Data Center Site Selection Manager

Job description

WHO WE ARE Vultr is on a mission to make high-performance cloud infrastructure easy to use, affordable, and locally accessible for enterprises and AI innovators around the world. With 33 global cloud data center locations, Vultr is trusted by hundreds of thousands of active customers across 185 countries for its flexible, scalable, global Cloud Compute, Cloud GPU, Bare Metal, and Cloud Storage solutions. In December 2024 Vultr announced an equity financing at a $3.5 billion valuation. Founded by David Aninowsky and self-funded for over a decade, Vultr has grown to become the world’s largest privately-held cloud infrastructure company. VULTR CARES - 100% company-paid insurance premiums for employee medical, dental, and vision plans - 401(k) plan that matches 100% up to 4%, with immediate vesting - Professional Development Reimbursement of $2,500 each year - 11 Holidays plus Paid Time Off Accrual and Rollover Plan - Increased PTO at 3-year and 10-year anniversaries - 1 month paid sabbatical every 5 years - Anniversary Bonus each year - $500 stipend for remote office setup in the first year, $400 stipend each following year - Internet reimbursement up to $75 per month - Gym membership reimbursement up to $50 per month - Company-paid Wellable subscription Position Summary The Data Center Site Selection Manager will lead the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of new data center sites to support the company's aggressive infrastructure expansion. This role requires deep expertise in power, land, permitting, and market dynamics to secure sites that enable scalable, cost-efficient, and operationally resilient AI compute deployments. Key Responsibilities - Lead end-to-end site selection processes including market research, site identification, preliminary due diligence, and stakeholder presentations - Evaluate sites based on power availability and cost, land acquisition potential, fiber access, seismic and climate risk, and local incentive structures - Coordinate with utilities, grid operators, and local government to assess power interconnection timelines and capacity - Manage relationships with site brokers, real estate advisors, and development partners - Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective sites across target markets in North America and internationally - Develop and maintain site evaluation scorecards, financial models, and risk assessments for executive decision-making - Interface with Legal, Finance, and Engineering to advance sites from selection through lease execution or land acquisition - Track regulatory, zoning, and permitting environments in target markets to proactively manage approval risk - Monitor competitive site activity and energy market developments to inform expansion strategy - Collaborate with the construction and design team to ensure site feasibility aligns with technical specifications for hyperscale deployments Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Engineering, Urban Planning, Business, or related field - 5–8 years of experience in data center site selection, real estate development, or critical infrastructure siting - Deep knowledge of power infrastructure including utility interconnection, grid capacity analysis, and substation development - Familiarity with permitting processes, environmental review, and land use entitlements for large-scale industrial facilities - Experience working with utility companies, municipalities, and economic development agencies - Ability to build and present complex financial models and location analyses to senior leadership - Willingness to travel frequently to evaluate sites and engage local stakeholders Preferred Qualifications - Direct experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, or cloud infrastructure company - Knowledge of AI/GPU cluster power density requirements and cooling infrastructure - Experience with international site selection including EMEA or APAC markets - Relationships with major utility companies and commercial real estate brokers in key markets Compensation $150,000 - $200,000 Final compensation will vary depending on years of experience, background/skill set, location, and applicable laws. INCLUSION & PRIVACY We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, and we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. Vultr will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable laws and will not conduct a background check until after an offer of employment has been extended and accepted. We also take your privacy seriously. We handle personal information responsibly and follow applicable laws, including U.S. privacy rules and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Your data is used only for legitimate business purposes and is protected with proper security measures. Where allowed by law, applicants may request details about the data we collect, access or delete their information, withdraw consent for its use, and opt out of nonessential communications. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy https://www.vultr.com/legal/privacy/.