Director, Permitting & Risk

Come join our Rocket Ship and be part of Compass Datacenters’ mission to make life better by providing the world’s technology leaders with a secure place to plug in wherever they grow. We provide custom, move-in ready data centers, from edge deployments to core facilities serving hyperscale, cloud and enterprise customers. At Compass, we put Culture first because we believe it produces results and, more importantly, changes lives.

Compass is recruiting for a Director, Permitting & Risk to establish and lead the company’s first centralized permitting governance function and oversee placement of Builder’s Risk and Owner Controlled Insurance Program coverage for construction projects. This senior leader will create one source of truth for permits, approvals, proffers, conditions, deadlines, renewals, and compliance status across the portfolio. Working alongside subject matter experts, the Director will drive obligations from handoff through construction, commissioning, and operations while partnering with Development, Design & Construction, Data Center Operations, Energy and Utilities, Legal, Finance, regulators, brokers, carriers, and consultants.

Responsibilities:

• Design and launch Compass’s permitting governance program, including its charter, policies, standards, operating model, handoff process, and documentation requirements.
• Serve as the company’s thought leader on permitting and regulatory commitments, establish best practices, and champion adoption across business units.
• Build and maintain a centralized repository covering rezoning, proffers, construction permits, emissions and air permits, and utility requirements across all campuses.
• Inventory existing permits and commitments with current subject matter experts, close gaps, resolve conflicts, and establish a reliable compliance baseline.
• Track zoning conditions and proffer commitments through fulfillment and confirm related obligations are reflected in project budgets and schedules.
• Oversee compliance with ongoing permit conditions, including generator run-hour limits, emissions reporting, stormwater inspections, and utility service obligations.
• Take ownership of permitting requirements after handoff and drive obligations through construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Select and implement permit-tracking tools, alerts, dashboards, KPIs, and executive reporting.
• Monitor regulatory and local policy changes and assess portfolio impacts.
• Coordinate responses to agency inspections, notices of violation, and inquiries, and manage outside consultants as needed.
• Lead placement of Builder’s Risk coverage and negotiate terms so coverage is bound before mobilization.
• Align construction insurance with project schedules, contracts, and permit conditions; manage extensions and transition coverage at substantial completion.
• Partner with Design & Construction, Legal, and Finance on contractor insurance requirements, project insurance costs, and construction-related claims.

Skills and Experience:

• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local permitting frameworks, including the Clean Air Act, NPDES stormwater requirements, and building and fire codes.
• Solid understanding of construction insurance, including Builder’s Risk, OCIP or wrap-up programs, contractor insurance requirements, and claims.
• Working knowledge of land use, rezoning, proffers, utility service, and interconnection requirements.
• Ability to build programs and tracking systems from the ground up and manage deadlines across multiple sites and jurisdictions.
• Ability to influence subject matter experts and senior leaders without direct authority.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with permit-tracking, GRC, or RMIS platforms is preferred.
• Executive presence, intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, high integrity, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements:

• 10 or more years of experience in permitting, environmental compliance, regulatory affairs, or construction risk management, including at least three to five years in a leadership role.
• Experience in mission-critical, industrial, energy, or large-scale real estate and construction environments; data center experience is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience managing multi-jurisdiction permitting, land use, zoning, or regulatory compliance programs.
• Demonstrated success building a new function or centralized process and driving adoption across decentralized teams.
• Experience placing or managing Builder’s Risk and OCIP or CCIP programs for large construction projects is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Risk Management, Business, or a related field required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Fluent spoken and written English required; additional languages are beneficial.

Location:

Dallas, Texas

Employer will not sponsor applicants for new employment visa status.

Disclaimer:

Compass is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

At Compass, we make lives better by providing the world's technology leaders with a secure place to plug in wherever they grow. We are a Culture First organization where employees can do their best work and grow personally and professionally.

Learn about us at

Benefits:

• Medical | Dental | Vision | Voluntary | 401K | Unlimited PTO (USA)

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