Director of Data Center Development

Worldwide Mission Critical • Herndon, VA

21h

About The Position

Worldwide Mission Critical is a global owner’s representation and project management company specializing in the mission critical sector. We partner with industry-leading clients to deliver high-performance data center projects on time and under budget. Founded on the principle that the right team of experienced professionals drives superior outcomes, Worldwide Mission Critical provides comprehensive oversight across every aspect of the project lifecycle. Summary: The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing projects through the entire development lifecycle — from early-stage origination through commercial operation. This role requires strategic leadership, strong technical expertise, and cross-functional coordination to drive successful project outcomes, mitigate risk, and deliver financial and operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, real estate development, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience managing large-scale real estate or infrastructure projects, including at least 2 years in mission-critical or data center development.
• Demonstrated expertise in pursuing site-specific entitlements, zoning modifications, development agreements, and land use approvals.
• Proven experience coordinating critical infrastructure approvals, including utility interconnection, substation development, offsite roadway and utility extensions, and major utility relocations.
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting processes, including wetlands mitigation, endangered species clearance, floodplain management, stormwater management approvals, and air/water discharge permits.
• Familiarity with energy and utility regulatory frameworks, including interconnection agreements and load studies.
• Deep understanding of data center-specific design and construction considerations, including MEP systems, critical infrastructure planning, and site resiliency factors.
• Proficiency with real estate development financial modeling, including sensitivity analyses related to infrastructure costs and incentive structuring.
• Strong command of local, state, and federal regulatory frameworks impacting data center development.
• Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to drive cross-functional teams, manage consultants, and align external stakeholders toward project success.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce polished executive-level presentations, reports, and client deliverables.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing multiple high-value development projects under aggressive timelines.
• Proficiency with MS Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook; familiarity with project management platforms such as Procore or Smartsheet is a plus.
• Ability to travel approximately once per month to client or project sites.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with project management platforms such as Procore or Smartsheet is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full development lifecycle including site identification, assessment, interconnection, permitting, and project execution.
• Manage and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment among internal teams, external consultants, and client stakeholders.
• Oversee development program milestones to ensure timely project advancement from inception through operational delivery.
• Support due diligence efforts, including project review, risk analysis, and acquisition or co-development opportunity assessments.
• Develop and execute market-specific development strategies, driving site origination and project pipeline growth.
• Foster a high-performance team culture focused on collaboration, integrity, and continuous professional development.
• Mentor and support team members, embedding a culture of transparency, accountability, and innovation.
• Build and manage project budgets, financial models, and development schedules to optimize project economics.
• Conduct scenario planning and risk mitigation analysis related to technical, regulatory, and financial project factors.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, engineering, and external partners to structure viable and profitable project opportunities.
• Represent the firm with clients, utilities, local agencies, and third parties to advance project objectives.
• Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and recommendations for internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Continuously monitor market trends and industry developments to drive strategic growth and maintain industry leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director