VP of Economic & Community Development

At Montera, we're building the future of digital infrastructure. Founder-led with $1.5B backed by Stonepeak, Montera is driven by a future-focused vision: to develop and operate hyperscale data centers essential for tomorrow's technology. Our mission is to deliver strategically located, hyperscale data centers designed for speed, reliability, and scalability. Backed by decades of experience in design, construction, and operations, we don't just build, we execute with purpose. Our Values Client First Alignment: We align every solution to our clients' goalsSpeed with Certainty: Velocity matters. We deliver with urgency and precisionOperational Excellence: Decades of experience drive our high standardsSafety & Integrity: Safety is non-negotiable. We lead with integrity and transparencyOwnership Mentality: We think like owners, because we are Position Overview: The Vice President, Economic & Community Development is responsible for building and leading Montera's economic development, community engagement, and government relations function as the company expands its hyperscale data center development platform across the United States. Reporting directly to the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer within the External Affairs department, this role will serve as Montera's primary representative for government relations across its development markets. The position will oversee state and local economic development agreements, community outreach, legislative and regulatory engagement, organized labor relationships, and the external partnerships necessary to support successful project development. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience navigating state and local government, negotiating complex economic development and incentive agreements, and building community engagement strategies for large-scale infrastructure projects. Success in this role means establishing trusted relationships with government officials, community stakeholders, economic development organizations, and industry partners while identifying and mitigating political, regulatory, and community risks throughout the development lifecycle. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys building functions, processes, and relationships from the ground up while representing a rapidly growing infrastructure developer in complex and highly visible development markets. Key Responsibilities and Deliverables: Government Relations & Public Affairs Lead Montera's government relations strategy across existing and prospective development markets, serving as the primary point of contact for state and local government affairsDevelop a comprehensive understanding of legislative priorities, regulatory environments, political dynamics, and government decision-making processes in each market Montera enters or evaluatesBuild and maintain relationships with elected officials, government agencies, county commissions, planning and zoning authorities, economic development organizations, and other public-sector stakeholdersMonitor legislative and regulatory developments that could impact site selection, project development, infrastructure investment, or long-term operationsDevelop strategies for engaging government stakeholders early in the development lifecycle to support project feasibility, regulatory alignment, and successful executionRepresent Montera at legislative forums, government meetings, public hearings, and other venues requiring senior-level company representation Economic Development Agreements & Incentive Negotiations Lead the evaluation, structuring, and negotiation of state and local economic development agreements supporting Montera's hyperscale data center developmentsConduct diligence on available economic development incentives, tax structures, and public-sector programs that may influence project economics or development feasibilityPartner with Site Selection, Development, Finance, and Legal teams to evaluate incentive opportunities, negotiate commercial terms, and establish appropriate contractual protectionsDevelop relationships with state and local economic development organizations to identify investment opportunities and support development negotiationsAssess the financial, regulatory, and operational implications of proposed incentive packages, tax arrangements, and government agreementsOversee ongoing compliance considerations and stakeholder commitments associated with economic development agreements Community Engagement & Stakeholder Relations Develop and lead Montera's community outreach and engagement strategy across its development markets, beginning with initial land positions and continuing through construction and long-term operationsBuild trusted relationships with local communities, civic organizations, business leaders, public officials, and other stakeholders impacted by large-scale infrastructure developmentEstablish communication and engagement programs that proactively address community priorities, project concerns, and potential development impactsRepresent Montera at community meetings, public hearings, industry events, and stakeholder forums, communicating project benefits, commitments, and development plansCollaborate with internal teams to ensure community considerations are integrated into site selection, entitlement, permitting, construction planning, and operational activitiesDevelop community engagement approaches that align with hyperscale customer expectations, including relevant community standards and commitments established by companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta Labor Relations & Workforce Development Build and maintain relationships with organized labor, local building trades councils, unions, workforce development organizations, and apprenticeship programsDevelop Montera's strategy for engaging organized labor and supporting workforce commitments across its development marketsPartner with Development, Delivery, Legal, and other internal stakeholders to evaluate project labor agreements and related workforce considerationsSupport negotiations and stakeholder engagement related to local-hire commitments, workforce development initiatives, and construction labor requirementsIdentify opportunities to strengthen community relationships through workforce investment, local employment, and apprenticeship partnershipsEnsure labor and workforce strategies support entitlement objectives, community goodwill, construction readiness, and long-term project success Development Pipeline Risk & Market Intelligence Provide early identification and assessment of political, regulatory, community, and stakeholder risks that could affect development opportunitiesDevelop local market intelligence networks capable of identifying emerging issues and opportunities beyond publicly available informationPartner with Site Selection and Development teams to evaluate the government relations and community implications of prospective sites and target marketsAssess local attitudes toward data center development, infrastructure investment, land use, utilities, taxation, and construction activitiesDeliver actionable market intelligence and recommendations to executive leadership to support site prioritization, investment decisions, and development risk mitigationMaintain visibility into government and community commitments that could affect development schedules, project costs, or long-term operating requirements External Partner Management & Function Development Build and scale Montera's economic and community development function, establishing the processes, tools, and external partnerships necessary to support a growing national development portfolioSelect, manage, and hold accountable external lobbyists, government affairs consultants, community engagement advisors, and other specialized partners across development marketsEstablish consistent stakeholder mapping, relationship management, reporting standards, and operating rhythms across the functionDevelop repeatable government relations and community engagement playbooks that can be adapted to different markets, jurisdictions, and project requirementsProvide executive leadership with visibility into government relations activities, economic development negotiations, community engagement efforts, and emerging development risksCollaborate with Development, Delivery, Legal, Finance, Commercial, and executive leadership to align external affairs strategies with broader organizational prioritiesFoster a proactive, relationship-driven approach to economic development and community engagement that supports Montera's long-term growth and reputation Requirements Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Public Administration, Political Science, Urban Planning, or a related discipline10+ years of experience in economic development, government relations, public affairs, site-selection advisory, or a related functionExtensive experience negotiating large-scale economic development agreements, incentive packages, and related government agreementsStrong working knowledge of state and local tax considerations, incentive structures, and the legal agreements associated with economic development projectsDemonstrated understanding of state and local government operations, including economic development organizations, county commissions, planning and zoning authorities, utility regulators, and state legislaturesExperience developing and executing community engagement strategies for large-scale industrial, energy, infrastructure, or comparable development projectsExperience managing external lobbyists, consultants, and government affairs partners across multiple jurisdictions or development marketsDemonstrated experience engaging organized labor, building trades, or workforce development stakeholders in a construction or infrastructure environmentFamiliarity with project labor agreements, local-hire commitments, workforce development programs, and apprenticeship initiativesStrong executive presence, stakeholder management capabilities, and the ability to represent an organization effectively in public hearings, legislative forums, and community settingsExcellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting complex issues to public officials, executive leadership, and diverse stakeholder groupsExperience building processes, managing competing priorities, and operating independently in a fast-paced or evolving organizational environmentWillingness and ability to travel regularly throughout the United States to support government relations, economic development negotiations, and community engagement activities Preferred Skills: Direct experience supporting hyperscale data center development, particularly economic development agreements, government relations, or community engagementProfessional background beginning in local or state economic development, followed by experience in a corporate or private-sector development environmentExperience negotiating incentive agreements for large-scale industrial, energy, digital infrastructure, or other capital-intensive development projectsEstablished relationships with economic development organizations, government officials, industry associations, and community stakeholders in major U.S. development marketsFamiliarity with hyperscale customer community engagement expectations, including programs such as Microsoft's Good Neighbor commitmentsExperience developing community benefit initiatives, local workforce partnerships, or other stakeholder commitments supporting infrastructure developmentCertified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) or a comparable professional credentialExperience establishing government affairs, economic development, or community engagement functions within a growing organizationAbility to identify political, regulatory, and community risks early and translate market intelligence into actionable development recommendationsA hands-on, relationship-driven leadership style and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments while maintaining strong commercial judgment Work Environment & Physical Demands: Remote Work: Montera operates as a remote-first company. Employees are expected to maintain a professional, reliable remote work setup and appropriate availability during working hoursTravel Requirements: Regular domestic travel is required to support government relations, economic development negotiations, community engagement, public meetings, and company activities across Montera's development marketsPhysical Demands: This role primarily involves standard office and computer-based work, participation in virtual and in-person meetings, public presentations, and periodic visits to active development and construction sitesMontera will provide reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the role, consistent with applicable law Benefits Why Join Montera? At Montera, you'll shape the next generation of digital infrastructure while being supported by a team that values integrity, collaboration, and long-term partnership. We're a remote-first company that empowers our people with flexibility, ownership, and meaningful rewards. This position offers the opportunity to establish and lead a dedicated economic and community development function within a rapidly growing hyperscale data center platform. Rather than joining an established government affairs organization with narrowly defined responsibilities, you'll work directly with the Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer to build Montera's strategy, relationships, and operating framework across existing and emerging development markets. You'll have direct influence over how Montera engages state and local governments, negotiates economic development agreements, establishes community partnerships, and creates lasting economic value in the communities where it operates. Compensation: At Montera, we believe great work starts with investing in great people. That is why we offer a competitive and thoughtful total compensation package designed to recognize the value each team member brings. Our compensation ranges are informed by market data and aligned to job level and role. When making hiring and compensation decisions, we consider a variety of factors, including skills, experience, education, training, competencies, and overall business needs. The reasonable base salary range for this role is $250,000-$275,000 annually, plus an annual performance-based bonus. Our Benefits at a Glance: Comprehensive Health Coverage: We pay 90% of health premiums for employees and their dependentsGenerous Time Off: Up to 8 weeks of paid time off per year, which includes holidays, PTO, and sick timeParental Leave: Up to 8 weeks of paid time off after 6 months of employmentFinancial Security: 401(k) plan with immediate eligibility, no vesting requirement, and employer match contributions up to 6%Learning & Development Reimbursement: Up to $3,500 reimbursed annually for approved courses, certifications, conferences, and professional development opportunitiesExtra Support: Remote work stipend to help you stay connected At Montera, you'll have the autonomy to do great work and the benefits to thrive personally and professionally.