Program Manager AI Data Centers

Program Manager – AI Data Centers

Bold New Solutions, Inc. (BNS)

Business Unit: Critical Infrastructure Solutions (CIS)
Department: Operations
Reports To: VP of Operations
Employment Status: Full-Time, Salary, Exempt
Location: Remote / Regional, based on business and customer requirements
Travel: Up to 75%, including domestic and international travel

Position Overview

The Program Manager – AI Data Centers is a senior operational and customer-facing leadership position responsible for the successful delivery, financial performance, and customer relationship management of large-scale AI data center infrastructure programs.

This position leads complex, multi-phase, and multi-location programs supporting artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center environments. The Program Manager is accountable for coordinating multiple projects, Project Managers, technical workstreams, field teams, subcontractors, and customer stakeholders to ensure program objectives are achieved.

BNS provides critical infrastructure services supporting structured cabling, fiber optic systems, network infrastructure, equipment installation, and related data center infrastructure requirements. The Program Manager must understand the complexity of modern AI data center environments, including high-density computing, GPU deployments, advanced networking, power distribution, cooling requirements, and the sequencing necessary to bring infrastructure online.

This role requires demonstrated experience delivering large-scale data center infrastructure programs, strong financial and commercial acumen, and the ability to establish credibility with sophisticated customers and executive stakeholders.

The Program Manager serves as the primary program-level leader and customer point of contact for assigned programs. This individual is accountable for overall program delivery, financial performance, customer satisfaction, risk management, and coordination across all program workstreams.

Working closely with the COO, Manager of PMO, Chief Architect, Critical Infrastructure Solutions, Operations, Finance, Procurement, and other business leaders, the Program Manager ensures that customer commitments are translated into coordinated execution plans and measurable results.

The Program Manager owns the assigned program's outcomes. The Manager of PMO owns the project management framework and standards across BNS; the Chief Architect owns technical architecture and technical direction; and Operations owns field workforce management and deployment. The Program Manager brings these functions together to deliver the overall customer program successfully.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership & Delivery

· Own the overall delivery, performance, and successful execution of assigned AI data center programs.

· Lead complex, multi-project, multi-phase, and multi-location infrastructure programs.

· Translate customer objectives and contractual commitments into integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables.

· Establish program governance, communication protocols, performance expectations, and escalation processes.

· Direct and coordinate Project Managers and workstream leads to ensure alignment with overall program objectives.

· Develop and maintain integrated master schedules covering engineering, procurement, site readiness, installation, testing, commissioning, and customer acceptance.

· Monitor project dependencies, critical paths, resource requirements, and program milestones.

· Ensure individual projects remain aligned with the overall program schedule, budget, scope, and customer commitments.

· Lead program reviews and provide clear visibility into progress, risks, financial performance, and recovery actions.

· Take ownership of program-level challenges and drive resolution across internal teams and external stakeholders.

2. AI Data Center Infrastructure & Technical Coordination

· Lead program-level coordination of infrastructure deployments supporting AI and high-performance computing environments.

· Demonstrate a strong working understanding of high-density data center infrastructure, including GPU and server deployments, structured cabling, fiber optic systems, network connectivity, racks, cabinets, and supporting infrastructure.

· Understand the increased infrastructure demands associated with AI environments, including power density, cooling, high-speed connectivity, and equipment deployment sequencing.

· Coordinate infrastructure workstreams involving electrical, mechanical, networking, data center operations, engineering, and specialized installation contractors.

· Ensure infrastructure readiness and deployment plans align with customer specifications, site conditions, technical requirements, and operational constraints.

· Coordinate fiber optic testing, certification, labeling, documentation, and quality verification requirements.

· Identify technical dependencies that may affect installation sequencing, system readiness, testing, commissioning, or customer turnover.

· Partner with the Chief Architect, CIS, and technical leadership on architectural requirements, technical decisions, and escalated issues.

· Ensure technical requirements are understood and incorporated into program schedules, budgets, procurement plans, and execution strategies.

· Maintain awareness of emerging AI data center technologies, infrastructure standards, and deployment methodologies.

3. Customer & Executive Stakeholder Leadership

· Serve as the primary program-level relationship leader and point of contact for assigned customers.

· Establish and maintain relationships with customer executives, program directors, data center operations leaders, engineering teams, and procurement stakeholders.

· Lead customer kickoff meetings, executive program reviews, performance discussions, and escalation meetings.

· Develop a clear understanding of customer business objectives, technical requirements, contractual commitments, and success measures.

· Translate customer expectations into internal program priorities and execution plans.

· Provide proactive, accurate, and transparent communication regarding program progress, risks, financial considerations, schedule impacts, and recovery plans.

· Lead customer escalations and coordinate resolution with BNS leadership and technical resources.

· Ensure customer concerns have clear ownership, defined actions, and timely follow-through.

· Build customer confidence through consistent execution, responsiveness, and accountability.

· Identify opportunities to expand BNS's scope of work, strengthen customer relationships, and support future business opportunities.

· Represent BNS professionally in customer and industry engagements.

4. Program Financial & Commercial Ownership

· Establish and maintain overall program financial objectives, budgets, forecasts, and performance expectations in partnership with Finance and BNS leadership.

· Own program-level financial performance and maintain visibility into the financial health of all assigned projects and workstreams.

· Monitor revenue, labor costs, materials, subcontractor expenses, equipment, travel, per diem, and other program-related expenditures.

· Review project-level financial performance and identify cost variances, productivity issues, margin erosion, and potential financial exposure.

· Develop and maintain accurate financial forecasts, including anticipated costs, revenue, labor requirements, and projected program profitability.

· Hold Project Managers accountable for understanding and managing the financial performance of their assigned projects.

· Identify opportunities to improve labor productivity, resource utilization, cost efficiency, and program profitability.

· Ensure scope changes, additional work, and customer requests are evaluated for contractual, schedule, and financial impact before execution.

· Partner with Finance, Contracts, Procurement, and Business Development on commercial reviews, change orders, pricing considerations, and customer negotiations as appropriate.

· Escalate financial risks, unapproved work, cost overruns, and potential margin impacts promptly.

· Ensure program financial reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned with BNS financial controls and approval requirements.

5. Project Manager, Resource & Workstream Leadership

· Provide program-level direction and oversight to assigned Project Managers and workstream leads.

· Establish clear responsibilities, deliverables, milestones, and accountability across the program.

· Ensure Project Managers maintain accurate schedules, budgets, forecasts, risk registers, and customer reporting.

· Partner with the Manager of PMO to ensure adherence to BNS project management standards and governance requirements.

· Coordinate with Operations and Field Management to align workforce requirements, technician availability, site access, and deployment schedules.

· Work with Procurement to ensure materials, equipment, subcontractors, and vendor resources are available when required.

· Coordinate with Engineering and technical leadership to align technical requirements and implementation plans.

· Identify resource conflicts, competing priorities, and schedule risks across program workstreams.

· Develop mitigation and recovery strategies when staffing, materials, technical dependencies, or customer readiness affect delivery.

· Promote collaboration and accountability across all participating departments and external partners.

6. Risk Management, Quality & Compliance

· Establish and maintain a comprehensive program-level risk management process.

· Identify risks involving schedule, site readiness, labor availability, materials, technical dependencies, customer requirements, safety, quality, and financial performance.

· Maintain program risk and issue visibility, including mitigation strategies, responsible owners, and resolution timelines.

· Ensure Project Managers and workstream leads proactively communicate risks and potential delays.

· Develop and lead program recovery plans when performance falls below expectations.

· Monitor installation quality, testing requirements, technical documentation, and customer acceptance criteria.

· Ensure program execution aligns with applicable industry standards, customer specifications, contractual obligations, and site requirements.

· Coordinate quality assurance activities and corrective action plans when deficiencies are identified.

· Promote compliance with applicable safety requirements, including OSHA, NFPA 70E, and customer-specific site safety procedures.

· Ensure appropriate security, access, and confidentiality requirements are followed in controlled data center environments.

7. Program Reporting & Continuous Improvement

· Establish and maintain program dashboards that provide accurate visibility into schedule, cost, quality, risk, resources, and customer performance.

· Provide regular program updates to the COO, Manager of PMO, and executive leadership.

· Lead recurring program performance reviews and ensure action items have assigned owners and due dates.

· Establish and monitor program performance indicators, including milestone completion, installation productivity, labor utilization, quality performance, financial results, and customer acceptance.

· Identify recurring execution challenges and implement corrective and preventive actions.

· Capture lessons learned and incorporate improvements into future program phases and deployments.

· Develop repeatable deployment processes and best practices for AI data center infrastructure projects.

· Promote accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across all program workstreams.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

· 10+ years of progressive experience in project or program management within data center infrastructure, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, engineering services, or related technical environments.

· At least 5 years of experience managing complex, multi-project programs or large-scale infrastructure deployments.

· Demonstrated experience delivering data center infrastructure projects, preferably in hyperscale, colocation, AI data center, or high-performance computing environments.

· Experience leading multiple Project Managers, project teams, subcontractors, and cross-functional stakeholders.

· Strong working knowledge of structured cabling, fiber optic infrastructure, network connectivity, racks, cabinets, and data center installation practices.

· Working knowledge of AI data center infrastructure requirements, including high-density computing, GPU deployments, power distribution, cooling, and high-speed networking.

· Demonstrated experience managing integrated schedules, program budgets, resource plans, financial forecasts, and risk management processes.

· Proven ability to manage customer relationships, executive communications, program escalations, and contractual commitments.

· Strong understanding of project financial management, cost controls, change management, and program profitability.

· Experience identifying program risks, developing mitigation strategies, and leading recovery plans.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Excel, Teams, and other project management and reporting tools.

· Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to travel up to 75%, including domestic and international travel.

Preferred Qualifications

· Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

· Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification or comparable advanced program management credentials.

· Experience supporting AI data centers, GPU clusters, hyperscale deployments, or high-performance computing infrastructure.

· Experience with large-scale fiber optic backbone deployments and high-density structured cabling.

· Familiarity with high-speed data center networking, including Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other high-performance interconnect technologies.

· Understanding of data center power infrastructure, including UPS, power distribution, and rack-level power requirements.

· Familiarity with liquid cooling and advanced cooling architectures used in high-density AI environments.

· BICSI RCDD or other relevant telecommunications infrastructure certification.

· Fluke fiber optic testing certification or equivalent.

· OSHA 30 or other relevant safety certification.

· Experience working with major data center operators, hyperscalers, colocation providers, or AI infrastructure companies.

· Experience supporting government, defense, or other mission-critical infrastructure projects.

Leadership Competencies

· Program Ownership: Takes responsibility for overall program delivery, financial performance, customer satisfaction, and results.

· Technical Understanding: Understands complex data center infrastructure requirements and effectively coordinates technical experts.

· Executive Customer Leadership: Establishes credibility with customer leadership and manages relationships at multiple organizational levels.

· Financial Acumen: Understands program budgets, labor productivity, cost controls, forecasting, and profitability.

· Strategic Planning: Anticipates program requirements, dependencies, risks, and resource needs.

· Cross-Functional Leadership: Aligns Project Managers, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, and external stakeholders.

· Problem Solving: Identifies issues early and develops practical, measurable recovery plans.

· Accountability: Communicates proactively, follows through on commitments, and ensures responsible owners deliver results.

· Adaptability: Effectively manages changing priorities, evolving technology, and demanding deployment schedules.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be measured by:

· Successful delivery of assigned AI data center programs against approved scope, schedule, budget, and customer commitments.

· Strong program-level financial performance, including accurate forecasting, cost management, and protection of project margins.

· Effective coordination and performance of multiple Project Managers and program workstreams.

· Accurate and timely program reporting and visibility for BNS leadership.

· Proactive identification and resolution of schedule, resource, technical, and customer risks.

· Strong customer relationships, customer confidence, and satisfaction.

· Effective coordination across Project Management, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, and external partners.

· Quality installation, testing, documentation, and customer acceptance.

· Reduced execution delays, rework, and recurring project issues.

· Development of repeatable program management and deployment practices that support BNS's growth in AI data center infrastructure.

Why Join BNS?

BNS is expanding its capabilities in critical infrastructure and mission-critical technology environments. As demand for AI computing and hyperscale data center capacity grows, BNS is positioned to support the infrastructure required to connect, power, and deploy the next generation of data center environments.

The Program Manager – AI Data Centers will have the opportunity to lead complex infrastructure programs, establish strong customer relationships, influence execution strategies, and contribute directly to BNS's growth in one of the most demanding and rapidly evolving areas of critical infrastructure.

Bringing Diverse Insights and Real-world Expertise to Solve Complex Business and Technology Challenges

At BNS, we’re at the forefront of Telecom, Media, Entertainment, Power, Utilities and Critical Infrastructure. Our team of Industry Experts, Engineers and Technicians work alongside government and commercial clients to transform challenges into strategic opportunities.

BNS is a collection of professionals who bring diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and hands-on experience to solve complex business and technology challenges. We leverage our proven expertise in markets including telecom, media, entertainment, power, utilities, critical infrastructure, and government to provide unbiased business strategy consulting and technology assessments. Our customers count on us to keep our finger on the pulse of change so we can validate strategic approaches and provide tailored solutions that leverage our in-house talent and curated partner ecosystem.

Unlike traditional consulting or outsourced engineering firms, BNS brings a strong sense of purpose to our customers’ pivotal projects. We build trust by collaborating closely with our customers through engaged listening and transparency. Once we gain an understanding of short-term and long-term goals, we are completely focused on accelerating your path to success.