Senior Director, External Affairs

About the role

Tract is a team of digital infrastructure experts dedicated to accelerating responsible data center growth by developing master-planned data center parks with access to pre-positioned power and fiber in key markets where hyperscale and AI demand is going. Our approach is collaborative with governments, utilities, cities, and regions to ensure development is targeted for optimal locations to maximize economic development benefits for the community while being good stewards of the land and minimizing impact on neighbors.

We are looking for an experienced, organized, detail-oriented, and relationship-driven Senior Director of External Affairs to join our growing team to drive federal, state, and regional/local governmental and energy external affairs and community outreach throughout the United States. This role will develop, prioritize, track, and communicate Tract’s external affairs priorities at the national, state, and local level, collaborating with a matrixed set of external and internal stakeholders to support and implement political engagement strategies.

The Senior Director will develop strategies to manage political opportunities presented by changing regulations and public perception of data centers, supporting efforts to build positive relationships with national, state, and non-governmental advocacy organizations. This role is execution-oriented, partnering with the Vice President of Business Development and External Affairs to manage policy matters with disciplined tracking, reporting, and follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand Tract’s interests and craft consistent narratives to gain political support for successful outcomes.
• Prepare briefing and presentation materials for engagements with policymakers, regulators, and clients; write comment letters and contribute to thought leadership on relevant policy topics.
• Monitor legislation and federal/regulatory developments, manage outside lobbyist updates, prepare weekly reports, draft bill summaries, and escalate risks to senior leadership.
• Develop, prioritize, track, and communicate Tract’s state-level priorities, implementing response strategies across jurisdictions in coordination with the Vice President.
• Represent Tract’s views and interests with trade associations, consultants, and clients.
• Manage outside lobbyist and consultant workstreams, including agendas, action items, follow-up, deliverables, and weekly reporting.
• Support site RFI processes to gather available sites that meet defined parameters.
• Monitor federal developments involving Congress, DOE, FERC, NERC, federal permitting, large-load interconnection, energy reliability, tax policy, and AI/data center infrastructure policy.
• Identify and monitor key U.S. public policy issues and data center development trends, shaping Tract’s position on these opportunities.
• Provide technical recommendations on legislative and regulatory proposals, collaborating with senior leadership, legal, and other teams.
• Coordinate lobbying activity on incentives, regulation, energy, land use, and related policy matters.
• Build and maintain networks of contacts with national and state-level policymakers.
• Provide expert-level information on priority issues to key stakeholders across the business.
• Represent Tract positively within the community, coordinating with local project teams to manage relationships with neighbors and community groups.
• May take primary responsibility for a subset of markets (e.g., three to five Western states in the continental U.S.) as prioritized by leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Communications, Public Relations, Speech, Journalism, or a related field. JD highly preferred.
• Five to eight years’ experience in external affairs, public policy, government relations, legislative affairs, energy policy, infrastructure, economic development, or closely related fields.
• Experience managing projects, consultants, coalitions, or legislative processes preferred.
• Previous demonstrated success supporting major infrastructure development projects throughout the United States preferred.

Skills

• Strong political acumen with a thorough understanding of national, state, and local-level public policy.
• Excellent written communication skills, including internal reports and external engagements.
• Ability to produce concise, accurate, decision-ready written work under time pressure (e.g., bill summaries, state updates, risk assessments, briefing memos, talking points).
• Precision, follow-through, legislative tracking, deadline management, and synthesis in a high-paced environment.
• Exceptional verbal communication skills for internal presentations, external speaking engagements, and governmental interactions.
• Ability to problem-solve using federal, state, and local relationships, corporate resources, and executive support to advance Tract’s message and projects.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries while driving Tract’s message.
• Strong analytical skills to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of legislative and regulatory documents.
• Responsible, ethical, and collaborative mindset with a can-do attitude and pride in work product.
• Strong work ethic with the ability to manage time and energy independently toward well-understood outcomes.
• Curiosity and ability to network in structured and unstructured environments to identify, understand, and communicate opportunities and challenges.
• Eagerness to be part of building something unique and valuable with a diverse, high-performing team.

Location & Schedule

This position is based in the Denver, CO or Alexandria, VA office, or may be remote. Occasional travel to Tract headquarters or markets is required.

Pay

Expected salary range: $175,000 - $225,000 base salary plus discretionary bonus.

Benefits

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401K program.
• Standard paid holidays.
• Unlimited PTO.