Director, Data Center Development

Netrality Properties, LP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Company-paid life and disability

Parental leave & fertility support

401k matching

Discount programs

Charitable gift matching

Job summary

Netrality Properties, LP seeks a Director of Data Center Development to lead site evaluation, feasibility, and preconstruction for new data center opportunities and expansions. The role demands coordinating with utilities, municipalities, and consultants to move projects from concept to construction readiness.

You will manage cross-functional teams, oversee budgets, and drive development milestones across multiple sites, with up to 50% travel supporting operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, real estate development, architecture, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or related project development roles strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex development projects from initial site evaluation through preconstruction (budgeting, cost estimating, project scheduling, and procurement planning).
• Strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical distribution, utility power, cooling, and critical building systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead site due diligence and development feasibility efforts for prospective data center sites and existing property expansions.
• Coordinate zoning, land-use, environmental, geotechnical, civil, structural, utility, and other property assessments.
• Lead utility engagement and power strategy for new development opportunities, including available capacity and MW delivery timelines.
• Oversee zoning, land-use, special-use and development approvals, building and code requirements, environmental approvals, and generator and air permitting.

Skills

Data center development

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder coordination

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/related field

Job description

Netrality Data Centers is a growing private-equity backed owner-operator of strategic interconnection properties. With eighteen premier data centers located in six metropolitan markets, Netrality continues to acquire strategic network interconnection data centers and develop Meet Me Rooms (MMRs) and wholesale data center space within those properties to offer the highest quality and most robust direct network interconnections in the market.

Netrality offers comprehensive and competitive benefits to our employees, notably:

• Multiple offerings for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life, short- and long-term disability, and AD&D insurance
• Paid parental leave, fertility support, 401k matching
• Employee discount services through our partners savings platform
• $1:$1 company match for all eligible charitable gifts

Who We Need

Netrality has an exciting opportunity for a Director, Data Center Development to support the company's continued growth and expansion. This role will lead the development process for new data center sites and expansion opportunities, from initial due diligence and feasibility through entitlements, utility infrastructure planning, permitting, and preconstruction.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of data center development, real estate, utility infrastructure, permitting, and construction planning. This individual will be experienced in navigating complex development projects, managing multidisciplinary consultant teams, and coordinating with utilities and governmental agencies to advance projects from concept through construction readiness. This role requires up to 50% travel to support operations across multiple locations.

Netrality is a close-knit team of A-players. This is an opportunity for an experienced development professional to play a key role in shaping the company's growth, evaluating development opportunities, and establishing consistent processes and best practices across the portfolio.

Description of Responsibilities

• Site Due Diligence and Development Feasibility
• Lead site due diligence and development feasibility efforts for prospective data center sites and existing property expansions.
• Coordinate zoning, land-use, environmental, geotechnical, civil, structural, utility, and other property assessments.
• Identify site constraints, entitlement risks, infrastructure requirements, and required off-site improvements; develop mitigation strategies and coordinate improvements needed to support development.
• Maintain development due diligence checklists, track outstanding requirements, and drive critical items to completion.
• Coordinate architects, engineers, land-use counsel, survey/title resources, and other consultants throughout the site evaluation process.
• Utility Power Strategy and Infrastructure Feasibility
• Lead utility engagement and power strategy for new development opportunities, including available capacity, MW delivery timelines, required utility infrastructure, and substation/service options.
• Coordinate electrical feasibility studies and evaluate utility rates, renewable energy opportunities, and alternative power solutions.
• Develop strategies to maximize critical load and improve power efficiency, including minimizing PUE and evaluating natural gas, behind-the-meter solutions, fuel cells, battery storage, and other peak-shaving strategies.
• Translate utility requirements, infrastructure needs, and energization timelines into development budgets and schedules.
• Maintain development risk registers related to utility capacity, infrastructure requirements, and energization.
• Entitlements, Permitting, and Governmental Coordination
• Oversee zoning, land-use, special-use and development approvals, building and code requirements, environmental approvals, and generator and air permitting.
• Coordinate pre-application meetings and maintain relationships with municipalities, utilities, and other governmental agencies.
• Identify permitting requirements, approval dependencies, and regulatory challenges that may affect project timelines.
• Track permitting and governmental approval dependencies against development and construction schedules.
• Manage multidisciplinary consultant teams, including architects; civil, structural, and MEP engineers; environmental and geotechnical consultants; land-use counsel; survey/title resources; utility consultants; and permitting specialists.
• Establish consultant scopes of work, coordinate deliverables, and ensure development requirements and project objectives are clearly communicated.
• Monitor consultant performance, schedules, and deliverables to ensure development milestones are achieved.
• Coordinate development-specific public relations and community consultants, as needed.
• Maintain effective working relationships with consultants, utilities, municipalities, and other external stakeholders.
• Preconstruction Development
• Lead and own preconstruction development activities, including scope definition, basis of design requirements, and conceptual site planning.
• Develop preliminary budgets and cost estimates, development and utility schedules, and site logistics assumptions.
• Establish project permitting strategies and coordinate approval dependencies with construction schedules.
• Identify long-lead equipment and infrastructure requirements and develop preliminary procurement strategies ahead of construction authorization.
• Coordinate development milestones and requirements with construction, engineering, operations, and other internal stakeholders.
• Identify schedule, budget, infrastructure, and execution risks and develop mitigation strategies to support successful project delivery.
• Participate in ad hoc projects and assignments as requested.

Position Requirements and Desired Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, real estate development, architecture, or a related field strongly preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or related project development roles strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex development projects from initial site evaluation through preconstruction (budgeting, cost estimating, project scheduling, and procurement planning).
• Strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical distribution, utility power, cooling, and critical building systems.
• Experience coordinating with utility providers, evaluating power availability, and developing infrastructure strategies for large-scale power requirements.
• Knowledge of zoning, land-use regulations, entitlement processes, environmental requirements, and permitting procedures.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering, architectural, environmental, legal, and other third-party consultants.
• Ability to evaluate site feasibility, identify development constraints, and develop practical solutions to complex issues.
• Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate development risks and opportunities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple development initiatives and competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical and development matters to applicable parties.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with utilities, municipalities, consultants, contractors, and other external partners.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across all levels of the organization, effectively manage priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct and integrity and adherence to Netrality's company handbook.