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Worldwide Mission Critical · 1 day ago

Director of Data Center Development

Herndon, VA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

8+ years exp

Worldwide Mission Critical is a global owner’s representation and project management company specializing in the mission critical sector. The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing projects through the entire development lifecycle, requiring strategic leadership and strong technical expertise to drive successful project outcomes and deliver financial and operational excellence.

ConstructionData CenterProject Management

Responsibilities

Lead the full development lifecycle including site identification, assessment, interconnection, permitting, and project execution

Manage and coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment among internal teams, external consultants, and client stakeholders

Oversee development program milestones to ensure timely project advancement from inception through operational delivery

Support due diligence efforts, including project review, risk analysis, and acquisition or co-development opportunity assessments

Develop and execute market-specific development strategies, driving site origination and project pipeline growth

Foster a high-performance team culture focused on collaboration, integrity, and continuous professional development

Mentor and support team members, embedding a culture of transparency, accountability, and innovation

Build and manage project budgets, financial models, and development schedules to optimize project economics

Conduct scenario planning and risk mitigation analysis related to technical, regulatory, and financial project factors

Collaborate with finance, legal, engineering, and external partners to structure viable and profitable project opportunities

Represent the firm with clients, utilities, local agencies, and third parties to advance project objectives

Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and recommendations for internal leadership and external stakeholders

Continuously monitor market trends and industry developments to drive strategic growth and maintain industry leadership

Qualification

Data center developmentFinancial modelingProject managementEnvironmental permittingRegulatory frameworksLeadership skillsMS Office proficiencyCommunication skillsOrganizational skillsTeam collaboration

Required

Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, real estate development, or a related field preferred

Minimum of 8 years of experience managing large-scale real estate or infrastructure projects, including at least 2 years in mission-critical or data center development

Demonstrated expertise in pursuing site-specific entitlements, zoning modifications, development agreements, and land use approvals

Proven experience coordinating critical infrastructure approvals, including utility interconnection, substation development, offsite roadway and utility extensions, and major utility relocations

Strong understanding of environmental permitting processes, including wetlands mitigation, endangered species clearance, floodplain management, stormwater management approvals, and air/water discharge permits

Familiarity with energy and utility regulatory frameworks, including interconnection agreements and load studies

Deep understanding of data center-specific design and construction considerations, including MEP systems, critical infrastructure planning, and site resiliency factors

Proficiency with real estate development financial modeling, including sensitivity analyses related to infrastructure costs and incentive structuring

Strong command of local, state, and federal regulatory frameworks impacting data center development

Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to drive cross-functional teams, manage consultants, and align external stakeholders toward project success

Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce polished executive-level presentations, reports, and client deliverables

Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of managing multiple high-value development projects under aggressive timelines

Proficiency with MS Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook; familiarity with project management platforms such as Procore or Smartsheet is a plus

Ability to travel approximately once per month to client or project sites