Development Manager - Data Centre Sites (Land & Power)
Location: Dubai, UAE
Travel: GCC & International (including the US)
The Opportunity
A rapidly growing digital infrastructure developer is seeking a Development Manager - Data Centre Sites (Land & Power) to drive the identification, evaluation, advancement and commercialization of data centre development opportunities across international markets.
This is a highly visible role within a lean, entrepreneurial team, offering ownership of strategic projects from site origination through to transaction readiness. The successful candidate will play a key role in evaluating land and power opportunities, coordinating technical and commercial due diligence, managing stakeholders, supporting negotiations, and helping convert development opportunities into sale-ready assets for hyperscale, colocation and infrastructure investors.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and assess land and power opportunities suitable for hyperscale and colocation data centre developments.
- Lead site selection, feasibility assessments and development due diligence across active and prospective projects.
- Evaluate power infrastructure, utility capacity, grid interconnection processes, substation availability, energisation costs and delivery timelines.
- Coordinate land matters including title reviews, zoning, easements, permitting requirements and development approvals.
- Manage relationships with utilities, landowners, engineering consultants, EPC contractors, brokers, legal advisors and other key stakeholders.
- Track and help progress negotiations with counterparties, including landowners, utility providers, contractors and potential partners.
- Act as a technically literate commercial lead, reviewing engineering studies, power assessments and development assumptions while identifying key risks and opportunities.
- Support the preparation and management of interconnection applications, technical studies and infrastructure planning activities.
- Liaise with external legal counsel on commercial agreements, land documentation, term sheets, leases, co-location agreements and related matters.
- Develop investment and transaction-ready site packages, including technical data rooms, development schedules, risk registers and power strategies.
- Support investor engagement, buyer discussions, transaction processes and deal structuring activities.
- Oversee upgrades, repositioning and value-enhancement initiatives across existing assets where required.
- Maintain development pipelines, monitor project milestones and provide regular reporting on risks, progress, budgets and key commercial developments.
Candidate Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in one or more of the following sectors:
- Data centre development
- Data centre site selection
- Land and power development (with Data center exposure)
- Energy or utility infrastructure (with Data center exposure)
- EPC project development and delivery (with Data center exposure)
- Demonstrable track record of progressing development opportunities from origination through to sale, financial close, investment approval or delivery.
- Strong understanding of power infrastructure, grid interconnection, utility engagement and development processes.
- Ability to evaluate technical claims relating to power availability, engineering feasibility and infrastructure delivery without necessarily being a design engineer.
- Comfortable reviewing technical documents such as interconnection studies, electrical single-line diagrams, load studies and infrastructure assessments.
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to understand and track term sheets, development agreements, leases, co-location agreements and related legal documentation.
- Excellent project management, stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary consultants, contractors and external advisors.
- Ability to work independently within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Fluent English required; Arabic would be advantageous.
- Willingness to travel across the GCC and internationally.
- Degree educated in Engineering, Energy, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Finance or a related discipline.
Why This Opportunity?
- Take ownership of strategic land, power and infrastructure opportunities across multiple markets.
- Gain exposure to hyperscale operators, utilities, infrastructure investors and global development projects.
- Work directly on live transactions, confidential development opportunities and high-value digital infrastructure assets.
- Significant scope for long-term career growth and progression.
