Leap29 · 2 days ago
Director / Senior Manager - Real Estate Development (Data Center Platforms) - NY
New York, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
8+ years expLeap29 is a large-scale digital infrastructure platform seeking a Director of Real Estate Development to lead the end-to-end delivery of large, mission-critical data center sites. This role requires deep experience in navigating complex entitlements, permitting, and land control for massive development sites, overseeing everything from site control to construction readiness.
Human ResourcesEmploymentRecruitingStaffing Agency
Hiring Manager
Simon Howard
Responsibilities
Lead full real estate entitlement processes for large-scale data center developments, including zoning, land use approvals, environmental reviews, and municipal permitting
Manage complex permitting strategies across local, county, and state jurisdictions in New York and surrounding markets
Oversee site control and land strategy , including acquisitions, options, long-term ground leases, and development agreements
Negotiate and manage rights-of-way, easements, and access agreements , including utility, transmission, and fiber corridors
Coordinate grid power strategy in partnership with utilities, transmission providers, and internal power teams to secure scalable, long-term electrical capacity
Serve as the real estate lead for hyperscale and multi-building campus developments , often spanning hundreds of acres
Manage external advisors including land use counsel, civil engineers, environmental consultants, surveyors, and permitting specialists
Interface with municipalities, planning boards, economic development authorities, and community stakeholders
Drive project schedules, manage entitlement risk, and anticipate regulatory or political challenges before they impact delivery
Support investment underwriting by providing real estate, entitlement, and development risk assessments
Qualification
Required
8+ years of experience in real estate development, infrastructure development, or large-scale industrial / mission-critical projects
Proven track record of fully entitling complex, large-footprint developments with significant power and infrastructure requirements
Deep understanding of land use, zoning, environmental permitting, and easement structures
Strong experience coordinating with electric utilities and grid operators on high-load power requirements
Highly commercial mindset with the ability to balance speed, risk, and long-term asset value
Comfortable operating with autonomy on high-visibility, high-value sites
Preferred
Background in data centers, industrial, logistics, energy, or infrastructure is strongly preferred, though not required
Candidates with experience at institutional real estate investment platforms or real estate private equity environments are highly encouraged to apply
Benefits
Competitive compensation
Long-term growth potential
Company
Leap29
Leap29 is a recruitment agency that provides PEO, reliable recruitment and employment management support.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageCompany data provided by crunchbase