can act on.

How do you manage the documentation lifecycle on a design-build project?

What they are checking: Whether they keep submittals, RFIs and changes controlled so turnover documents are complete.

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The full job description

As published by CyrusOne.

The Senior Project Manager, Construction & Development leads data center construction projects with an emphasis on mission-critical MEP systems. This role is responsible for project delivery from planning and permitting through construction, commissioning, turnover, and closeout, including management of scope, budget, schedule, quality, safety, risk, and contractor performance. Responsibilities: • Support planning and permitting of major projects. • Collaborate with Procurement to develop and issue RFPs for General Contractors. • Prepare capital expenditure presentations for Director review. • Negotiate contracts with Commissioning Agents (CxA), third-party testing vendors, General Contractors, and Subcontractors. • Manage and maintain project budgets, forecasts, cost controls, and weekly updates for Director review. • Lead the construction and development of major projects from inception through commissioning, turnover, and closeout. • Assist Project Development teams with utility coordination efforts. • Lead or participate in Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC), Low Voltage (LV), and Owner-Furnished, Contractor-Installed (OFCI) meetings. • Implement recycling, sustainability, and other construction programs in accordance with project requirements. • Oversee the documentation lifecycle for design-build projects and manage technical, contractual, and procurement requirements throughout execution. • Conduct weekly project status meetings and prepare detailed reports covering scope, budget, schedule, risks, decisions, and action items. • Oversee engineers, owner’s project managers, subcontractors, and vendors during pre-construction, construction, commissioning, and closeout. • Monitor project schedules, safety performance, quality controls, change orders, and contractor performance; resolve issues and escalate material risks with recommendations. • Coordinate across Development, Design, Engineering, Procurement, Commissioning, Operations, Finance, Legal, and external partners to support timely project delivery. • Provide guidance and technical support to project team members and external resources as assigned. Qualifications: • 7 + years of experience in mission-critical data center development, general construction, or heavy MEP systems construction. • Experience leading construction project teams, including third-party owner’s project managers, subcontractors, and General Contractors, with accountability for scope, schedule, and execution. • Strong ability to manage project finances, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, commitments, contingencies, and change orders. • Experience negotiating construction, procurement, and labor contracts. • Ability to monitor and enforce project schedules, safety requirements, and quality controls. • Hands-on approach and willingness to engage in daily project challenges and problem-solving. • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present project status, risks, and recommendations to senior stakeholders. • Ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and disciplines, including internal teams, vendors, contractors, public officials, and external partners. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, and Procore. • Ability to work regularly at active construction sites in the Chicago area and travel up to 25% to project sites and key locations. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience in at least two construction disciplines, such as General Contracting, Owner’s Representation, Commercial Development, Engineering and Design, or similar roles. • Experience with multi-megawatt data center construction and large-scale infrastructure projects, including phased fit-out projects. • Experience with commissioning and the transition from construction to operational readiness. • Familiarity with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar scheduling software. • Experience managing multiple high-volume projects simultaneously, including projects with interdependent milestones. • Experience managing concurrent projects across multiple sites. • Demonstrated success communicating project requirements to senior management, vendors, and public officials. • Experience coaching project team members or improving construction delivery standards and processes. Education/Certifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. • Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or similar credential preferred. #LI-LC1 #LI-Onsite CyrusOne is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status. CyrusOne provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and any other state or local laws. We will respond to requests for reasonable accommodations to assist you in applying for positions at CyrusOne, or to submit a resume.

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