Data Center Development Director U.S.

Contour Global•Houston, TX

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven senior data center development executive with a demonstrated track record originating, conducting diligence on, commercializing, and advancing powered land or data center campuses from site concept through customer engagement, utility coordination, and construction readiness. The successful candidate will lead the identification, evaluation, and advancement of data center opportunities across European markets, leveraging the company’s existing renewable energy and power generation platform. The Data Center Development Director will play a critical role in integrating digital infrastructure development capabilities into the broader organization and supporting engagement with hyperscalers, cloud providers, developers, utilities, and other strategic stakeholders. The role requires deep knowledge of data center site selection, power procurement, utility interconnection, fiber, water, permitting, and hyperscaler / co-location customer requirements. The role should be able to leverage the company’s existing renewable generation, BESS, interconnection, and power development capabilities to create differentiated data center opportunities.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in datacenter, real estate, renewable energy, or related infrastructure project development with at least 5 years focused on data centers, powered land, digital infrastructure real estate, hyperscaler campus expansion, or large-load industrial development
Proven track record developing data center assets or powered land projects from site control through utility engagement, customer diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness
Deep expertise across site due diligence, land strategy, utility coordination, fiber routing, and tenant/operator engagement
Experience and understanding of hyperscaler and colocation customer requirements and commercial structures across a wide range of aspects including power availability, utility service, substations, fiber, water, wastewater, civil infrastructure, zoning, permitting, tax incentives, and community acceptance
Demonstrated experience working directly with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, transmission providers, fiber providers, civil engineers, landowners, local governments, and data center customers
Highly polished and commercially credible when engaging sophisticated counterparties at senior level
Proven ability to operate across multiple TSO and utility regulatory environments in Europe
Experience integrating data center development with power-rich sites, renewable assets, or firm generation solutions is strongly preferred renewable assets, BESS, and other generation solutions is strongly preferred

Nice To Haves

A strong interest in transforming renewable and power-rich locations into scalable data center development opportunities
The ability to distinguish credible sites from speculative ones through analysis of power availability, utility delivery timelines, fiber connectivity, water access, permitting feasibility, and customer demand
A commercial mindset focused on building compelling development theses for hyperscalers, colocation operators, and infrastructure investors
Motivation to turn early-stage concepts into actionable opportunities with clear site control, diligence strategy, customer positioning, power roadmap, and investment rationale
Enthusiasm for contributing to the creation of a repeatable and scalable data center development platform rather than evaluating isolated one-off projects

Responsibilities

Evaluate the company’s development pipeline and existing renewable and power generation portfolio to identify the most attractive sites for data center deployment.
Define and take ownership location theses across European markets, integrating analysis of regulatory frameworks, energy infrastructure, connectivity, and hyperscaler demand.
Act as the internal centre of excellence for powered land and data center development, transferring know-how to Business Development, Engineering, and Commercial functions. Disseminate organizational know-how on powered land and DC development to all growth functions of the company (Business Development, Engineering, Commercial Office).
Lead the screening and advancement of powered land opportunities, including power topology, substation proximity, utility service availability, interconnection path, load-serving strategy, fiber routes, access, water, environmental constraints, zoning, and local incentives.
Lead early-stage feasibility efforts across land, access, power topology, fiber routes, water availability, permitting pathways, and tenant suitability. Advance data center opportunities from initial site strategy through feasibility, site control, utility engagement, customer diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness, prioritizing projects based on speed-to-power, customer demand, interconnection optionality, and monetization structure.
Define a disciplined project prioritization framework based on speed-to-power, customer demand, interconnection optionality, and monetization potential.
Manage external technical workstreams including fiber delivery, gas pipeline access, environmental studies, civil readiness, and utility coordination.
Advance data center projects from initial site strategy through diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness.
Act as ContourGlobal's lead for studies and external workstreams tied to load applications, fiber delivery, gas pipeline access, water usage, civil readiness, and utility interfaces, water supply, wastewater, gas pipeline access, environmental constraints, and support development activities regarding permitting and constructability.
Partner with project development, interconnection, and commercial teams to embed data center workflows into the company's existing and proposed generation asset base.
Provide expert input into the structuring of power supply solutions, including behind-the-meter, grid-backed, renewable-plus-storage, and gas-based firm power configurations.
Collaborate with land teams, transmission specialists, and commercial leadership to ensure data center priorities are reflected across the company's broader growth agenda.
Work alongside the Commercial Office to originate and develop relationships with Hyperscalers, Data Center Developers and Operators, Cloud platform operators, and large-scale digital infrastructure tenants, co-location providers, build-to-suit, data center developers, and infrastructure investors.
Lead the structuring of commercial arrangements including land leases, joint venture structures, develop-and-sell transactions, and own-and-operate models.
Represent the company as a senior market-facing authority in negotiations with tenants, developers, utilities, and strategic counterparties across Europe.