Data Center Programs & Strategy Leader

Data Center Programs & Strategy LeaderLocation: Dallas, TXType: Direct Hire• Competitive base salary + performance bonus• 100% company-paid benefits• Relocation assistance available for non-local candidatesOverviewWe are seeking a Data Center Programs & Strategy Leader to own the business execution, program leadership, and strategic delivery of large-scale data center development initiatives.This role is responsible for translating company objectives into disciplined execution across development schedules, capital deployment, financial outcomes, operating models, and cross-functional alignment. The position sits at the intersection of strategy, infrastructure delivery, finance, engineering, operations, procurement, and executive leadership.This is an executive-level business leadership role, not the primary technical engineering authority. The ideal candidate brings the ability to drive complex, schedule-sensitive, capital-intensive programs while partnering closely with technical teams to ensure delivery decisions support long-term performance, resiliency, scalability, and business objectives.Key ResponsibilitiesProgram Strategy & Business Execution• Own end-to-end program leadership for large-scale data center development initiatives from concept through steady-state operations• Define and execute the infrastructure development roadmap in alignment with business growth, platform expansion, and capacity objectives• Translate strategic priorities into actionable program plans, delivery milestones, operating rhythms, and measurable outcomes• Drive aggressive development schedules while balancing cost, risk, quality, performance, resiliency, and long-term operational readiness• Serve as the executive program leader responsible for accountability across engineering, construction, commissioning, operations, finance, and procurementCapital Planning & Financial Performance• Lead business case development for major infrastructure programs, including cost modeling, scenario planning, and capital efficiency analysis• Identify opportunities to improve financial performance, delivery efficiency, asset utilization, and long-term return on infrastructure investment• Partner with finance and executive leadership to track capital deployment, budget performance, risk exposure, and commercial tradeoffs• Support investment decisions by clearly communicating schedule, cost, risk, and operational impact• Build repeatable frameworks for evaluating program performance and infrastructure delivery economicsGovernance, Operating Model & Delivery Leadership• Implement and maintain program governance structures, KPI frameworks, reporting cadences, and executive decision processes• Establish scalable operating models, policies, workflows, and process discipline to support repeatable data center delivery• Lead cross-functional alignment across internal teams and external delivery partners• Ensure program risks, dependencies, decisions, and escalations are clearly documented, communicated, and resolved• Drive accountability across multiple workstreams while maintaining visibility into schedule, quality, budget, compliance, and operational readinessCross-Functional & Partner Leadership• Partner closely with engineering, operations, construction, procurement, finance, legal, compliance, and senior leadership teams• Work alongside technical leaders to ensure infrastructure solutions align with program goals, business priorities, and delivery timelines• Interface with EPCM firms, vendors, delivery partners, consultants, and third-party service providers• Serve as the connective tissue between technical execution and business leadership• Communicate complex program status, risks, decisions, and tradeoffs clearly to executive stakeholdersRequired Qualifications• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree such as an MBA or equivalent preferred• 10+ years of experience leading large, complex infrastructure, technology, industrial, energy, or data center programs• Proven success operating in schedule-driven, capital-intensive environments• Strong program leadership experience across development, construction, delivery, operations, or infrastructure scaling initiatives• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through influence rather than direct authority• Experience building governance models, KPI frameworks, executive reporting cadences, and decision-making processes• Strong financial and business acumen, including exposure to capital planning, business cases, budgeting, cost management, and performance tracking• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to present to and influence senior leadership• Ability to operate as a business owner and decision-maker while partnering effectively with highly technical teams• Strong judgment in balancing speed, cost, risk, quality, resiliency, and operational outcomesPreferred Background• Experience in data centers, hyperscale infrastructure, cloud infrastructure, energy, utilities, industrial facilities, or large-scale mission-critical environments• Prior leadership role in infrastructure development, strategic programs, capital projects, technical operations, or business execution• Experience working alongside engineering, construction, commissioning, and operations teams• Familiarity with high-density compute, AI infrastructure, HPC environments, or advanced technical facilities• Experience managing external delivery partners such as EPCMs, vendors, consultants, and service providers• Track record of building scalable processes for fast-growing infrastructure organizations

Created: 2026-05-09