Director of Data Center Development

Director, Data Center Strategy & Development

Houston, TX (Hybrid)

What You’ll Do:

Relate Search has partnered with a leading global energy infrastructure organization in its search for a Director, Data Center Strategy & Development. This newly created executive role will lead the company’s expansion into digital infrastructure by identifying, evaluating, and advancing powered land and hyperscale data center opportunities across North America.

This executive will build and execute the organization’s data center development strategy, leveraging an established renewable energy platform to create differentiated opportunities for hyperscalers, cloud providers, colocation operators, and infrastructure investors. Working cross-functionally with commercial, engineering, business development, and project execution teams, this leader will establish scalable development processes while shaping one of the company’s highest growth initiatives.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially driven executive to build a new platform at the intersection of energy infrastructure and digital transformation., * Develop and execute the company’s data center development strategy by identifying powered land opportunities, evaluating market potential, and advancing projects from initial site selection through commercial readiness.

• Lead complex development activities including site diligence, utility coordination, interconnection strategy, fiber routing, permitting, environmental studies, infrastructure planning, and customer engagement.
• Build strategic relationships with hyperscalers, cloud providers, colocation operators, utilities, developers, investors, and government stakeholders while structuring commercial agreements that maximize long-term value.
• Partner closely with Business Development, Engineering, Commercial, and Project Development teams to integrate digital infrastructure opportunities into the broader energy development platform.
• Establish scalable development processes, project prioritization frameworks, and market intelligence capabilities that support long-term growth across the organization’s digital infrastructure portfolio.

• 10+ years of leadership experience in a combination of data center development, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, commercial real estate, or other large-scale infrastructure development environments.
• Proven success advancing powered land or hyperscale data center projects from site identification through customer engagement, commercial structuring, and construction readiness.
• Deep expertise in site selection, utility coordination, interconnection strategy, fiber infrastructure, permitting, environmental considerations, and hyperscaler requirements.
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated experience negotiating complex development transactions and building executive-level relationships across public and private stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Business, Engineering, Real Estate, or a related discipline preferred. Ability to travel approximately 30-40%.

• Opportunity to build and lead a newly established data center development platform for a globally recognized infrastructure organization.
• Executive-level visibility with direct influence on long-term growth strategy.
• Hybrid work environment based in Houston.
• Competitive executive compensation package including base salary, annual incentive, long-term incentives, and comprehensive benefits.
• Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture with significant opportunity for professional growth and international exposure.

About Relate Search:

Relate Search is a Woman, Minority, and LGBTQIA+ owned executive and professional search firm dedicated to connecting top talent with meaningful opportunity. With deep expertise across Supply Chain & Operations, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Accounting & Finance, we deliver customized, people-first recruiting solutions that drive lasting impact.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement