Executive Vice President, External Affairs

QTS Data Centers•Ashburn, VA

1d•$217,616 - $327,871

About The Position

The Executive Vice President, External Affairs develops and executes external affairs strategy for QTS’s Mega Site Build platform across all regions, shaping enterprise policy, regulatory, and reputational positioning to protect and advance the company’s project portfolio. The role oversees government relations, legislative advocacy, economic development, community engagement, and campaign management, while also supporting the Texas Region. Reporting to the Chief External Affairs Officer, this executive is a member of the executive leadership team and leads the platform’s external affairs organization, including senior leaders, regional campaign teams, project-based teams, and external advisors. The role works closely with the Executive Team and leaders across Communications, Marketing, Legal, Development, Energy Strategy, and Operations to advance enterprise priorities, support market expansion, and lead strategic advocacy initiatives. The executive builds trusted relationships with elected officials, policymakers, regulatory agencies, economic development partners, community leaders, industry stakeholders, and internal business partners across all regions. The position calls for executive presence, political acumen, sound judgment, enterprise-level strategic vision, and a campaign-oriented approach that combines planning, execution, team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and coalition-building. The role leads advocacy and stakeholder strategies, advises senior executives on political, regulatory, community, and reputational dynamics, represents the platform externally, and develops a high-performing multi-region organization. Extensive travel across all regions is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Business, Communications, Law, Economics, Urban Planning, or a related field.
20 or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, lobbying, economic development, public affairs, community affairs, or external affairs, including executive-level responsibility for a large multi-state, multi-region, or complex jurisdictional portfolio.
Demonstrated success developing and executing complex stakeholder engagement strategies, advocacy campaigns, and public policy initiatives that influence outcomes and advance business objectives.
Experience leading senior leaders and large teams, including multi-region campaign management teams; owning significant budgets; overseeing external consultants or advisors; and driving measurable results across executive-level, cross-functional organizations.
Strong understanding of legislative, regulatory, permitting, economic development, and community engagement processes.
Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, energy, technology, real estate, utility, telecommunications, or industrial development projects.
Ability to travel extensively across all regions.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, Industrial Labor Relations, or a related field.
Experience in the data center, technology, digital infrastructure, energy, utility, telecommunications, real estate development, or large-scale infrastructure sectors.
Prior experience in government, legislative affairs, public affairs consulting, lobbying, political campaigns, or economic development.
Established relationships with state, local, and regional policymakers and industry stakeholders.
Experience advising senior executives on complex public policy, reputational, or stakeholder matters.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a comprehensive external affairs strategy for the Texas Region and Mega Site Build platform across all regions, aligned with enterprise objectives and accountable for outcomes.
Lead integrated state, regional, and local advocacy campaigns to influence policy, mitigate enterprise risk, and secure the policy environment and approvals needed for market expansion and project delivery.
Oversee campaign management across all regions, setting standards for campaign planning, messaging, resourcing, coordination, and performance measurement.
Direct, develop, and scale a high-performing external affairs organization across all regions, establishing priorities, accountability measures, performance expectations, succession plans, and professional development opportunities.
Advise the CEO, Chief External Affairs Officer, and senior executives on political, regulatory, community, and reputational dynamics affecting enterprise strategy, capital deployment, project delivery, and operational certainty.
Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, legislative leaders, regulatory agencies, economic development organizations, business leaders, and community stakeholders across the Texas Region and other platform regions.
Anticipate emerging political, policy, regulatory, and community issues and develop proactive enterprise strategies to mitigate risk and create opportunities.
Participate as a member of the executive leadership team in enterprise strategy, organizational development, and long-term planning.
Represent the platform externally as its senior executive voice across all regions and advocate for the company’s mission, values, and growth objectives.
Lead government affairs, legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, and public policy efforts across all regions.
Lead stakeholder engagement strategies to build trust, support development, and enhance the platform’s reputation; represent the platform with community leaders, business organizations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders.
Partner with Development, Site Selection, Energy Strategy, and Operations teams to support market expansion, site development, infrastructure investments, and growth initiatives; identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
Guide high-profile development, policy, permitting, and reputational matters through proactive planning and stakeholder strategy.
Drive accountability, operational excellence, resource stewardship, succession planning, and measurable business outcomes across the external affairs organization.
Perform other duties as assigned.