Strategic Data Center Development Lead (Subregional)

Digital Realty Trust, L.P.; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Digital Realty is seeking a Subregional Real Estate Development Lead to oversee the end-to-end development of data center facilities, coordinating planning, entitlements, design, and construction. You will manage budgets, pro formas, and cash flows while aligning cross-functional teams to deliver on time and within budget.

The role requires strong financial acumen, excellent communication with executives, and the ability to identify and mitigate risks.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale real estate or data center development projects from concept through delivery.
• Strong financial acumen with project budgets, pro formas, forecasting, and cost controls.
• Experience coordinating across multiple internal functions and external partners.
• Working knowledge of entitlement, permitting, design management, and construction delivery processes.
• Ability to identify and communicate project risks clearly to executive stakeholders.
• Strong contract, procurement, and consultant management capabilities.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of ownership, accountability, and sound business judgment.
• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, engineering, construction management, architecture, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development activities including feasibility, due diligence, entitlements, design management, construction, and turnover.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to implement comprehensive project plans that support on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, providing clear updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage project budgets, development pro formas, cash flows, and financial forecasts, escalating potential variances.
• Partner with HDL, PMG, DEC, Investments, Finance, Legal, and Operations teams to validate underwriting assumptions and drive alignment.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies, support contract negotiations, and drive value optimization.
• Oversee design teams and specialty consultants to maintain alignment on scope, schedule, cost, and brand standards.
• Monitor construction performance including quality, safety, schedule, contract compliance, and review of RFIs, submittals, and change orders.
• Support entitlement, permitting, zoning, and community engagement activities in partnership with internal teams and public stakeholders.
• Lead commissioning, closeout, and turnover activities, ensuring complete documentation, warranties, and financial reconciliation.

Skills

Large-scale project leadership

Financial acumen

Stakeholder coordination

Entitlement knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in real estate

Job description

Digital Realty is seeking a Subregional Real Estate Development Lead to oversee the end-to-end development of data center facilities, coordinating planning, entitlements, design, and construction. You will manage budgets, pro formas, and cash flows while aligning cross-functional teams to deliver on time and within budget.

The role requires strong financial acumen, excellent communication with executives, and the ability to identify and mitigate risks.