Business Development Executive, Data Center Markets

Company Overview

Upchurch is a rapidly growing, full-service building engineering company providing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services across the southeastern United States. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horn Lake, MS, Upchurch has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, establishing a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service excellence. We offer end-to-end solutions—from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency support—helping clients maximize building performance, energy efficiency, and equipment lifespan.

About This Opportunity

Upchurch is a self-performing, non-union mechanical contractor specializing in HVAC, hydronic and process piping, plumbing, prefabrication, and lifecycle services for mission-critical facilities. Our expertise in data center construction spans hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise markets, delivering solutions from central plants and heat rejection systems to liquid cooling distribution and commissioning support.

We are seeking a Business Development Executive, Data Center Markets, who will drive the growth of Upchurch's data center mechanical business with general contractors (GCs) and owners throughout an assigned Southern U.S. market. This individual contributor role is ideal for a technically savvy construction professional who understands how data center mechanical work is bid, purchased, and delivered, and who has established relationships with GC preconstruction managers, project managers, and owner-side construction teams.

As the Business Development Executive, you will continually keep Upchurch in front of strategic projects, building critical relationships, tracking market opportunities, securing bid invitations, and partnering with Estimating and Preconstruction teams to deliver compelling proposals. You'll own pursuits for colocation fit-outs, phased expansions, and liquid cooling upgrades, while supporting executive-led pursuits on large hyperscale and campus programs.

Why Join Upchurch?

• Play a pivotal role in the expansion of Upchurch's data center business.

• Build and strengthen relationships with top-tier GCs, hyperscale providers, colocation operators, and enterprise data center owners.

• Shape project opportunities long before the bid phase through proactive relationship development.

• Collaborate with seasoned estimating, preconstruction, and operations teams to tackle complex projects.

• Contribute to some of the most innovative advancements in AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.

• Advance your career with a company renowned for its technical expertise, self-performance, and enduring customer partnerships.

What You'll Do

Build Strategic Industry Relationships

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with preconstruction managers, estimators, buyers, project managers, and superintendents at leading general contractors.

• Forge connections with data center owners, developers, and facility leadership across your market.

• Engage MEP engineers, equipment manufacturers, and manufacturer’s representatives for early project insights.

• Represent Upchurch at customer meetings, industry events, conferences, and association functions.

Drive Opportunity Development

• Identify upcoming data center projects, expansions, fit-outs, and retrofit opportunities within your territory.

• Secure bid invitations and maintain prequalification status with target clients.

• Assess opportunities for alignment with project criteria, scheduling, labor, commercial terms, and profitability.

• Collect market intelligence on stakeholders, budgets, schedules, competition, and client priorities.

• Sustain a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities and future projects.

Support Winning Pursuits

• Collaborate with Estimating and Preconstruction teams to develop strategies and produce competitive proposals.

• Assist with scope reviews, proposal qualifications, exclusions, pricing strategies, and customer presentations.

• Lead post-bid follow-up, scope-leveling meetings, and negotiations for assigned projects.

• Manage pursuits involving colocation fit-outs, campus expansions, retrofits, and liquid cooling upgrades.

• Support executive-led pursuits for large hyperscale and mission-critical programs.

Grow Key Accounts

• Facilitate smooth handoffs from business development to project execution teams.

• Maintain relationships throughout project delivery to identify future phases, change orders, and growth opportunities.

• Introduce customers to Upchurch’s service and maintenance capabilities to support lasting partnerships.

• Drive customer retention and contribute to repeat business initiatives.

Maintain Pipeline & Market Intelligence

• Keep CRM records accurate and up-to-date for contacts, opportunities, forecasts, and bid activities.

• Track bid invitations, proposal submissions, win rates, and lessons learned.

• Share insights on competitors, labor market conditions, pricing trends, and emerging project opportunities.

• Support forecasting and strategic planning through disciplined pipeline management.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and industry experience.

• 7+ years of experience in commercial or industrial mechanical construction.

• Experience in project management, estimating, preconstruction, operations, or business development.

• Minimum 3 years supporting data center or other mission-critical construction projects.

• Existing relationships with GC preconstruction and project teams in a Southern U.S. data center market.

• Ability to read mechanical drawings, specifications, schedules, and understand pricing drivers.

• Knowledge of data center mechanical systems, including chilled water plants, air-cooled chillers, CRAH/fan wall systems, liquid cooling systems, CDUs, heat rejection systems, and hydronic/process piping.

• Knowledge of construction contracts, procurement methods, and commercial risk.

• Willingness to travel approximately 40%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a self-performing mechanical contractor.

• Background in estimating or preconstruction.

• Experience with hyperscale or colocation projects (fit-outs, expansions, retrofits, liquid cooling deployments).

• Familiarity with CRM platforms and project lead services.

• Active participation in organizations such as 7x24 Exchange, AFCOM, ASHRAE, ABC, or AGC.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.

Benefits:

• Competitive pay based on experience.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off and holiday pay.

• Opportunities for professional development and certification assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Upchurch Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.