Land Use & Permitting, Senior Manager

Rowan Digital Infrastructure; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Health benefits

401(k) company contribution

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is seeking a Land Use & Permitting Manager to oversee land use, zoning, and entitlement activities for a portfolio of data center projects. You will coordinate with project leads, AHJs, and internal teams to ensure permitting strategies align with construction schedules and project delivery dates.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in complex development, strong strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in planning, environmental or real estate (Master’s preferred).
• 7+ years leading large-scale site development projects.
• Experience with local AHJ permitting processes.
• Proficient in online GIS databases and regulatory reporting.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication.
• Experience coordinating with engineers on permitting schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead local permitting and entitlement efforts for a portfolio of data center projects.
• Lead land use approvals including annexations, rezoning, use permits, variances, and subdivisions.
• Liaise between Rowan and AHJs to identify and track requirements.
• Manage permitting risks in land use and construction permitting.
• Develop and maintain local permitting matrices per site.
• Serve as land use expert in reporting to stakeholders.
• Support growth by improving diligence and processes.
• Train project leads on AHJ engagement and permitting.
• Evaluate new regions, policies; participate in risk analysis for new projects.
• Provide inputs to schedules and budgets.

Skills

AHJ permitting

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory analysis

GIS databases

Communication with executives

Site development for data centers

Analytical thinking

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in planning/environmental/real estate

Master's degree preferred

Tools

GIS platforms

Regulatory reporting tools

Online reporting platforms

Job description

At Rowan Digital Infrastructure, we are transforming data center delivery for speed and scale. Our mission is to deliver best-in-class data center solutions to hyperscale customers who share our commitment to sustainability, and to do so with an unwavering focus on efficiency, quality, and flexibility. Our data center solutions are tailored to our customers’ needs and delivered by our exceptional end-to-end team. Rowan is assembling a strategic portfolio of data center sites in Tier 1 markets across the United States at various stages of development, and we’re looking for incredible and passionate people to help us advance our company and our commitment to building a more sustainable future.

Rowan is backed by Quinbrook, a leading investor in the energy transition, and Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager.

Role Summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is looking for a Land Use & Permitting Manager to lead land use, zoning, and entitlement activities for projects across Rowan’s data center project portfolio. The Land Use & Permitting Manager will be responsible for oversight of all local, state and federal requirements, collaborate with project leads across Rowan to develop a permitting strategies and schedules in support of project delivery dates; ensure the appropriate team members or contractors are leading permitting efforts and coordinate permitting activities between the Sites and the Engineering, Construction, and Operations (ECO) Teams.

The Land Use & Permitting Manager is a critical part of the team, helping to implement Rowan’s land use strategy, ensuring schedules are met, working with consultants on complex issues, and frequently communicating with key team members.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully managing complex development projects with a specific focus on local land use permitting. The successful candidate will have excellent strategic thinking skills, organizational and communication skills, the ability to multitask, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Travel

Ability to travel up to 30% to project sites

Location

Denver, CO (Hybrid, 3 days/week)

Compensation

$150K - $185K (Offers Bonus)

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead local permitting and entitlement efforts for a portfolio of data center projects
• Lead land use approvals, including annexations, rezoning, use permits, variances, and subdivisions, ensuring land is fully prepared and aligned with construction schedules
• In partnership with key development leads, act as a primary liaison between Rowan and city/county Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs) on identifying and tracking local permitting and approvals requirements
• Understand, interpret, communicate and manage permitting risks in critical areas related to land use and construction permitting for internal teams
• Develop and maintain local permitting matrices for each site in Rowan’s portfolio
• Act as the subject matter land use expert and local permitting requirements in internal and external reporting. Respond to internal and external stakeholders related to finance, economic development, government affairs, as well as responding to lenders and AHJs
• Support the growth of Rowan by helping establish good project diligence and reporting practices and improving processes and systems as we scale
• Trains and coaches other project leads to support AHJ engagement, entitlements, and permitting in support of Rowan’s growth and execution goals
• Evaluation of new regions, policies, and participation in economic development and government affairs review and risk analysis of new potential projects
• Provides inputs to schedules, budgets and other organizational documentation managed by others

Education, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (planning, environmental, real estate), preferably a Master’s Degree in a related field, and at least 7 years of experience leading large-scale complex site development projects
• Experience analyzing local regulations, leading local AHJ permitting efforts, and working with Planning Staff
• Experienced with researching permit requirements, online regulatory reporting and online reporting platforms and utilizing online GIS databases
• Experience developing permitting matrices and entitlement strategies. Can support or lead multiple efforts concurrently
• Experience communicating with senior leaders and executives at all levels of the organization
• Experience leading complex cross-functional efforts across teams
• Experience working with engineers to ensure alignment on deliverables and permitting schedules, including site plans and building permit approvals
• Experience with data center site development preferred
• AICP certification preferred but not required
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Fueled by Excellence & Collaboration

At Rowan, we are a distributed team united by a common mission to transform data center delivery. Across our two offices, we offer a hybrid work environment supported by teamwork, technology, and in-office gathering time to help you be successful. We are headquartered in downtown Denver, Colorado and have an office in Seattle, Washington. Our team of talented and passionate individuals is spread out across the U.S.

Here to support you

At Rowan, we want to make sure you can do great work. We offer competitive benefits focused on helping you be and achieve your best.

• Hybrid working environment
• Team building and educational opportunities
• Generous benefits package including robust health benefits and a 401(k)-company contribution
• Unlimited PTO
• RTD ECO pass or parking reimbursement
• Competitive compensation, bonus, and an incentive plan

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rowan Digital is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity in all aspects of our workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.