Data Center Lease Development Manager

Meta · Big Tech · Austin, TX +2

This role focuses on developing Meta's leased and colocation data center strategy, managing site selection, technical due diligence, commercial negotiations, and contract administration. The manager will work with internal teams and external stakeholders to find and execute lease options, including developing new business models for AI deployment in leased spaces. The role requires experience in complex negotiations, contract management, and staying informed about industry developments. While AI tools and skills are mentioned as a plus for optimizing workflows and development, the core function is data center lease development, not AI/ML model building.

What you'd actually do

Develop Meta's leased and colocation data center location strategy and manage the site selection effort for technical due diligence, commercial negotiations and contract administration in that space, including partnering with teams focused on economic development incentives, energy and utilities, network connectivity, legal, policy, and financial considerations
Develop and lead technical feasibility discussions and contract negotiations with landlords, property owners, and utility companies, and engineering teams
Work as a primary conduit between Meta Engineering and Landlord SMEs in order to optimize solutions to fit the needs of our customers in an efficient manner
Coordinate lease contract amendments in response to changes in business needs, improvements in business terms or processes, and/or feedback from engineering teams in the field
Negotiate letters of intent, lease agreements, service agreements, and other facility-specific agreements

Skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experience
Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, paralegal studies, or a technical discipline
10+ years of experience in leased data center site selection, engineering, design, construction, contract management, and/or development of data centers or other large-scale or mission-critical capital projects
Experience leading complex negotiations
Experience representing business interests to the executive leadership of potential suppliers, utilities, and other stakeholders
Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff, consultants, vendors, and external stakeholders
Analytical and communications skills with proven experience to effectively distill and communicate complex commercial, market, and contractual details to all organizational levels

Nice to have

Advanced technical degree, a law degree, or an MBA
Background in engineering, contract management, and understanding of leases, experience with data center leases
Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)
Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)

What the JD emphasized

extensive experience performing technical assessments
negotiating and administering large, complex data center lease transactions
extensive knowledge of the legal agreements that accompany them
deep knowledge of leased data center operations
experienced in navigating the challenges that accompany lease negotiations and lease management
10+ years of experience in leased data center site selection, engineering, design, construction, contract management, and/or development of data centers or other large-scale or mission-critical capital projects
Experience leading complex negotiations
Experience representing business interests to the executive leadership of potential suppliers, utilities, and other stakeholders
Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff, consultants, vendors, and external stakeholders

Read full job description

A qualified Data Center Lease Development Manager has extensive experience performing technical assessments, negotiating and administering large, complex data center lease transactions in the hyperscale space and an extensive knowledge of the legal agreements that accompany them. The Data Center Lease Development Manager will work with Site Selection Managers to think both strategically and analytically to develop out-of-the-box solutions to find and execute on large lease options, developing new business models for AI deployment in leased spaces. The Data Center Lease Development Manager has deep knowledge of leased data center operations, including site selection, contract negotiation, and lease management and is experienced in navigating the challenges that accompany lease negotiations and lease management.

Responsibilities

Develop Meta's leased and colocation data center location strategy and manage the site selection effort for technical due diligence, commercial negotiations and contract administration in that space, including partnering with teams focused on economic development incentives, energy and utilities, network connectivity, legal, policy, and financial considerations Develop and lead technical feasibility discussions and contract negotiations with landlords, property owners, and utility companies, and engineering teams Work as a primary conduit between Meta Engineering and Landlord SMEs in order to optimize solutions to fit the needs of our customers in an efficient manner Coordinate lease contract amendments in response to changes in business needs, improvements in business terms or processes, and/or feedback from engineering teams in the field Negotiate letters of intent, lease agreements, service agreements, and other facility-specific agreements Partner with internal organizations, including capacity planning, site selection managers, energy teams, data center design, construction, network engineering, legal, policy, communications, and finance, to align on key business terms Develop ideas for improving metrics and tracking mechanisms Manage supplier relationships and best practices Perform market analysis and develop a leasing site selection strategy Stay informed about the technical, market, and regulatory developments in the data center industry Contribute to the organizational strategy and development of leasing standards at Meta Travel domestically and internationally as needed (10% to 25% at times)

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experience Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, paralegal studies, or a technical discipline 10+ years of experience in leased data center site selection, engineering, design, construction, contract management, and/or development of data centers or other large-scale or mission-critical capital projects Experience leading complex negotiations Experience representing business interests to the executive leadership of potential suppliers, utilities, and other stakeholders Experience managing multiple projects and coordinating with internal staff, consultants, vendors, and external stakeholders Analytical and communications skills with proven experience to effectively distill and communicate complex commercial, market, and contractual details to all organizational levels Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements) Advanced technical degree, a law degree, or an MBA Background in engineering, contract management, and understanding of leases, experience with data center leases Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)