Data Center Development Director U.S.

About ContourGlobal

ContourGlobal is a KKR-backed next-generation Independent Power Producer (IPP) operating across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Africa. The company manages a diversified portfolio of nearly 6 GW of renewable generation, flexible thermal power and battery energy storage assets, providing reliable, dispatchable power solutions that support the transition to a more electrified and sustainable future. ContourGlobal is transforming into a predominantly renewable power platform through the decarbonization of its thermal fleet and the development of large-scale renewable energy and battery storage projects. Leveraging its in-house development, engineering and operational capabilities, the company currently has more than 2 GW of renewable and BESS projects under construction and approximately 15 GW in development. Building on its advanced commercial and energy management capabilities, ContourGlobal partners with utilities, industrial customers and digital infrastructure operators to deliver tailored power solutions through long-term contracts, corporate PPAs and powered-land solutions that shorten time-to-market for data center developments.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven senior data center development executive with a demonstrated track record originating, conducting diligence on, commercializing, and advancing powered land or data center campuses from site concept through customer engagement, utility coordination, and construction readiness. The successful candidate will lead the identification, evaluation, and advancement of data center opportunities across European markets, leveraging the company’s existing renewable energy and power generation platform. The Data Center Development Director will play a critical role in integrating digital infrastructure development capabilities into the broader organization and supporting engagement with hyperscalers, cloud providers, developers, utilities, and other strategic stakeholders. The role requires deep knowledge of data center site selection, power procurement, utility interconnection, fiber, water, permitting, and hyperscaler / co-location customer requirements. The role should be able to leverage the company’s existing renewable generation, BESS, interconnection, and power development capabilities to create differentiated data center opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Site Identification & Market Strategy
  • Evaluate the company’s development pipeline and existing renewable and power generation portfolio to identify the most attractive sites for data center deployment.
  • Define and take ownership of location theses across European markets, integrating analysis of regulatory frameworks, energy infrastructure, connectivity, and hyperscaler demand.
  • Act as the internal centre of excellence for powered land and data center development, transferring know-how to Business Development, Engineering, and Commercial functions.
  • Disseminate organizational know-how on powered land and data center development to all growth functions of the company (Business Development, Engineering, Commercial Office).
• Project Development & Execution
  • Lead the screening and advancement of powered land opportunities, including power topology, substation proximity, utility service availability, interconnection path, load-serving strategy, fiber routes, access, water, environmental constraints, zoning, and local incentives.
  • Advance data center opportunities from initial site strategy through feasibility, site control, utility engagement, customer diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness, prioritizing projects based on speed-to-power, customer demand, interconnection optionality, and monetization structure.
  • Define a disciplined project prioritization framework based on speed-to-power, customer demand, interconnection optionality, and monetization potential.
  • Manage external technical workstreams including fiber delivery, gas pipeline access, environmental studies, civil readiness, and utility coordination.
  • Act as ContourGlobal's lead for studies and external workstreams tied to load applications, fiber delivery, gas pipeline access, water usage, civil readiness, and utility interfaces, water supply, wastewater, gas pipeline access, environmental constraints, and support development activities regarding permitting and constructability.
• Internal Collaboration & Platform Integration
  • Partner with project development, interconnection, and commercial teams to embed data center workflows into the company's existing and proposed generation asset base.
  • Provide expert input into the structuring of power supply solutions, including behind-the-meter, grid-backed, renewable-plus-storage, and gas-based firm power configurations.
  • Collaborate with land teams, transmission specialists, and commercial leadership to ensure data center priorities are reflected across the company's broader growth agenda.
• Commercial Engagement & Market Representation
  • Work alongside the Commercial Office to originate and develop relationships with Hyperscalers, Data Center Developers and Operators, Cloud platform operators, and large-scale digital infrastructure tenants, co-location providers, build-to-suit, data center developers, and infrastructure investors.
  • Lead the structuring of commercial arrangements including land leases, joint venture structures, develop-and-sell transactions, and own-and-operate models.
  • Represent the company as a senior market-facing authority in negotiations with tenants, developers, utilities, and strategic counterparties across Europe.

Qualifications

• Experience
  • 15+ years of experience in datacenter, real estate, renewable energy, or related infrastructure project development.
  • At least 5 years focused on data centers, powered land, digital infrastructure real estate, hyperscaler campus expansion, or large-load industrial development.
• Skills
  • Proven track record developing data center assets or powered land projects from site control through utility engagement, customer diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness.
  • Deep expertise across site due diligence, land strategy, utility coordination, fiber routing, and tenant/operator engagement.
  • Experience and understanding of hyperscaler and colocation customer requirements and commercial structures across a wide range of aspects including power availability, utility service, substations, fiber, water, wastewater, civil infrastructure, zoning, permitting, tax incentives, and community acceptance.
  • Demonstrated experience working directly with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, transmission providers, fiber providers, civil engineers, landowners, local governments, and data center customers.
  • Highly polished and commercially credible when engaging sophisticated counterparties at senior level.
  • Proven ability to operate across multiple TSO and utility regulatory environments in Europe.
  • Experience integrating data center development with power-rich sites, renewable assets, or firm generation solutions is strongly preferred.
• Travel
  • Ability to travel 30%-40%.