Sustainability Lead (Data Centers)

At Jacobs, we’re not just building facilities-we’re shaping a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable future. We partner with clients to design, engineer, and deliver advanced, mission-critical infrastructure that supports global connectivity while minimizing environmental impact.

We’re seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Data Center Sustainability Lead to support large, hyperscale data center projects. In this role, you’ll provide leadership and oversight for sustainability strategies throughout design, construction, and commissioning, ensuring compliance with LEED certification requirements and client-driven environmental goals. You’ll collaborate closely with project management, design teams, construction leadership, subcontractors, and clients to integrate sustainable practices into every phase of the project lifecycle.

Most importantly, you’ll champion sustainability as a core project value-balancing performance, schedule, cost, and environmental responsibility-while helping our teams and clients meet aggressive carbon, energy, and water efficiency targets.

As a trusted subject-matter expert, you’ll guide decision-making, track performance metrics, and communicate progress toward sustainability objectives on a complex, fast-paced data center program.

Bring your passion for sustainability, your technical expertise, and your ability to influence cross-functional teams. We’ll support your continued professional growth as we work together to deliver facilities that perform today and protect tomorrow.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead sustainability strategy and implementation for a hyperscale data center project, aligning with client ESG goals and regulatory requirements

• Manage and coordinate LEED certification efforts (e.g., LEED BD+C), including documentation, credit tracking, audits, and submission processes

• Collaborate with design, engineering, construction, and commissioning teams to integrate sustainable systems and practices into project execution

• Support energy efficiency, water conservation, waste diversion, and materials sustainability initiatives tailored to data center environments

• Track and report sustainability metrics, including energy use, water use, embodied carbon, and construction waste performance

• Provide guidance on sustainable materials, low-emitting products, responsible sourcing, and construction best practices

• Coordinate with third-party consultants, commissioning agents, and certifying bodies as required

• Educate project teams and subcontractors on sustainability requirements, LEED credits, and compliance expectations

• Support continuous improvement and innovation in data center sustainability practices across the project

• Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline

• At least 7-10 years of experience in sustainability, environmental compliance, or green building implementation on large construction projects

• Demonstrated experience managing LEED certification on complex projects

• Strong understanding of:

• LEED rating systems and documentation processes

• Building energy and water efficiency strategies

• Construction waste management and materials sustainability

• ESG and carbon-reduction principles as applied to the built environment

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced project environment

• Excellent communication, organization, and stakeholder engagement skills

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• Experience supporting data center or mission-critical facility projects

• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) credential

• Familiarity with hyperscale data center sustainability challenges such as power density, cooling efficiency, water usage effectiveness (WUE), and utility coordination

• Experience with additional sustainability frameworks or tools (e.g., Envision, ISO 14001, carbon accounting platforms)