Director, Capital Projects & Infrastructure (Data Center)

Project Lead

Empire AI is establishing New York as the national leader in responsible artificial intelligence. Backed by a consortium of top academic and research institutions including Columbia, Cornell, NYU, CUNY, RPI, SUNY, Rochester Schools, Mount Sinai, Simons Foundation, and the Flatiron Institute.

By leveraging the state’s rich academic resources and research institutions, Empire AI is driving innovation in fields like medicine, education, energy, and climate change, all while giving New York’s researchers access to computing resources that are often prohibitively expensive and only available to big tech companies, fueling statewide innovation, driving economic growth, and preparing a future-ready AI workforce to tackle society’s most complex challenges.

The initiative is funded by $500 million in public and private investments, State Capital Grant, Academic Institutions, Simons Foundation, Flatiron Institute, and Tom Secunda (Co-Founder of Bloomberg).

Position Summary

The Director, Capital Projects & Infrastructure will lead the development and delivery of capital infrastructure and supporting statewide AI research.

Reporting to the Consortium Executive Director, the Director, Capital Projects & Infrastructure leads the planning, coordination, and execution of all capital infrastructure efforts across the initiative. This includes oversight of data center development, strategic vendor partnerships, interagency coordination, and site-level execution. The Lead serves as Empire AI’s point person for translating vision into infrastructure—ensuring that every facility meets the technical, operational, and regulatory requirements of a national-scale AI ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of Empire AI data centers and supporting facilities across multiple sites in New York State.
• Direct all phases of construction, including site selection, design reviews, permitting, procurement, commissioning, and handover.
• Coordinate daily operations across architects, general contractors, engineers, and subcontractors to ensure alignment with project milestones.
• Track build progress, mitigate delays, and oversee issue resolution in the field.
• Serve as primary liaison to state agencies (e.g., DASNY, NYSERDA, ESD), municipal regulators, and infrastructure partners.
• Support engagement with member universities and research institutions on facility co-location and shared resource planning.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including Empire AI leadership, legal counsel, research computing teams, and operations staff.
• Manage multi-million-dollar project budgets and maintain oversight of capital expenditures.
• Lead RFP and bid processes in collaboration with SUNY and State procurement offices.
• Oversee vendor evaluation, contract negotiation, and ongoing vendor performance tracking.
• Ensure all construction activity adheres to applicable building codes, energy standards, environmental regulations, and occupational safety requirements.
• Monitor and report on compliance with MWBE/SDVOB participation targets, labor standards, and sustainability benchmarks.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures for quality assurance across build sites.
• Deliver weekly and milestone-based reports to Empire AI leadership and public oversight bodies.
• Support long-term capital strategy, including phased expansions, future site planning, and integration with national research infrastructure efforts.
• Assist in the preparation of legislative briefings, public reports, and stakeholder updates.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in large-scale infrastructure or data center construction, with 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex capital projects across public, academic, and private sectors.
• Experience working within regulatory frameworks and public procurement processes.
• Exceptional communication, coordination, and contract management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, construction administration, or real estate development.
• Experience delivering data centers, research labs, or high-performance computing facilities.
• Familiarity with New York State construction oversight agencies and procurement procedures.
• Certifications such as PMP, CCM, PE, or LEED AP.
• Experience working with higher education institutions, national labs, or research consortia.

Compensation

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay and target total cash for this position range from $100,000 to $200,000. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Travel Requirements

This role requires 50% regional travel and availability to work from our corporate office when not traveling. Candidates should either live near or be willing to relocate within a reasonable commuting distance of the office. Relocation assistance may be provided.