Data Center Development Manager

Meta; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 154,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Meta designs, builds, and operates data center infrastructure to serve billions of users across its apps and services. We seek a Data Center Development Manager to join Global Site Development, driving site entitlements, diligence, and coordinated delivery with internal and external teams.

You will balance speed-to-market, flexibility, and capital efficiency while leading communications, risk assessment, and portfolio strategy for Meta's data center footprint.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Drive the entitlements process (zoning, land use permitting) to meet project timelines.

Skills

Site development

Diligence & planning

Stakeholder management

Communication processes

Project coordination

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Bachelor's degree in Business, Planning, Engineering, Science or Environmental management

Tools

Google Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Project management software

Job description

Summary:

Meta designs, builds, and operates some of the most advanced and efficient data center infrastructure in the world. Ensuring that this infrastructure is available at the right place, at the right time, and at the right scale is critical to Meta's ability to serve billions of users across its family of apps and services.We are seeking an experienced Data Center Development Manager to join the Global Site Development organization, where you will play a central role in enabling the data center buildout of the future. This is a high-impact, highly collaborative position where you'll work alongside partners in site selection, infrastructure planning, and construction – bringing together diverse perspectives and balancing speed-to-market, project flexibility, and capital efficiency to deliver projects that keep Meta's data center portfolio ahead of demand. If you're a results-driven project manager who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, loves solving complex development problems with great people, and want your work to have tangible, world-scale impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Required Skills:

Data Center Development Manager Responsibilities:

1. Drive the entitlements process (e.g., zoning, land use permitting) to ensure accurate and timely submission and execution of the necessary site entitlements and permits to meet project timelines
2. 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 (i) permitting and land use data (ii) information regarding federal, state and local taxes and incentives (iii) data on energy (including renewable energy), water and wastewater availability and cost (iv) network connectivity (v) natural hazard, floodplain and climatological data (vi) legal, physical risk and financial implications
3. Take the lead role in organizing communications by creating scalable processes with and tracking progress towards on-time delivery of projects by key internal and external stakeholders in support of the site selection effort, including capacity planning, data center design and construction, external consulting partners, network engineering, legal, tax, policy and finance
4. Work with Site Selection Manager and other key project team members to ensure alignment among all internal stakeholders and to find smart ways to overcome obstacles in the site development process
5. Support the preparation of project recommendations for presentation to management for approval
6. Support the development of Meta's near and long-term data center location and leased portfolio strategy
7. Support a portfolio of existing sites under construction or in operations to facilitate on time and quality delivery and development of the site that meets permit requirements and local expectations
8. Track and monitor ongoing site development including agreement management
9. Develop scalable, efficient tools and processes to improve delivery and communication for data center site development
10. This role requires 25-50% travel

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experience
2. Bachelor's degree in Business, Planning, Engineering, Science or Environmental management
3. 5+ years of site development experience, or equivalent experience managing large scale, complex infrastructure projects
4. Experience in managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff and external consultants, vendors and other stakeholders
5. Experience with a range of project management tools and software, (eg. Google Suite, Excel, project management software, PowerPoint, etc)

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience in large and complex infrastructure projects
2. Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)
3. Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
4. Advanced technical degree, law degree, or MBA
5. Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
6. Experience with planning, land use diligence and engineering, and entitlements processes

Public Compensation:

$154,000/year to $200,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Equal Opportunity:

Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affordante Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.

Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at [e-mail].