Senior Manager, Site Development

rowan.com; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Generous benefits package

401(k) company contribution

Unlimited PTO

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure in Denver, CO seeks a Senior Manager of Site Development to lead origination and development of data center projects across the portfolio, determining which sites to pursue and advancing them through due diligence and entitlements for handover to leasing and construction.

The role demands a proven track record delivering complex data center programs, strong negotiation and communication skills, and the ability to provide senior leadership updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, environmental management or equivalent.
• MBA or professional certification is a plus but not required.
• 7+ years of leading large-scale, complex site development projects or portfolios in the data center or commercial real estate industry.
• Experience negotiating land, energy, water/wastewater, and development agreements.
• Experience coordinating with AHJs, utilities and economic development agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead site origination, due diligence, and development across a data center portfolio.
• Manage due diligence contractors, schedules, and budgets for early-phase projects.
• Support deal negotiations including land acquisitions and development agreements.
• Coordinate cross-functional evaluation with power, engineering, legal, planning and other teams.
• Oversee entitlements, permitting, and pre-construction work streams.
• Collaborate with energy, finance, legal and economic development teams to address project risks.
• Present updates to leadership with clear, concise reporting.
• Help scale diligence processes and systems for team growth.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Site development

Real estate due diligence

Power/energy knowledge

Renewables experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

MBA or relevant certification

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 is seeking a Senior Manager of Site Development to lead the origination and development of data center development activities across our project portfolio. This role is integral to shaping and executing Rowan’s development strategy and rapid expansion—determining which sites to pursue, advancing them through due diligence and entitlements, and delivering them into the leasing and construction pipeline in alignment with business objectives. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of delivering complex data center projects, has experience in early evaluation of power/energy availability in various regions, exceptional negotiation and communication skills, and can succinctly and accurately provide senior leadership-level updates across their project portfolio. Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, a highly organized and proactive approach, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Travel: Ability to travel up to (25%) for company gatherings or to project sites.

Location: Denver, CO (3-day hybrid in-office role)

Compensation: $170K - $205K (Offers Bonus)

Essential Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior-level deal leads, supporting site development activities for a portfolio of data center projects—from site origination up to construction commencement. Responsibilities include initial site screening, pipeline management, site due diligence, title curative actions, and risk management
• Independently manage site due diligence contractors for early-stage projects, overseeing contract management, onsite activities, schedules, and budgets
• Support senior level deal leads with key agreement negotiations, including land acquisitions, development agreements, and other commercial contracts that support risk mitigation and project advancement
• Coordinate cross-functional evaluation of potential sites by collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts across power/energy, engineering, legal, planning, and other domains
• Support the advancement of all development activities, including managing complex land transactions, land use and entitlements, permitting, physical and legal due diligence, and other pre-construction workstreams, and relay the impact of these on key investment metrics
• Collaborate with internal teams—including energy, fiber, finance, water & wastewater, legal, and economic development—to identify and address key project risks and ensure long-term viability
• Represent the project internally and externally, providing clear, concise updates to project teams and leadership
• Contribute to team growth and scalability by helping establish strong diligence and reporting practices and continuously improving development processes and systems

Education, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, real estate, environmental management), or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA) or relevant professional certification is a plus, but not required
• 7+ years of experience leading large-scale, complex site development projects or portfolios in the data center or commercial real estate industry
• Demonstrated experience negotiating commercial agreements, including land purchase agreements, energy, water/wastewater service, and economic development agreements
• Demonstrated ability to work with external stakeholders, including authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), utilities, and economic development agencies to advance complex infrastructure projects
• Strong experience leading cross-functional initiatives, with responsibility for project strategy, budgets, schedules, and risk management
• Demonstrated trust-based leadership, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without formal authority
• Proficiency in real estate development due diligence, permitting, and entitlements for large-scale developments
• Prior experience in utility-scale renewables, including large-scale energy projects

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

• 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
• Relocating for this role? We offer relocation assistance on a case-by-case basis to help make your transition smooth

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.