Senior Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy
About The Position
The Senior Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy will direct the strategy, execution and influence of governmental policy and community engagement across our international Data Center ecosystem. This executive will operate at the intersection of infrastructure development, geopolitics, regulatory frameworks and enterprise strategy—ensuring our projects are positioned for long-term success in the communities identified as priority markets. Reporting into the SVP, Strategic Alliances, this leader will own global government affairs strategy across the Americas, Europe, India and APAC; directly managing our Country Managers responsible for regional execution. The role will also build and lead a network of external advisors, public affairs consultants and local engagement partners to influence policy outcomes and strengthen community support in priority markets. The Senior Director will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on political, regulatory and stakeholder risk, build durable relationships with communities, policymakers and stakeholders, and establish scalable government affairs capabilities aligned with our sustainability and business objectives.
Requirements
- 15+ years of experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative counsel, or regulatory roles, with at least 5 years focused on data centers, digital infrastructure, cloud computing, utilities, or other energy- and infrastructure-intensive facilities.
- Proven track record leading multi-country or global government affairs organizations on policy strategy and government engagement for large-scale, multi-site development or infrastructure programs.
- Strong track record influencing policy outcomes and enabling complex, multi-site developments
- Experience working across diverse regulatory environments and political systems
- Demonstrated success managing external advisors, consultants, and advocacy ecosystems
- Executive presence with ability to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Extensive experience (15+ years) in real estate, utilities, or hyperscale/cloud providers
Nice To Haves
- MBA, JD, or advanced technical degree preferred.
- Existing relationships with key policymakers, regulators, or industry associations in major data center markets.
Responsibilities
- Design and lead a globally integrated government affairs and policy strategy for the Data Center platform across priority markets (national, state and municipal).
- Position data center investments as long-term economic and infrastructure assets aligned with local growth objectives.
- Track, analyze, and forecast legislation, regulations, ordinances, public sentiment, and ballot measures affecting data center development, siting, land use, energy procurement, taxation, incentives, labor, sustainability and environmental compliance.
- Translate policy dynamics into actionable strategies, risk assessments, and business recommendations for senior leadership.
- Lead coordinated advocacy efforts across multiple jurisdictions, including position papers, regulatory filings, and stakeholder campaigns.
- Develop and refine community benefits agreements, community-facing narratives, and engagement approaches that foster local support and address concerns related to energy use, water use, environment, traffic, and economic impact.
- Ensure political, legal, and regulatory policy considerations are embedded early in market entry, site selection and development strategy.
- Lead community engagement strategy; build and manage a network of external public affairs firms, lobbyists, and community engagement consultants in priority markets
- Ensure compliance with incentive agreements and performance requirements, coordinating internal reporting and maintaining strong ongoing government relationships.
- Cultivate partnerships with workforce boards, educational institutions, utilities, and community organizations to strengthen local support and enhance long-term project value.
- Ensure the integration of community benefit considerations into development strategies, proactively addressing infrastructure capacity, environmental stewardship, and stakeholder priorities
- Participate in high-stakes engagements with municipal and state decision-makers to secure timely approvals and support for data center projects and expansions.
- Represent the company in key industry associations, business coalitions, and issue-based working groups, as requested; lead or co-lead joint advocacy campaigns when aligned with business objectives.
- Develop consistent global narratives around economic impact, sustainability and energy use and community integration benefits.
- Ensure federal, state, and local community and regulatory requirements are anticipated, integrated, and budgeted into project planning and execution.
- Provide real-time intelligence, political mapping, and strategic guidance to Data Center leadership on municipal codes, local utilities, permitting pathways, and political, regulatory, and community dynamics in target markets.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the Data Center unit on policy issues, ensuring consistent internal communication, alignment, and decision-making.
- Provide direct leadership and oversight of GDC Country Managers across Europe, India and APAC.
- Establish a scalable global operating model for government affairs, balancing centralized strategy with local execution.
- Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and governance for regional teams.
- Build capability, consistency, and knowledge sharing across markets.
Benefits
- monthly stipend is provided to cover expenses associated with working remotely and use of a personal mobile device
- annual bonus
- paid time-off
- medical, dental, and vision benefits
- life and supplemental insurance
- short-term and long-term disability
- flexible spending account
- 401k retirement plan
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
