Public Policy & Community Relations Director (East)

CoreSite, LLC; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage starting day one

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Telemedicine options

HSA/FSA options

401(k) with company match (5%)

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

PTO—starting 16 days

Holidays and volunteering time

Parking or transit assistance

Wellness reimbursements

Job summary

CoreSite, LLC is seeking a Director of Public Policy and Community Relations to define and execute its local public policy strategies across the U.S. You will lead cross-functional teams in Marketing, Legal, and Corporate Development, and collaborate with American Tower's Public Affairs to align goals and share best practices.

This role focuses on local regulatory environments, community outreach, and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of hands-on government relations, economic development, or community engagement experience.
• Experience in government relations, economic development, or community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Marketing, Legal, and Corporate Development leaders to build out Public Policy and Community Engagement.
• Collaborate with parent company Public Affairs for alignment and knowledge transfer.
• Direct and support local regulatory and community engagement plans to drive business objectives.
• Research current and emerging policy issues across the U.S. and align with internal teams.
• Develop strategies to navigate policy objectives and engage with state and local governments.
• Direct and collaborate with cross-functional teams on local issues, incentives, and permitting processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Public policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Description

About CoreSite:

CoreSite is a leading colocation data center company providing the space, power, cooling and connectivity that businesses rely on to operate and grow. Our data centers bring dozens of organizations together under one roof, supporting the technology and services that keep our world connected. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, bringing the expertise, ideas and commitment that power our business and help our customers succeed. With a culture built on collaboration, ownership, and operational excellence, CoreSite is a place to make an impact.

Director, Public Policy and Community Relations Role

As a member of the company's Legal team, the Public Policy and Community Relations Director will help define and build CoreSite's public policy strategies. This includes planning and executing strategic communications programs while operating at a high-level of autonomy and regularly collaborating with cross-functional subject matter experts. This role enables CoreSite to deliver on its growth plans across the U.S. and has responsibility for establishing and maintaining local regulatory environments and positive community outreach that support CoreSite's economic development. The Director, Public Policy and Community Relations, develops and delivers sustainable strategies and proactively initiates and regularly engages with local leaders and communities in which we are located. CoreSite delivers essential interconnection hubs for our customers across the U.S. to effectively conduct business and support their customers. The Director, Public Policy and Community Relations, develops advocacy strategies at the local market level, positions CoreSite on key issues, and advises CoreSite's cross-functional team leaders on local matters including local legislative priorities, the political environment, and public sentiment related to data centers. This role will problem-solve and build relationships with local leaders and communities through a position of trust, creating a more favorable and resilient local public policy environment for our company. This work ensures success, mitigates risk, and fosters sustainable, long-term growth for CoreSite and our customers while adding value to the communities in which we operate.

What You'll Do

• Partner with Marketing, Legal, and Corporate Development department leaders to build out the company's important Public Policy and Community Engagement function.
• Collaborate with American Tower's (CoreSite's parent company) Public Affairs Team for alignment and to leverage their knowledge and best practices.
• Direct and support the execution of strategic local regulatory and community engagement plans to drive forward business objectives in the markets in which we operate.
• Research, identify, and track current and emerging policy issues across the U.S. and engage internal team members to determine the company's strategies, position, priorities, and risks.
• Develop strategies to navigate and impact policy objectives; engage with state and local governments to advance the company's public policy interests.
• Direct, lead, and collaborate with CoreSite's corporate development, legal, construction, finance, operations, and additional teams on key local issues and workstreams. Engage in and support pre-development processes, researching policy drivers, public sentiment, and media coverage in new markets, understanding and pursuing local tax incentives and funding programs for data center development and with permit and zoning authorities.
• Develop and direct communication strategies to engage with community leaders in existing and new CoreSite markets.
• Manage contract lobbyists, association memberships, and coalition partnerships.
• Research industry trends and incorporate relevant insights into messaging development to help educate and prepare cross-functional colleagues.
• Regularly analyze performance against goals and report to marketing department and cross-functional leaders.
• Promote and demonstrate the behaviors consistent with CoreSite's culture and core values.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment that includes at least two onsite days per week.
• Flexibility to travel up to 25% of the time to multiple CoreSite markets, capital cities, regional meetings and hearings. With the potential for increased in-office presence as business needs evolve.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with diverse internal and external audiences, including senior government officials and company executives, adapting language, tone, and style to fit the context.
• Experience in government relations, economic development, or community engagement.
• Experience learning business needs and representing those interests before government officials.
• Creative and critical thinking skills and the ability to understand complex issues and identify clear and effective action plans to resolve them.
• Experience working on policies related to data centers, AI, tax policy, energy, and sustainability.
• Experience in handling contract lobbyists and working as an internal lobbyist for a private company is highly preferred.
• Advanced political savvy and the ability to connect with customers and community members.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university preferred.
• Information technology and Business-to-Business experience preferred.
• Between 7-10 years of hands-on experience in government relations, economic development, or community engagement.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described herein represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the job's duties the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop or kneel, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Ability to travel is required.

Compensation

Compensation for this role includes a base salary between $175,000 and $190,000 annually. This role is also eligible for an annual bonus and equity, based upon individual and company performance.

Job Post Timeline

This position is expected to be open for applications for 30 days.

Benefits

Not only does CoreSite have a fun, team-focused work environment, but we also offer great benefits to all employees regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours a week!

• Medical coverage starting day one, plus dental, vision, telemedicine, HSA/FSA options.
• 401(k) with a 5% company match, plus bonus and equity opportunities.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Starting 16 days of PTO, 11 paid company holidays, floating holidays and additional paid time for volunteering, family care, parental leave and other life events.
• Free parking or public transportation support.

Additional Perks

• Up to $800 annually in wellness reimbursements and up to $450 in wellness incentives.
• $100 monthly technology stipend.
• Up to $5,250 annually in educational reimbursement plus LinkedIn Learning.
• Up to $5,000 annually in charitable donation matching.
• Financial coaching and student loan support.
• Family planning, mental health, and caregiving support.
• Pet insurance, employee discounts and cash back offers.

General Statements

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.
• Please note that all offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and, where permitted by law, a 5-panel drug test conducted after the offer letter is signed, which will screen for THC, opiates, PCP, cocaine, and amphetamines. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Applicant Privacy Notice

• CoreSite is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information submitted by applicants. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires us to provide you information about our personal information handling practices. As a result, we're providing this Privacy Notice that describes how we collect, use, share, and update personal information from individuals who wish to be considered for employment with CoreSite. To read the Applicant Privacy Notice, please go to https://www.coresite.com/applicant-privacy-notice.
• Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this job posting on external sites is prohibited without prior written consent from CoreSite. We are not responsible for any postings or offers not originating from our official channels or approved partners.