Director of Data Center Growth & Partnerships

Black Hills Energy; Golden (CO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 281,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonuses

401(k) with company match

tuition reimbursement

paid time off benefits

life insurance

disability benefits

pet insurance

employee assistance program

well-being benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance

Job summary

Black Hills Energy is seeking a Director of Data Center Development to drive growth by identifying new data center clients while managing existing relationships. The role focuses on strategic partnerships, understanding client needs, and promoting utility services to support data center growth opportunities.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in energy with data center exposure, strong commercial acumen, and experience building relationships with hyperscalers, regulators, and industry partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience primarily working in the energy sector in fields related to business development, finance, account management, project management, strategic planning, or commercial growth is required.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience is required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in data center development is preferred.
• Strong understanding of the data center industry and its operational needs, and knowledge of utility services and their application in data center operations.
• Demonstrated executive presence with the ability to confidently engage, influence, and build credibility with senior executives, large commercial customers, regulators, and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic growth initiatives while managing complex projects, negotiation, and cross-functional leadership skills to drive timely decisions and successful outcomes.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to evaluate commercial opportunities, develop business cases, assess project economics and risk, and drive complex negotiations.
• Strong problem-solving abilities to address client needs and overcome challenges. Flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions and client requirements.
• Demonstrated success in acquiring and managing client relationships while cultivating strategic partnerships and industry networks that support growth opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to translate market intelligence into commercial strategies that drive profitable growth and long-term customer value.
• This position requires driving responsibilities. You must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets company and insurer standards.
• This role will be required to travel up to 25% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Identify and target potential data center customers, developing strategies to attract and secure new business. Develop and implement strategic growth plans to expand the utility’s customer base within the data center sector.
• Lead negotiations with potential data center customers to secure agreements and partnerships. Create compelling and innovative proposals and presentations to showcase the utility’s services and value proposition.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including data center customers, industry partners, and regulatory bodies.
• Lead cross-functional coordination among regulatory, engineering, transmission, generation, finance, legal, and operations teams to advance data center opportunities from initial engagement through execution.
• Monitor and analyze market trends to identify new opportunities and stay ahead of industry developments.
• Ensure all business development activities comply with industry standards and regulations. Identify and mitigate risks associated with client acquisition and contract negotiations. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting data center operations and utility services. Understand and navigate utility operations, tariffs, legislative, and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and optimize project outcomes.
• Serve as one of the spokesperson for the company by representing the company in its relationships with data center partners in the business and financial communities.
• Prepare and present reports, proposals, and updates to executive management.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to business units and functional leaders throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic growth

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Black Hills Energy is seeking a Director of Data Center Development to drive growth by identifying new data center clients while managing existing relationships. The role focuses on strategic partnerships, understanding client needs, and promoting utility services to support data center growth opportunities.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in energy with data center exposure, strong commercial acumen, and experience building relationships with hyperscalers, regulators, and industry partners.