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Applied Digital · 20 hours ago

Director of Community Affairs (Southeast)

DFW Metroplex

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

Applied Digital is at the forefront of AI innovation, specializing in advanced data center solutions. They are seeking a Director of Local & Regional Affairs to engage with local governments in the Southeast, secure entitlements, and represent the company in various public forums.

Information Technology & Services

No H1B

Hiring Manager

Karl Becker

Responsibilities

Serve as Applied Digital’s primary senior representative at township, city, and county meetings across the Midwest region

Present on behalf of the company during zoning hearings, permitting reviews, variance requests, infrastructure negotiations, and tax or incentive discussions

Build and maintain trusted relationships with elected officials, municipal attorneys, planning staff, county administrators, and community leaders

Monitor public meeting agendas and upcoming issues to ensure proactive preparation and alignment

Partner closely with the Director of Community Operations to maintain alignment across messaging, engagement strategy, and stakeholder management

Work collaboratively with Community Engagement Coordinators to leverage established local relationships while stepping into engagements requiring senior-level representation

Ensure clear, consistent information flow between local stakeholders and Applied Digital’s internal teams

Serve as the central liaison between construction, legal, and local jurisdictions throughout zoning, permitting, and land-use processes

Translate complex engineering and site-development concepts into clear, accessible explanations for public officials and community stakeholders

Provide balanced guidance to ensure legal positions remain firm yet collaborative and construction presentations avoid unnecessary technical complexity

Anticipate potential zoning or land-use challenges and recommend approaches that mitigate risk, maintain goodwill, and support timely approvals

Collaborate with internal legal counsel to review, refine, and negotiate development agreements, road-use agreements, PILOT structures, easements, right-of-way, and infrastructure-related documents

Review municipal drafts and provide structured redline feedback to support Applied Digital’s legal and business objectives

Identify policy risks or barriers and advise leadership on when escalation to state or federal engagement may be appropriate

Track legislative and regulatory developments impacting Data Centers, energy infrastructure, and rural economic development

Participate in discussions with local governments regarding roads, utilities, stormwater, and other infrastructure elements tied to project development

Coordinate with engineering, construction, operations, real estate, and legal teams to ensure unified messaging and execution

Support outcomes that align community needs with project timelines, technical requirements, and long-term operational goals

Advise the EVP of External Affairs on political dynamics, community sentiment, reputational considerations, and engagement opportunities

Support stakeholder mapping, relationship planning, and long-term community engagement strategies

Represent Applied Digital at targeted community events, informational sessions, and advisory committees as needed

Qualification

Juris Doctor (JD)Municipal government processesZoningLand-use frameworksPublic speakingLegal document reviewInterpersonal skillsCommunication skillsStrategic thinkingDetail-orientedCross-functional collaboration

Required

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

Strong understanding of municipal and county government processes, including zoning and land-use frameworks

Demonstrated experience presenting to or advocating before public bodies

Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and public-speaking skills

Ability to review and redline legal documents with clarity and precision

High integrity, sound judgment, and professional discretion

Willingness to travel frequently throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, and surrounding states

Preferred

Experience in engineering, construction, energy, infrastructure, or real estate development environments

Prior experience working with or within township, city, county, or state government

Familiarity with rural economic development initiatives and infrastructure negotiations

Exposure to Data Centers, energy systems, or large-scale industrial development projects

Company

Applied Digital

Applied Digital (Nasdaq: APLD) — named Best Data Center in the Americas 2025 by Datacloud — designs, builds, and operates high-performance, sustainably engineered data centers and colocation services for artificial intelligence, cloud, networking, and blockchain workloads.

Founded in 2021