Data Center Lease Development Manager

Meta; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 202,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

Meta is seeking a Data Center Lease Development Manager to drive site selection, feasibility studies, and contract negotiations for leased and colocation data centers. You will collaborate with engineering, legal, policy, and finance teams to align on terms and develop innovative leasing models for AI deployment in leased spaces.

Travel 10–25% as needed and lead cross-functional efforts to optimize data center strategies while managing performance and risk across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in leased data center site selection, engineering, design, construction, contract management, and/or development of data centers or similar large projects.
• Proven ability to lead complex negotiations with landlords, utilities and suppliers.
• Experience representing business interests to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Strong track record coordinating multiple projects with internal teams and external partners.
• Analytical and communication skills to distill complex commercial, market, and contractual details for all levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop Meta's leased and colocation data center location strategy and manage site selection for due diligence, negotiations, and contract administration.
• Lead technical feasibility discussions and negotiations with landlords, owners, and utilities and engineering teams.
• Serve as a primary bridge between Meta Engineering and landlord SMEs to optimize solutions.
• Coordinate lease amendments in response to business changes and feedback from field engineers.
• Negotiate letters of intent, lease agreements, service agreements, and facility-related contracts.
• Collaborate with capacity planning, energy, design, network, legal, policy, and finance to align on terms.
• Generate ideas to improve metrics and tracking mechanisms.
• Manage supplier relationships and best practices.
• Conduct market analyses to guide leasing site selection strategies.
• Stay informed about technical, market, and regulatory developments in data centers.
• Contribute to Meta's leasing standards and organizational strategy.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed (roughly 10–25%).

Skills

Leased data center strategy

Site selection

Contract negotiations

Market analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Stakeholder management

Technical due diligence

AI tools integration

Leadership

Job description

Summary:

A qualified Data Center Lease Development Manager has extensive experience performing technical assessments, negotiating and administering large, complex data center lease transactions in the hyperscale space and an extensive knowledge of the legal agreements that accompany them. The Data Center Lease Development Manager will work with Site Selection Managers to think both strategically and analytically to develop out-of-the-box solutions to find and execute on large lease options, developing new business models for AI deployment in leased spaces. The Data Center Lease Development Manager has deep knowledge of leased data center operations, including site selection, contract negotiation, and lease management and is experienced in navigating the challenges that accompany lease negotiations and lease management.

Required Skills:

Data Center Lease Development Manager Responsibilities:

1. Develop Meta's leased and colocation data center location strategy and manage the site selection effort for technical due diligence, commercial negotiations and contract administration in that space, including partnering with teams focused on economic development incentives, energy and utilities, network connectivity, legal, policy, and financial considerations

2. Develop and lead technical feasibility discussions and contract negotiations with landlords, property owners, and utility companies, and engineering teams

3. Work as a primary conduit between Meta Engineering and Landlord SMEs in order to optimize solutions to fit the needs of our customers in an efficient manner

4. Coordinate lease contract amendments in response to changes in business needs, improvements in business terms or processes, and/or feedback from engineering teams in the field

5. Negotiate letters of intent, lease agreements, service agreements, and other facility-specific agreements

6. Partner with internal organizations, including capacity planning, site selection managers, energy teams, data center design, construction, network engineering, legal, policy, communications, and finance, to align on key business terms

7. Develop ideas for improving metrics and tracking mechanisms

8. Manage supplier relationships and best practices

9. Perform market analysis and develop a leasing site selection strategy

10. Stay informed about the technical, market, and regulatory developments in the data center industry

11. Contribute to the organizational strategy and development of leasing standards at Meta

12. Travel domestically and internationally as needed (10% to 25% at times)

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

1. 10+ years of experience in leased data center site selection, engineering, design, construction, contract management, and/or development of data centers or other large-scale or mission-critical capital projects

2. Experience leading complex negotiations

3. Experience representing business interests to the executive leadership of potential suppliers, utilities, and other stakeholders

4. Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff, consultants, vendors, and external stakeholders

5. Analytical and communications skills with proven experience to effectively distill and communicate complex commercial, market, and contractual details to all organizational levels

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies

2. Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)

3. Advanced technical degree, a law degree, or an MBA

4. Background in engineering, contract management, and understanding of leases, experience with data center leases

5. Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)

Public Compensation:

$202,000/year to $273,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits

Industry:

Internet

Equal Opportunity:

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].