Director, Data Center Development

Director, Data Center Development

Houston

Role Overview

Nscale is seeking a Director, Data Center Development to lead end-to-end development of new AI data center sites across the Americas — from origination and site control through entitlement, design coordination, and partnership with construction for ultimate delivery. Reporting to the SVP, Site Selection, you will own a portfolio of development projects and lead a team of internal reports and external consultants delivering Nscale's speed to market.

You will be accountable for advancing sites through the full development lifecycle — securing land and power (in partnership with Nscale's power team), managing due diligence, permitting, and entitlements, and coordinating design, energy, and preconstruction workstreams to bring shovel-ready, powered sites to Final Investment Decision (FID).

Development Leadership & Execution

• Lead a development team responsible for advancing a portfolio of AI data center sites from origination through diligence and FID
• Own project development strategy, budgets, and schedules across the portfolio, driving speed-to-power and speed-to-market
• Manage the full development lifecycle — site control, due diligence, entitlements, permitting, utility coordination, and design management
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams across Energy and Power, Design, Preconstruction, and Sales to keep projects on schedule and on budget

Site Control, Due Diligence & Entitlements

• Direct site due diligence — title, survey, geotechnical, environmental, zoning, and utility studies — and lead risk identification and mitigation
• Lead land acquisition and site-control efforts (purchase, option, ground lease) in partnership with Legal and external resources
• Manage entitlement and permitting strategy and schedule, engaging jurisdictions, land-use counsel, and consultants to de-risk the path to FID
• Partner with Energy and Power teams on utility interconnection and self-generation power procurement to validate deliverability

Project Delivery & Financial Oversight

• Develop and manage integrated development budgets and total development cost, partnering with Preconstruction and Finance on capital planning and FID packages
• Track project milestones, costs, and risks, and report status to executive leadership
• Manage external consultants, engineers, and design partners through the development phase
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of development processes, playbooks, and reporting

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the development team in executive reviews, investment committees, and partner and jurisdiction meetings
• Build and maintain relationships with landowners, developers, brokers, utilities, and local authorities
• Hire, mentor, and develop junior team members building a high-performance team culture as the group scales

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 8+ years of related experience in data center, real estate, or infrastructure development, with a track record advancing complex projects from site selection to construction
• Data center or mission-critical facility development experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated expertise across the development lifecycle — site control, due diligence, entitlements and permitting, and design coordination
• Experience managing development budgets, schedules, and total development cost, and preparing FID / capital approval packages
• Working knowledge of power and utility interconnection and its role in data center deliverability
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office tools
• Willingness to travel up to 25% based on business needs

About Nscale

Nscale is taking on the hyperscalers by building a vertically integrated GenAI cloud platform. We own the data centers, software, and applications that power today's AI stack using sustainable technology solutions. We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you'll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Collaboration is key, and we work together swiftly and respectfully, embracing adaptability and resilience in all we do.

Our Values

• Relentless Innovation — At Nscale, we constantly push the boundaries of innovation, embracing creative risks to shape the future. Our aim is to deliver products that not only meet but exceed today's expectations, setting new standards for tomorrow.
• Ownership and Accountability — Every Nscaler is fully accountable for their work, driving it with excellence and urgency. We set high standards, ensuring that our contributions are not just good but exceptional.
• Openness and Transparency — We believe trust and transparency are key to our success. We maintain open communication within our teams and with stakeholders, sharing both successes and challenges.
• Customer-Centric Focus — Our customers are central to our mission. We focus on deeply understanding their needs and challenges, striving to exceed expectations in both product quality and service.
• Sustainability — We integrate sustainability into our operations and product development, ensuring that our innovations are both effective and responsible.
• Full-Speed Collaboration — Collaboration at Nscale is fast, efficient, and respectful. We work together seamlessly, with clear communication and mutual respect.

Equal Opportunities

At Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.

Salary Range

$170,000 - $290,000 USD