Director / Senior Manager - Real Estate Development (Data Center Platforms) - NY

Leap29; New York (NY); On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Long-term growth potential

Ownership of large infrastructure sites

Job summary

A large-scale digital infrastructure platform is seeking a Director of Real Estate Development in New York to lead the delivery of mission-critical data center sites. This role requires a deep understanding of real estate development, infrastructure, and entitlements, as well as strong project management skills. The successful candidate will navigate complex regulatory environments, coordinate with utilities, and manage high-stakes development challenges. This position offers competitive compensation and significant growth opportunities within a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in real estate development or large-scale industrial projects.
• Proven track record of fully entitling complex developments.
• Strong experience coordinating with electric utilities and grid operators.
• Experience coordinating with electric utilities and grid operators on high-load power requirements.
• Background in data centers, industrial, energy, or infrastructure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead full real estate entitlement processes for large-scale data center developments.
• Manage complex permitting strategies across jurisdictions.
• Oversee site control and land strategy including acquisitions and long-term leases.
• Negotiate rights-of-way, easements, and access agreements.
• Coordinate grid power strategy with utilities and internal power teams.
• Serve as real estate lead for hyperscale and multi-building campus developments.

Skills

Real estate development

Infrastructure development

Project management

Regulatory navigation

Strong commercial mindset

Utility coordination

Grid power strategy

Land strategy

Site acquisitions

Public-sector coordination

Job description

Location: New York, NY

Overview

An large-scale digital infrastructure platform is seeking a Director of Real Estate Development to lead the end-to-end delivery of large, mission-critical data center sites. This role sits at the intersection of real estate, infrastructure, and power and requires deep experience navigating complex entitlements, permitting, and land control for massive development sites.

The successful candidate will take ownership of strategically significant assets from early site control through full entitlement and readiness for construction, working closely with utilities, municipalities, consultants, and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full real estate entitlement processes for large-scale data center developments, including zoning, land use approvals, environmental reviews, and municipal permitting
• Manage complex permitting strategies across local, county, and state jurisdictions in New York and surrounding markets
• Oversee site control and land strategy, including acquisitions, options, long‑term ground leases, and development agreements
• Negotiate and manage rights‑of‑way, easements, and access agreements, including utility, transmission, and fiber corridors
• Coordinate grid power strategy in partnership with utilities, transmission providers, and internal power teams to secure scalable, long‑term electrical capacity
• Serve as the real estate lead for hyperscale and multi‑building campus developments, often spanning hundreds of acres
• Manage external advisors including land use counsel, civil engineers, environmental consultants, surveyors, and permitting specialists
• Interface with municipalities, planning boards, economic development authorities, and community stakeholders
• Drive project schedules, manage entitlement risk, and anticipate regulatory or political challenges before they impact delivery
• Support investment underwriting by providing real estate, entitlement, and development risk assessments

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 8+ years of experience in real estate development, infrastructure development, or large‑scale industrial / mission‑critical projects
• Proven track record of fully entitling complex, large‑footprint developments with significant power and infrastructure requirements
• Deep understanding of land use, zoning, environmental permitting, and easement structures
• Strong experience coordinating with electric utilities and grid operators on high‑load power requirements
• Background in data centers, industrial, logistics, energy, or infrastructure is strongly preferred, though not required
• Candidates with experience at institutional real estate investment platforms or real estate private equity environments are highly encouraged to apply
• Highly commercial mindset with the ability to balance speed, risk, and long‑term asset value
• Comfortable operating with autonomy on high‑visibility, high‑value sites

What This Role Offers

• Ownership of some of the largest and most strategically important digital infrastructure sites in the U.S.
• Direct impact on shaping a rapidly growing platform at the intersection of real estate, energy, and technology
• Exposure to complex, high‑stakes development challenges rarely found in traditional real estate roles
• Competitive compensation and long‑term growth potential within a scaled institutional environment

If this role is of interest please reach out to Simon Howard ([e-mail])