Data Center Site Selection Manager

ApplyMint; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ApplyMint is seeking an experienced Site Selection Manager to develop and manage the data center location strategy. The role demands expertise in negotiating real estate deals and managing large infrastructure projects. Candidates should possess strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

This position requires collaboration with various internal teams and stakeholders, along with a proven track record in site selection and contract negotiations. Join ApplyMint to drive impactful data center initiatives across the United States.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in site selection or infrastructure development.
• Experience leading real estate negotiations and managing large projects.
• Proficient in financial modeling of data center projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop data center location strategy and manage site selection.
• Lead feasibility discussions and contract negotiations.
• Maintain relationships with communities and service providers.

Skills

Negotiating real estate deals

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Advanced technical degree or law degree

Tools

Document and analytics platforms

Job description

Meta designs, builds, leases, and operates highly efficient data centers. Locating, developing, and managing this data center infrastructure effectively is synonymous with ensuring high uptime, capacity availability, flexibility, and capital and operational cost efficiency. Meta is seeking an experienced, organized, and collaborative Site Selection Manager to join the Data Center Site Selection team. We are seeking a Data Center Site Selection Manager who has experience negotiating large, complex data center real estate deals and knowledge of the legal agreements that accompany them. The Data Center Site Selection Manager should also have experience in thinking both strategically and analytically, be capable of developing creative and practical solutions to complex site selection challenges, and be proficient at navigating the challenges that accompany the development of hyperscale data center projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop Meta’s owned data center location strategy in assigned geography and manage the site selection effort for real estate, including partnering with teams focused on economic development incentives, energy and utilities, network connectivity, legal, policy, and financial considerations
• Lead feasibility discussions and contract negotiations with service providers, property owners, economic development agencies, and utility companies
• Negotiate letters of intent, land or building purchases, economic development incentives, water and sewer supply, and other site-specific agreements, and support power negotiations
• Partner with internal organizations, including capacity planning, energy teams, data center design, construction, network engineering, legal, policy, communications, and finance
• Prepare project location recommendations and present them to management for approval
• Develop portfolio management metrics and tracking mechanisms
• Maintain relationships with communities and service providers in support of Meta’s data center developments, monitor ongoing contractual commitments, and support the expansion of Meta’s existing data centers through the extension of existing agreements or the formation of new agreements
• Manage external vendors as required to facilitate site development work at data center sites
• Travel domestically (25-50%)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 12+ years of experience in site selection and data center or other capital project or infrastructure development
• Experience leading real estate negotiations, including contract formation and contract negotiations
• Experience in representing business interests to governments (state, county, and local), utilities, potential suppliers, and other stakeholders
• Experience in managing large real estate development projects and coordinating with internal staff, consultants, vendors, and external stakeholders
• Experience in communicating commercial, market, and contractual details to all organizational levels
• Experience working with detailed financial models of data center projects and transactions, identifying key risks and sensitivities, and leading all related due diligence efforts (financial, commercial, technical, and development)
• Experience representing business interests to the leadership teams of potential suppliers, strategic markets, energy suppliers, and other stakeholders
• Experience communicating complex commercial, technical, and contractual information clearly in writing and presentations to stakeholders at all organizational levels
• Proficiency in standard document and analytics platforms
• Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
• Experience 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 technologies
• An advanced technical degree in a relevant field, or a law degree
• Experience in hyperscale data center site selection or leasing negotiation