Vice President, Data Center Development

About the role

Apex Clean Energy is seeking a senior development executive to establish and lead a new Data Center Development division. This role is responsible for originating, developing, and advancing large-scale data center projects across the United States, leveraging Apex’s existing strengths in real estate, development and permitting, transmission and interconnection, engineering, construction, and energy infrastructure.

Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and lead Apex’s data center development business, including strategy, market focus, and organizational design.
• Originate large-scale data center development opportunities through site identification, land control, and early feasibility diligence.
• Lead site selection activities, including evaluation of power availability, transmission access, fiber connectivity, water resources, zoning, and community considerations.
• Carefully coordinate with Apex’s real estate, permitting, transmission & interconnection, engineering, construction, legal, and finance teams to advance projects efficiently.
• Oversee permitting and entitlement strategies with local, state, and regional authorities having jurisdiction.
• Develop and manage relationships with utilities, transmission providers, municipalities, economic development authorities, and key infrastructure partners.
• Drive project schedules, budgets, and risk management from early development through notice-to-proceed for construction or sale.
• Recruit, build, and mentor a high-performing data center development team.
• Develop internal playbooks, standards, and processes specific to data center development, while aligning with Apex’s existing development framework.
• Support commercial strategy and negotiations with hyperscale, enterprise, or colocation customers as applicable.
• Prepare and present investment materials, development updates, and board-level communications.
• Represent Apex externally at industry events, conferences, and stakeholder meetings to enhance market visibility and thought leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, real estate, business, planning, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience, with significant experience in large-scale data center, infrastructure, or mission-critical facilities development.
• Demonstrated success leading data center projects through site control, entitlements, utility coordination, and pre-construction phases.
• Strong understanding of power infrastructure, including utility interconnection processes, transmission constraints, and load-driven development challenges.
• Experience working with local governments, utilities, and regulatory bodies across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to build and lead multidisciplinary teams within a fast-paced development environment.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills, with experience managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesize and convey complex technical and commercial issues.
• Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented problem solver who views obstacles as development challenges to be addressed creatively.
• Professional presence with strong personal integrity and ethical standards.
• Willingness to travel as required (approximately 15–35%).
• Ability to work from Apex headquarters in Charlottesville, VA, or another approved Apex office location.