Vice President, Data Centre Technical Development and Delivery

Job Description:

ONNI Group is hiring a Vice President, Data Centre Technical Development and Delivery in Los Angeles, CA

Join one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in North America, and help lead Onni into one of the most exciting growth areas in commercial real estate: data centre development and delivery.

For over half a century, we’ve been building communities for people to live, work, and play — spanning real estate development and construction, commercial property ownership and management, hospitality, and a growing presence in venture capital and technology. Our expertise reaches across major North American cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Phoenix, Toronto, and Vancouver. To date, we’ve developed, built, and now own or manage well over 50 million square feet of residential, office, retail, and industrial space — including more than 15,000 homes and 11,200 rental apartments — with another 28 million square feet underway across our markets. Employing thousands of people across North America, Onni continues to diversify beyond our real estate roots, including through Grey Owl, our technology company delivering managed IT, AI-driven security, and smart building solutions to commercial properties across North America.

In 2009, Onni entered the hospitality space with Level Hotels & Furnished Suites, and our portfolio has since grown to various hotels in Vancouver, Chicago, and Seattle, with plans to add and grow more. We’ve also expanded into dining, with restaurant concepts including Capo & The Spritz and Solette in Vancouver and Chicago, Fora in Chicago’s Fulton Market, and Dialtone, our coffee-by-day, wine-by-night concept.

At Onni, you’ll learn from experienced professionals across every part of our business, take on real responsibility early, and have clear room to grow — whether your path is in commercial real estate, hospitality, or the technology and innovation shaping what comes next.

Perks & Benefits:

Onni operates a full-time, work-from-the-office culture — vibrant, dynamic, and fun, with an open floor plan built on our belief in the strength of in-person interaction and collaboration. Employees also enjoy three days a month of work-from-home flexibility, along with an exciting calendar of employee events throughout the year — including quarterly team-building events, sports day, an annual holiday party, and other seasonal celebrations throughout the year, along with regular office events like food trucks and local favorites, and the following perks and benefits:

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.
• Benefits include health care, including a $0 premium health care plan, dental care, vision care, health savings account, flexible spending account, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance, and a 401(k) plan with an employer match.  
• Annual education allowance.
• Generous referral program.
• Fun and collaborative company culture with lots of team-building events.
• Free access to a fully equipped gym.
• Friends and Family rates for hospitality brands.

What You Will Do

Onni is seeking a technically strong Vice President to lead the assessment, planning and delivery of data centre projects across its real estate portfolio and selected third-party development and construction opportunities. The role connects operators' compute requirements with practical building infrastructure, project budgets and delivery schedules. You will act as Onni's senior technical counterpart to operators, working closely with our partnerships and leasing team, development managers, engineers and construction teams. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring sound technical judgment, clear recommendations and personal accountability for moving projects forward. The initial focus is on smaller and mid-sized data centres, including AI inference, enterprise compute, edge and colocation facilities, conversions within existing buildings, phased expansions and selective new developments. Experience on larger campuses is welcome where it translates to this project scale and delivery model.

• Work directly with operators to define IT load, rack density, cooling, resilience, connectivity, equipment access and deployment plans, and translate requirements into an agreed project brief.
• Lead coordinated site and expansion reviews — utility supply, building electrical capacity, cooling options, structural loading, equipment routes, backup generation and approvals — verifying available power before commitments are made.
• Coordinate concept designs, infrastructure options, budgets and schedules with qualified specialists, and recommend whether and how each opportunity should proceed.
• Lead external engineers, specialist consultants and vendors alongside Onni's internal teams, resolving interfaces between compute equipment and building systems through permitting and construction.
• Oversee technical milestones from design and procurement through installation, integrated testing and handover, working with Onni's construction leaders to resolve issues and confirm acceptance requirements before operator occupancy.
• Support lease, development and construction negotiations with verified technical information, defining power delivery conditions, infrastructure scope, cost allocation and acceptance criteria with the commercial and legal teams.
• Build a repeatable delivery approach — standard site assessments, project briefs, responsibility matrices and reporting practices — and build relationships with utilities, engineers and equipment suppliers.

What You Will Bring

• Typically 10+ years of relevant experience in data centre infrastructure, engineering, technical program management or complex facility delivery, including senior leadership responsibility. Demonstrated results matter more than a fixed tenure.
• A record of leading complex technical projects from requirements through implementation, connecting compute or operator needs to physical infrastructure and facility delivery.
• Practical understanding of power distribution, UPS systems, backup generation, cooling, connectivity and commissioning, with the judgment to involve qualified specialists in detailed design and certification.
• Experience with AI or GPU infrastructure, high-density computing, existing-building conversions or phased data centre expansion is an asset. Hardware and platform engineering backgrounds are welcome when supported by relevant facility delivery experience.
• Ability to evaluate budgets, equipment lead times, delivery risks and tradeoffs, and communicate clear recommendations to executives, operators and construction teams.
• Relevant technical education or equivalent practical experience; a professional engineering designation is an asset.
• Willingness to travel for site reviews, operator meetings and project delivery.

Salary Range:

$175,000 - $295,000 (negotiable - Commensurate with experience)

About The Company:

Onni

For over half a century, Onni has been building communities for people to live, work, and play. Our success reflects our commitment to our employees and partners, and our dedication to quality construction, innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Our expertise expands across North America, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and Chicago.

AI Use:

This role may involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support research, analysis, content development, design, reporting, or operational efficiency. Employees are expected to use AI responsibly and in compliance with company policies, data privacy requirements, confidentiality obligations, and applicable laws.

All AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs must be reviewed for accuracy, quality, and appropriateness before use. Employees are also expected to disclose when AI tools have been used in the creation of work and must not present AI-generated content as solely their own original work.

How To Apply:

Please apply through the link on the job posting and attach your resume and any other required documents.

We thank all applicants for your interest in the Onni Group. Note that only those applicants under consideration will be contacted.