Joe Amara Executive Search is confidentially representing a rapidly scaling power infrastructure platform with a multi-gigawatt renewable generation pipeline and a mandate to integrate large-scale data center development across its existing portfolio. The Director, Data Center Development will lead the strategy, siting, commercial development, and external stakeholder coordination required to transform power-rich sites into hyperscaler-ready digital infrastructure opportunities.
This is a rare opportunity to sit at the convergence of power generation, land strategy, and digital infrastructure commercialization, helping shape how data centers are deployed alongside renewable energy, storage, firm power, and behind-the-meter generation solutions.
The ideal candidate is a project developer with data centers in the ground operating, a proven track record of moving a site from conception through to completion, including customer engagement and construction readiness, and can leverage an existing best-in-class internal power development team.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate the company’s existing renewable and power generation portfolio to identify the most attractive sites for data center deployment
- Develop location theses around MISO, ERCOT, SPP, PJM, and WECC opportunities, while expanding into new high-demand digital infrastructure markets
- Lead early-stage feasibility efforts across land, access, power topology, fiber routes, water availability, permitting pathways, and tenant suitability
- Prioritize projects based on speed-to-power, customer demand, interconnection optionality, and monetization structure
- Advance data center projects from initial site strategy through diligence, commercial structuring, and construction readiness
- Coordinate studies and external workstreams tied to fiber delivery, gas pipeline access, water usage, civil readiness, and utility interfaces
- Partner with internal development, interconnection, and commercial teams to integrate data center workflows into existing generation assets
- Support the structuring of behind-the-meter, grid-backed, renewable + storage, gas, and other firm power strategies
- Originate relationships with hyperscalers and cloud platforms.
- Support customer conversations tied to commercial strategies such as land leases, JV-style development structures, develop /flip, or own/operate.
- Serve as a market-facing representative in discussions with tenants, developers, and strategic counterparties
- Collaborate closely with project developers, land teams, transmission professionals, and commercial leadership
- Bring specialized data center expertise that complements an already strong internal renewable and firm power bench
Qualifications
- 10–15+ years of experience in data center development, digital infrastructure real estate, or hyperscaler campus expansion
- Proven track record developing data center assets from site control through early construction execution
- Strong experience across site diligence, land strategy, utility coordination, fiber routing, and tenant/operator engagement
- Deep understanding of hyperscaler requirements and data center commercial structures
- Experience coordinating with engineering, civil, utility, fiber, and construction counterparties
- Highly polished and commercial in front of sophisticated counterparties
- Comfortable operating nationally across multiple ISO/RTO and utility environments
- Experience integrating data center development with power-rich sites, renewable assets, or firm generation solutions is highly preferred
- Ability to travel 20%-50%
About Us
Joe Amara Executive Search is a boutique executive search firm specializing in transmission, power generation and digital infrastructure, with deep networks across IPPs, the capital markets and energy advisory services globally. With a 100% completion rate and recognition from The Wall Street Journal, we are the premiere boutique executive search firm to lead the next generation of infrastructure.
Backed by a 100% completion rate and recognition from The Wall Street Journal, we are trusted to build the next generation of power and digital infrastructure leadership teams.
We lead confidential retained searches for C-suite, senior commercial, and niche technical roles across the globe. We For more information please visit; joemara.com
