Director, Data Center Development

Netrality Data Centers•St. Louis, MO

About The Position

Netrality is hiring a Director, Data Center Development to support the company’s growth and expansion. The role leads the development process for new data center sites and expansion opportunities, from initial due diligence and feasibility through entitlements, utility infrastructure planning, permitting, and preconstruction. The Director applies expertise in data center development, real estate, utility infrastructure, permitting, and construction planning to navigate complex projects, manage multidisciplinary consultant teams, and coordinate with utilities and governmental agencies. The role also helps evaluate development opportunities and establish consistent processes and best practices across the portfolio.

Requirements

Data center or mission-critical infrastructure development experience is required.
8+ years of experience in real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or related project development roles is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing complex development projects from initial site evaluation through preconstruction, including budgeting, cost estimating, project scheduling, and procurement planning.
Strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical distribution, utility power, cooling, and critical building systems.
Experience coordinating with utility providers, evaluating power availability, and developing infrastructure strategies for large-scale power requirements.
Knowledge of zoning, land-use regulations, entitlement processes, environmental requirements, and permitting procedures.
Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering, architectural, environmental, legal, and other third-party consultants.
Ability to evaluate site feasibility, identify development constraints, and develop practical solutions to complex issues.
Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate development risks and opportunities.
Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple development initiatives and competing priorities.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to clearly articulate complex technical and development matters to applicable parties.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with utilities, municipalities, consultants, contractors, and other external partners.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively across all levels of the organization, manage priorities effectively, and meet critical deadlines.
Commitment to high standards of ethical and professional conduct and integrity, and adherence to Netrality’s company handbook.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, real estate development, architecture, or a related field is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead site due diligence and development feasibility for prospective data center sites and existing property expansions.
Coordinate zoning, land-use, environmental, geotechnical, civil, structural, utility, and other property assessments.
Identify site constraints, entitlement risks, infrastructure requirements, and required off-site improvements; develop mitigation strategies and coordinate needed improvements.
Maintain development due diligence checklists, track outstanding requirements, and drive critical items to completion.
Coordinate architects, engineers, land-use counsel, survey and title resources, and other consultants during site evaluation.
Lead utility engagement and power strategy, including assessment of capacity, MW delivery timelines, required infrastructure, and substation or service options.
Coordinate electrical feasibility studies and evaluate utility rates, renewable energy opportunities, and alternative power solutions.
Develop strategies to maximize critical load and improve power efficiency, including minimizing PUE and evaluating natural gas, behind-the-meter solutions, fuel cells, battery storage, and peak-shaving strategies.
Translate utility requirements, infrastructure needs, and energization timelines into development budgets and schedules.
Maintain development risk registers related to utility capacity, infrastructure requirements, and energization.
Oversee zoning, land-use, special-use and development approvals, building and code requirements, environmental approvals, and generator and air permitting.
Coordinate pre-application meetings and maintain relationships with municipalities, utilities, and governmental agencies.
Identify permitting requirements, approval dependencies, and regulatory challenges that may affect project timelines, and track them against development and construction schedules.
Manage multidisciplinary consultant teams, establish scopes of work, coordinate deliverables, and communicate development requirements and objectives.
Monitor consultant performance, schedules, and deliverables to achieve development milestones; coordinate development-specific public relations and community consultants as needed.
Maintain effective working relationships with consultants, utilities, municipalities, and other external stakeholders.
Lead preconstruction development activities, including scope definition, basis of design requirements, and conceptual site planning.
Develop preliminary budgets and cost estimates, development and utility schedules, and site logistics assumptions.
Establish project permitting strategies and coordinate approval dependencies with construction schedules.
Identify long-lead equipment and infrastructure requirements and develop preliminary procurement strategies ahead of construction authorization.
Coordinate development milestones and requirements with construction, engineering, operations, and other internal stakeholders.
Identify schedule, budget, infrastructure, and execution risks and develop mitigation strategies to support successful project delivery.
Participate in ad hoc projects and assignments as requested.