AI Data Center Development Manager

A successful Development Manager candidate demonstrates the ability to think both analytically and strategically, to dive into the details and also assess projects from a global view, and to develop creative solutions and navigate the challenges that accompany projects of large magnitude and scale. The Development Manager is also an experienced project manager who communicates effectively, forms partnerships, and influences and drives desired outcomes with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Site Evaluation & Selection Evaluate opportunities for new data center sites, campus expansions, and strategic land acquisitions by conducting market assessments, including analysis of power availability, fiber connectivity, labor markets, land costs, tax environments, and natural hazard exposure Lead the diligence and development process to vet prospective sites and assess site risks and opportunities by analyzing regional and site-specific information pertaining to: Permitting and land-use data Federal, state, and local tax structures, incentive programs, abatement opportunities, enterprise zone designations, and economic development agreements Energy availability, cost, and reliability - including renewable energy procurement pathways, grid capacity, interconnection timelines, and utility rate structures - as well as water supply, capacity, and long-term sustainability Natural hazard, floodplain, seismic, and climatological data Legal, physical risk, and financial implications, including title encumbrances, easement constraints, environmental liabilities, and geotechnical conditions Develop and maintain site evaluation scorecards and comparative frameworks that enable data-driven decision-making across multiple candidate locations Conduct preliminary desktop and in-person site visits to validate data findings and assess physical site conditions, access, and surrounding land use compatibility Regulatory & Permitting Facilitate compliance efforts related to real estate, land use, and utility regulatory matters Facilitate application and management of environmental permitting processes, including preparation of environmental impact assessments, stormwater management plans, wetland delineation reviews, air quality permits, noise studies, and endangered species consultations Facilitate interpretation of regulations and assess their impact on Meta's data center footprint, operations, and future expansion plans Monitor legislative and policy developments related to energy, water, land use, and data center operations, proactively identifying risks and opportunities for Meta's portfolio Ensure ongoing compliance with all conditions of approval, permit requirements, and development agreements throughout the construction and operational lifecycle of each site Utility & Infrastructure Negotiations Facilitate negotiations with electric utility companies to secure reliable, cost-effective power supply agreements, including terms related to capacity, redundancy, rate structures, renewable energy commitments, interconnection timelines, and infrastructure cost-sharing Facilitate negotiations with water and wastewater utility providers to establish supply agreements, secure adequate capacity for cooling and operational needs, and ensure compliance with discharge and conservation requirements Maintain strong working relationships with utility planning and engineering teams to stay ahead of infrastructure constraints and future capacity limitations Advocate for infrastructure improvements or upgrades necessary to support data center development, including transmission line extensions, substation upgrades, and water main improvements Stakeholder coordination & communication: Take the lead role in organizing cross-functional communications and tracking progress toward on-time delivery of projects by key internal and external stakeholders in support of site selection and development efforts Work closely with the Site Selection Manager and other key project team members to ensure alignment among all internal stakeholders and to identify creative, efficient ways to overcome obstacles in the site development process Coordinate cross-functional responses to external parties such as government authorities, utility companies, regulatory bodies, industry associations, economic development organizations, and community groups Serve as the primary liaison between internal teams and external consultants (land-use attorneys, environmental engineers, civil engineers, lobbyists, and real estate brokers) to ensure deliverables are completed on time and to specification Facilitate regular project status meetings, maintain action item trackers, and produce executive-level progress reports for leadership review Strategy & Portfolio Management Support the development of Meta's near-term and long-term data center location strategy and leased portfolio plan Support the preparation of project recommendations, business cases, and investment proposals for presentation to senior management for approval Support a portfolio of existing sites under construction or in operation to facilitate on-time and quality delivery Track and monitor ongoing site development activities, including agreement management, milestone tracking, financial obligation compliance, and renewal/amendment negotiations Maintain a comprehensive database of site-specific entitlements, permits, agreements, and regulatory commitments for all sites within the assigned portfolio Process Improvement & Tools Develop scalable, efficient tools and processes to improve delivery, communication, and knowledge management for data center site development activity Create and maintain standardized templates, checklists, and workflows for site evaluation, permitting, and stakeholder engagement Identify opportunities to leverage technology to enhance team productivity and decision-making Document lessons learned from completed projects and incorporate best practices into future development activities This role requires 25-50% travel

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Computer Science, Operations or Business 5+ years of experience in critical facility site development, commercial real estate development, infrastructure development, data center site selection, or equivalent experience Experience in managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff, external consultants, vendors, and other stakeholders across multiple time zones Experience with a range of project management tools and software, (e.g., Google Suite, Excel, PowerPoint, project management software, etc.) Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews) Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements) 7+ years of experience in critical facility site development, commercial real estate development, infrastructure development, data center site selection, or equivalent experience Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies Advanced / Master’s degree in the academic fields listed above 7+ years of experience with evaluation and planning for land use diligence, power and water utilities, cooling technology, site development, entitlements, permitting