Job Title: Data Center Program Manager
Reports To: VP of Data Center Delivery
Department: Technical Services
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $120-$130,000
Location: Abilene, TX
Why Smartlink?
At Smartlink, we believe exceptional people create exceptional results. Guided by our core values, Creating Customer Fanatics, Innovate and Create, One Team, We Are All In, and Safety Leads to Success, we foster a culture where driven, ambitious individuals are empowered to make an impact, grow their careers, and help drive our success.
We are a fast-paced, high-performance organization where accountability, teamwork, and innovation are expected and rewarded. This is not a traditional 40-hour workweek environment. Success often requires flexibility, dedication, and a willingness to go above and beyond to deliver for our customers and teammates.
In return, you’ll be surrounded by talented professionals who challenge and support one another, with opportunities for career growth, skill development, and meaningful contributions that make a real difference.
If you’re competitive, motivated by achievement, and ready to be All In, Smartlink offers more than a job. It offers the opportunity to build an exceptional career while helping shape the future of our industry. If you’re ready to be All In, we invite you to join us and help shape the future of Smartlink.
Job Summary:
The Data Center Program Manager establishes and maintains customer and internal stakeholder relationships while overseeing end-to-end data center programs, including design, construction, capacity planning, and operational readiness. This role ensures execution of customer and business needs while delivering measurable, efficient, and financially sound outcomes through forecasting, analysis, and management of program budgets.
The Data Center Program Manager leads cross-functional teams including Data Center Operations, Network Engineering, Construction, Facilities, and Vendors to ensure programs progress in alignment with company strategy, operational standards, and evolving business goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Establish and maintain long-term relationships with internal customers, hyperscale clients, vendors, and key stakeholders; leverage these relationships to drive new opportunities.
• Oversee data center programs (buildouts, expansions, migrations, and upgrades) ensuring alignment with business strategy and operational requirements.
• Develop and execute detailed program plans covering capacity, infrastructure deployment, commissioning, and readiness timelines.
• Deliver consistent and profitable results through forecasting, financial analysis, and management of program budgets; ensure milestones are met and accurately reported.
• Lead cross-functional teams (facilities, IT infrastructure, network, construction, and vendors) to ensure seamless coordination and delivery of programs.
• Translate broader business and infrastructure strategy into clear objectives and executable plans for program teams.
• Direct day-to-day activities of team members by providing structure, clear expectations, and measurable goals.
• Act as the primary escalation point for operational, technical, and customer issues related to data center programs.
• Monitor program performance, including contractors and third-party vendors, and provide timely feedback and performance evaluation.
• Ensure data center compliance with uptime, reliability, safety, and regulatory standards (e.g., Tier standards, SLA commitments).
• Own program financial tracking including Capital and Operational Expenditures budgets, cost approvals, and billing validation.
• Serve as a liaison between leadership, customers, and technical teams to communicate program status, risks, and outcomes.
• Provide regular reporting (weekly, monthly, quarterly) on capacity utilization, program progress, risks, and financials.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes related to data center deployment, operations, and lifecycle management.
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and adherence to corporate and industry standards.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Construction Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of experience in data center operations, infrastructure programs, or related environment.
• Experience in leadership, supervisory, or program management role required.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities; ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
• Extensive knowledge of data center operations, including power, cooling, networking, and physical infrastructure.
• Experience with data center lifecycle management (design, construction, commissioning, operations, decommissioning).
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to align infrastructure programs to organizational goals.
• Proven financial management skills, including budget forecasting, cost control, and ROI analysis.
• Strong program and timeline management skills, including the ability to manage complex, high-scale deployments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience collaborating across engineering, operations, and vendor ecosystems.
• Ability to assess risk and develop mitigation strategies to ensure uptime and reliability.
• Proficiency in MS Office tools (especially Excel) and project/program management tools.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing technologies and evolving infrastructure demands.
• Experience with hyperscale or colocation environments strongly preferred.
• PMP, PgMP, or similar certification preferred but not required.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
• Sedentary work (i.e., sitting for long periods of time).
• Exerting up to 15pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force.
• Subject to inside environmental conditions.
• Moderate travel (25–50%) depending on deployment sites and program needs.
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