Data Center Development Manager

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

Job summary

Meta is seeking an experienced Data Center Development Manager to drive site selection, entitlements, and development for its global data center portfolio. The role collaborates with site selection, infrastructure planning, and construction teams to balance speed, flexibility, and capital efficiency.

You will analyze permitting, taxes, energy, water, network connectivity, and risk factors to inform site decisions and deliver on timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of site development experience or equivalent infrastructure project management.
• Experience coordinating with internal staff and external consultants and stakeholders.
• Experience with project management tools and software (Google Suite, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Drive entitlements processes to meet project timelines and permits.
• Lead diligence and development to assess site risks and opportunities.
• Organize communications and track progress with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare recommendations for management and align site strategies with portfolio goals.
• Support near and long-term data center location strategies and portfolio development.
• Track ongoing site development and develop scalable tools for delivery.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Communication

Google Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Project management software

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Project management software

Job description

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.Data Center Development Manager Responsibilities: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 timelinesLead 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 implicationsTake 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 financeWork 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 processSupport the preparation of project recommendations for presentation to management for approvalSupport the development of Meta's near and long-term data center location and leased portfolio strategySupport 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 expectationsTrack and monitor ongoing site development including agreement managementDevelop scalable, efficient tools and processes to improve delivery and communication for data center site developmentThis role requires 25-50% travelMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experienceBachelor's degree in Business, Planning, Engineering, Science or Environmental management5+ years of site development experience, or equivalent experience managing large scale, complex infrastructure projectsExperience in managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff and external consultants, vendors and other stakeholdersExperience with a range of project management tools and software, (eg. Google Suite, Excel, project management software, PowerPoint, etc)Preferred Qualifications:Experience in large and complex infrastructure projectsExperience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologiesAdvanced technical degree, law degree, or MBADemonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)Experience with planning, land use diligence and engineering, and entitlements processesAbout Meta:Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative 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].$154,000/year to $200,000/year + bonus + equity + benefitsIndividual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.