Site Selection & Power Development Lead – AI Data Centers

First Point Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

First Point Group partners with a venture-backed AI infrastructure company building high-density data centers across the United States. We seek a Site Selection & Power Development Lead to own origination and power development for an expanding US pipeline.

You will originate, evaluate and develop data center sites, securing power opportunities, leading grid interconnection and behind-the-meter strategies, and guiding sites from sourcing through entitlement to construction-ready status.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience developing data centers or large-scale critical infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of grid interconnection and behind-the-meter generation.
• Proven track record of closing land and power transactions.
• Established relationships with utilities, landowners, brokers and developers.
• Experience navigating zoning, environmental and entitlement processes.

Responsibilities

• Originate and source data center development opportunities across the US.
• Identify and secure large-scale power opportunities.
• Lead power diligence including MW, capacity and interconnection position.
• Evaluate land, environmental, zoning and constructability considerations.
• Lead grid interconnection and behind-the-meter (BTM) power strategies.
• Manage utility, substation and power infrastructure requirements.
• Negotiate land acquisition, site control and power-related agreements.
• Lead entitlement and permitting processes with utilities, municipalities and AHJs.
• Build relationships with utilities, landowners, brokers, developers and power-generation partners.
• Coordinate technical feasibility with engineering teams before sites are secured.
• Deliver fully controlled, powered and entitled sites into construction.

Skills

Data center site selection

Power origination

Power development

Grid interconnection

Behind-the-meter generation

Negotiation

Land acquisition

Permitting and entitlement

Job description

Site Selection & Power Development Lead - AI Data Centers

First Point Group is partnering with a venture-backed AI infrastructure company that is building a new generation of high-density data center facilities across the United States.

The business develops data center sites end-to-end - identifying power and land opportunities, securing sites and taking them through development to construction-ready status.

As the company scales its US development pipeline, we are searching for an exceptional Site Selection & Power Development Lead to own site origination and power development.

You will lead the identification, evaluation and development of data center sites across three primary strategies:

• Power-first opportunities - secure the power, then identify/control the land
• Brownfield / existing infrastructure opportunities

You will own opportunities from initial sourcing and diligence through to a secured, entitled and construction-ready site.

Key Responsibilities

• Originate and source data center development opportunities across the US
• Identify and secure large-scale power opportunities
• Lead power diligence including available MW, firm vs. interruptible capacity and interconnection position
• Evaluate land, environmental, zoning and constructability considerations
• Lead both grid interconnection and behind-the-meter (BTM) power strategies
• Manage utility, substation and power infrastructure requirements
• Negotiate land acquisition, site control and power-related agreements
• Lead entitlement and permitting processes with utilities, municipalities and AHJs
• Build relationships with utilities, landowners, brokers, developers and power-generation partners
• Coordinate technical feasibility with engineering teams before sites are secured
• Deliver fully controlled, powered and entitled sites into construction

You will ideally have 5+ years of experience developing data centers, power infrastructure or other large-scale critical infrastructure projects, with a demonstrated ability to take raw land or power opportunities through to construction-ready status.

We are particularly interested in candidates who bring:

• Strong experience in data center site selection, power origination or power development
• Deep understanding of grid interconnection AND behind-the-meter generation
• A track record of successfully closing land and power transactions
• Established relationships across utilities, power markets, landowners and brokers
• Experience navigating zoning, permitting, environmental and entitlement processes
• Strong commercial and negotiation capabilities
• Knowledge of substations, utility infrastructure and long-lead electrical equipment
• An existing network that can generate new site opportunities from day one

We are looking for someone who understands how to find power, create development opportunities and turn those opportunities into viable AI data center sites.

For someone coming from an established data center, energy or power infrastructure organization, this represents an opportunity to join an early-stage platform where you will have significant influence over where and how the company's future data center portfolio is developed.

San Francisco is highly preferred, with travel to prospective and active development sites across the United States.