Director, Site Development

Role Summary

Rowan is seeking a Director of Site Development to lead the evaluation and advancement of data center development activities across our project portfolio. This role is integral to shaping and executing Rowan’s development strategy-determining which sites to pursue, advancing them through due diligence and entitlements, and delivering them into the leasing and construction pipeline in alignment with business objectives.

The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of delivering complex data center projects, paired with strategic acumen, disciplined risk management, and exceptional negotiation and communication skills. Success in this role requires comfort with ambiguity, a highly organized and proactive approach, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Travel: Ability to travel up to (40%) for company gatherings or to project sites.

Location: Denver, CO (hybrid in-office role)

Compensation

$195-$235K (Offers Bonus)

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end site development for a portfolio of data center projects-from early diligence and site access through construction commencement-with active stakeholder engagement, risk management, and commercial oversight
• Negotiate key agreements with external partners, including land acquisitions, development agreements, and other commercial contracts that support risk mitigation and project advancement
• Direct cross-functional evaluation of potential sites by leading a multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts across engineering, legal, planning, and other domains
• Oversee all development activities, including land use and entitlements, permitting, physical and legal due diligence, and other pre-construction workstreams
• Serve as the primary liaison with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), external stakeholders, landowners, and vendors for assigned development projects
• Collaborate with internal teams-including energy, fiber, finance, water & wastewater, and economic development-to identify and address key project risks and ensure long-term viability
• Communicate project value by partnering with leadership to articulate the customer proposition and strategic fit of priority sites
• Represent the project internally and externally, providing clear, concise updates to leadership and leading customer-facing development discussions
• Ensure effective project execution by working with the project manager to develop and manage budgets, schedules, and risk mitigation strategies
• Contribute to team growth and scalability by helping establish strong diligence and reporting practices and continuously improving development processes and systems

Education, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, real estate, environmental management, civil architecture) and 10+ years of experience leading large-scale, complex site development projects or portfolios in the data center or commercial real estate industry
• Proven success in negotiating commercial agreements, including land control, energy, water/wastewater service, and economic development agreements
• Demonstrated ability to work with external stakeholders, including authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), utilities, and economic development agencies to advance complex infrastructure projects
• Strong experience leading cross-functional initiatives, with responsibility for project strategy, budgets, schedules, and risk management
• Demonstrated trust-based leadership, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without formal authority
• Proficiency in environmental due diligence, permitting, and entitlements for large-scale developments
• Skilled at communicating with senior leadership and executive stakeholders across the organization
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and cross-functional environment
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience evaluating the feasibility and ROI of large capital investments

Fueled by Excellence & Collaboration

• At Rowan, we are a distributed team united by a common mission to transform data center delivery.
• Across our two offices, we offer a hybrid work environment supported by teamwork, technology, and in-office gathering time to help you be successful.
• We are headquartered in downtown Denver, Colorado and have an office in Seattle, Washington.
• Our team of talented and passionate individuals is spread out across the U.S.

Here to support you

Pay and benefits

At Rowan, we want to make sure you can do great work. We offer competitive benefits focused on helping you be and achieve your best.

• Hybrid working environment
• Team building and educational opportunities
• Generous benefits package including robust health benefits and a 401(k)-company contribution
• Unlimited PTO
• RTD ECO pass or parking reimbursement
• Competitive compensation, bonus, and an incentive plan