Senior Community Engagement Specialist, NA

Vantage Data Centers•Ashburn, VA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vantage powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands. The mission of Vantage Data Centers’ Global Public Policy team is to help deliver the best possible digital infrastructure for the world’s leading technology companies. By advocating for positions, advising on issues, and building relationships with stakeholders, through a combination of creativity, resourcefulness, trust, problem-solving, and an outward mindset, we aim to create a more favorable and resilient public policy environment for our company. Our work ensures success across the asset lifecycle, mitigates risks and fosters sustainable, long-term growth for our company and our customers, and establishes us as a value-adding member of the community. Global Public Policy is responsible for Vantage Data Centers' government relations, economic development, and community engagement. The team partners with our New Site Development, Construction, Engineering, Legal, Tax, People, Operations, and other departments to grow market share, acquire and retain customers, navigate through regulatory and policy developments, mitigate risk, and expand into new geographies. We are a dedicated team of problem solvers who strive for excellence and drive value-creation in our work. We practice empathy, humility, curiosity, and accountability, and we strive to support and empower each other to promote the value that Vantage our company generates for our customers, investors, employees, and communities. This role can be based in Ashburn, VA following our flexible work policy (3 days in-office, 2 days flexible). As well as Atlanta, Georgia or New Albany, Ohio. As a Senior Community Engagement Specialist, you will lead Vantage's community engagement and local external affairs strategy across the Eastern Region, serving as the primary representative for community and stakeholder engagement across one of the company's most highly visible markets. This role will be responsible for building and managing relationships with local elected officials, government staff, community leaders, workforce development partners, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, business groups, and other key stakeholders to support project success, strengthen Vantage's social license to operate, and reinforce the company's reputation as a trusted long-term community partner. Working closely with Public Policy counterparts, Marketing, Construction, Operations, Sustainability, and People & Culture, you will enhance and execute market-specific engagement strategies, oversee local external affairs efforts, identify and mitigate stakeholder and reputational risks, advance community investment and workforce development initiatives, and provide strategic counsel to internal teams throughout the development, construction, and operational phases of Vantage's projects. As the lead community engagement representative for the Eastern Region, you will serve as a trusted advisor to project teams and company leadership, providing market intelligence, monitoring community sentiment, identifying emerging issues and opportunities, and helping shape engagement strategies that build trust, foster meaningful partnerships, and maintain Vantage's social license to operate in the communities where we invest and operate.

Requirements

5–8 years of experience in community engagement, external affairs, stakeholder relations, nonprofit partnerships, or public affairs.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including writing and public speaking, with a proven ability to build trust across diverse communities; a natural relationship builder and people-oriented professional.
Organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative mindset and ability to work across departments and regions.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially PowerPoint, and project management tools; experience with CRM or impact reporting tools is a plus.
Flexibility to travel for site visits, events, or stakeholder meetings as needed (anticipated up to 40%).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs, Communications, Political Science, or a related field.
Experience supporting community programs in regulated, capital-intensive, or infrastructure-related industries.
Ability to navigate both grassroots engagement and executive-level relationships.
Existing relationships and experience working with VA, OH or GA-based communities, local governments, civic and business organizations, educational institutions, workforce development partners, or nonprofit stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary community engagement representative for Vantage across Virginia, Ohio, Georgia, and other Eastern Region markets, building and maintaining positive relationships with local stakeholders.
Develop and sustain relationships with local elected officials, government staff, community leaders, business organizations, educational institutions, workforce development partners, and nonprofit organizations to support project objectives and strengthen community partnerships.
Represent Vantage at community meetings, civic events, industry forums, and stakeholder engagements, helping build awareness, trust, and understanding of the company's projects and commitments.
Support stakeholder outreach efforts by identifying engagement opportunities, coordinating meetings, and maintaining regular communication with key community partners.
Implement community engagement initiatives that support Vantage's business objectives while addressing local community priorities and needs.
Coordinate community investment, workforce development, educational, and nonprofit partnership programs that create meaningful value for local communities and strengthen Vantage's reputation as a long-term partner.
Identify opportunities to build new partnerships and expand existing relationships that advance community and business goals.
Support volunteer, sponsorship, and community relations activities that reinforce Vantage's commitment to responsible growth and community stewardship.
Monitor community sentiment, stakeholder feedback, local issues, and emerging trends that could impact project development, construction, operations, or community relationships.
Provide regular updates and insights to project teams and leadership regarding stakeholder priorities, community concerns, and engagement opportunities.
Help identify and address stakeholder concerns through proactive outreach, relationship management, and coordination with internal teams.
Support issue management and community response efforts by facilitating communication and helping maintain constructive stakeholder relationships.
Partner with Public Policy, Development, Construction, Operations, Sustainability, Marketing, and People & Culture teams to support stakeholder engagement activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Coordinate community engagement activities that support development, permitting, construction, and operational priorities.
Help ensure stakeholder perspectives and local community considerations are incorporated into project planning and decision-making.
Maintain stakeholder records, engagement plans, and activity tracking to support project execution and organizational knowledge sharing.
Provide recommendations to project teams and leadership based on stakeholder feedback, community priorities, and local market dynamics.
Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of engagement efforts and identifying opportunities to strengthen stakeholder relationships and community impact.
Prepare briefings, stakeholder updates, community engagement summaries, and reports for internal audiences.
Support continuous improvement of community engagement practices by sharing lessons learned, emerging trends, and best practices across the region.

Benefits

medical, dental, and vision coverage
life and AD&D
short and long-term disability coverage
paid time off
employee assistance
participation in a 401k program that includes company match
many other additional voluntary benefits
above market total compensation package
comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations
array of benefits, recognition, training and development