Utility Development Program Manager

qtsdatacenters; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

QTS Data Centers is seeking an experienced Utility Development Program Manager to plan and execute utility infrastructure across multiple campuses in North America. You will lead power delivery, interconnection, and permitting efforts, coordinating with utilities, regulators, and project teams.

You will manage budgets and schedules, oversee substation and transmission line design, and drive standardization while ensuring on-time energization of campuses. Travel up to 50% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• 7+ years of utility infrastructure construction management experience.
• Experience leading complex utility projects and coordination with utilities/ISOs.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement power delivery strategy for development sites.
• Lead diligence on utility capacity feasibility and interconnection.
• Manage substation and transmission line design/construction vendors and costs.
• Coordinate permitting, ROW acquisition, and interconnection activities with utilities and regulators.
• Report on schedules, milestones, and budgets for power delivery timelines.
• Support gas utility coordination and campus power delivery alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Budgeting

Scheduling

Risk Management

Stakeholder Management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, construction, or equivalent experience

Tools

Substations

Transmission Lines

Construction Management

Budgeting

Scheduling

Transmission design

ROW & Permitting

High-voltage systems

Job description

Who we are:

As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.

The Utility Development Program Manager will support the overall planning and execution of QTS utility infrastructure. This role will support the delivery of utility capacity at multiple campuses across the North American region for data center substation, transmission line (TL), and utility build projects. This role will interface and collaborate with many critical stakeholders, including but not limited to energy leaders responsible for utility contracts and negotiations; utility engagement developing relationships with utilities and transmission providers; pre-development leads evaluating new properties; operations leaders managing load growth projections; and development team project leaders planning and building new data centers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - Other duties may be assigned.

• Create and implement a strategy to ensure timely delivery of power delivery to development sites as needed to support existing and future leases
• Serve on the diligence team to advise and evaluate utility capacity feasibility of potential new sites, including transmission line routing, interconnection, and deliverability constraints
• Management of partners and consultants related to electrical substation and transmission line design and construction
• Lead in standardization of utility substation design, including distribution feeds to multiple buildings
• Coordinate transmission line development activities, including route selection, right-of-way (ROW) acquisition support, permitting, and easement strategy in partnership with utilities and third-party engineers
• Support transmission interconnection processes, including coordination with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, and regulatory bodies to secure timely energization
• Manage budgets and cost forecasting of utility projects, including construction and equipment for both substation and transmission line scopes
• Develop transformer, transmission structure, and equipment specifications
• Procure substation long lead equipment, transmission line materials (conductor, structures, insulators), and transformers
• Procure and manage the construction of multiple substation and transmission line sites simultaneously
• Track and report on the status and schedule of power delivery timelines, including transmission line milestones and interconnection dependencies
• Support natural gas utility development activities, including coordination with gas providers, pipeline routing, service agreements, permitting, easements, and schedule alignment with campus power delivery needs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, construction, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of medium/high-voltage substation, transmission line, or utility infrastructure construction management experience
• Demonstrated experience leading complex utility or infrastructure projects
• Working knowledge of transmission line design, construction, interconnection, and natural gas utility processes
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint for executive reporting and Excel for budgets and tracking
• Ability to travel up to 50%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of electrical substation, transmission line, or utility infrastructure construction experience
• Strong industry knowledge of utility partners, transformer manufacturers, transmission contractors, and material suppliers
• Technical expertise in high- and medium-voltage electrical design or construction, including overhead and underground transmission systems
• Experience with transmission permitting, ROW acquisition, regulatory/ISO interconnection, and natural gas utility coordination
• Experience managing large portfolios of utility or infrastructure work

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing situations at a high growth company
• Ability to build strong internal and external working relationships with utilities, transmission providers, and regulatory agencies
• Ability to coordinate across electric and gas utilities to align infrastructure delivery, permitting, easement, and service requirements
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and deliver high quality work in tight timeframes

SKILLS:

• Substations
• Transmission Lines
• Construction Management
• Budgeting
• Scheduling
• Risk Management
• Transmission (Overhead & Underground)
• Transmission Interconnection / ROW & Permitting
• High-voltage electricity
• Utilities
• Natural Gas Utilities

TOTAL REWARDS

This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life, and d