The VP Data Center Development - Aphorio Carter will lead all technical aspects of data center development and value-add investment projects, with responsibility for design management, construction management, commissioning, and project execution. This role oversees the full lifecycle of capital projects-including initial concept, design, permitting, build-out, and commissioning-across both new development and existing assets where additional critical capacity and infrastructure are added. Will ensure all projects meet operational, reliability, efficiency, and financial performance objectives while aligning with corporate investment strategies.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic & Technical Leadership
- Serve as the company's senior technical authority for all data center development and infrastructure expansion projects.
- Provide executive oversight and decision-making across project planning, design, construction, and commissioning phases.
- Align technical design decisions with corporate investment objectives, cost targets, and long-term operational efficiency goals.
Project & Construction Management
Direct end-to-end project management for data center build-outs, from site readiness through commissioning and handover.Oversee contractor selection, bid processes, contract negotiation, and performance management.Establish and enforce quality control, safety, and compliance standards.Monitor schedules, budgets, and scope to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.Design Management
Lead the architectural, structural, MEP, and critical systems design process in collaboration with internal stakeholders, external engineers, and consultants.Ensure designs meet power density, cooling efficiency, redundancy, scalability, and sustainability objectives.Implement design standards and specifications that optimize total cost of ownership.Commissioning & Acceptance
Develop and oversee commissioning plans for critical infrastructure including electrical, mechanical, and network systems.Ensure systems are tested under load conditions to meet operational and uptime requirements.Validate performance metrics such as PUE, redundancy (N / N+1 / 2N), and fault tolerance before turnover to operations.Value-Add & Capacity Expansion
Evaluate existing assets for potential capacity expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and revenue optimization.Direct technical feasibility studies for power upgrades, cooling optimization, and white space build-outs.Integrate new systems into existing live environments with minimal operational risk.Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with the CIO / COO, investment team, asset managers, and leasing teams to ensure alignment between technical delivery and commercial objectives.Support due diligence for acquisitions, including assessment of existing infrastructure, upgrade potential, and CapEx forecasting.REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Education
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; Master's degree preferred.15+ years of progressive experience in mission-critical facility design, construction, and commissioning, with at least 8 years in data centers.Deep knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems for mission-critical environments, including UPS, generators, chillers, CRAH / CRAC units, and switchgear.Proven track record delivering large-scale data center projects on time and within budget.Strong understanding of project finance principles and ability to align technical execution with investment strategies.Exceptional leadership, vendor management, and negotiation skills.Familiarity with Tier ratings, Uptime Institute standards, ASHRAE guidelines, and applicable building codes.