VICE PRESIDENT – DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT

Starwood Digital Ventures (SDV) is seeking a Vice President – Data Center Development (VPDCD) to join the Washington, DC office. The VPDCD will work in close collaboration with leadership to support SDV’s investments, development, and business initiatives for the data center sector.

The VPDCD will oversee data center development activities, including negotiating leases, acquiring subsequent land parcel , managing diligence and permitting efforts, optimizing utility and network interconnections, working with design and construction teams, developing and managing project budgets, and directing disposition and refinancing capital market transactions.

Unique perhaps to SDV, the VPDCD charter is “full life cycle” role working on multiple projects at various stages simultaneously. Starting with due diligence, financing considerations, land parcel acquisitions, zoning and entitlements, and overseeing development and construction, SDV Associates don’t disassociate with the asset once it’s delivered. They remain attached and accountable as an owner until the asset is transacted, which offers the VPDCD an extensible professional opportunity.

 

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The VPDCD’s charter is to manage risk and maximize value across SDV’s data center investment interests to include the existing assets, prospective acquisitions, and new developments. More specifically, the VPDCD will –

– Lead data center development efforts, including property diligence and permitting, site and facility design, utility interconnection, finance, and taxes and incentives and participating in location strategy and land procurement,
– Lead the analysis and research for potential investments, as well as perform analysis of financial and business practices.
– Collaborate with internal and external partners, including finance, construction, design and engineering, sales, legal, tax, and consultative resources to develop investment financing support and provide due diligence for developments.
– Oversee asset business plan development and implementation: development oversight, sales/dispositions, potential follow-on acquisitions, refinancings, and leasing.
– Execute development plans by coordinating with architects, engineers, contractors, or other consultants as needed to ensure that construction projects proceed according to schedule.
– Structure and negotiate transactions relating to real estate, capital improvements, leases, operating agreements, and vendor management.
– Work with Data Center Analyst to build, maintain and monitor financial models.
– Create, monitor, track and interpret project data including due diligence materials, contracts, schedules, budgets and cash‐flows on an on‐going basis.
– Work on special projects including hold-sell analysis and evaluation of refinancing.
– Review development plans and author investment committee memos, executive reports, presentations and offering materials for executive management review.
– Author a quantitative assessment model based on technical factors and current market considerations to provide actionable data for acquisition and/or development decisions.
– Act in expert capacity on technical, geo-political, tax, regulatory, and privacy issues affecting current and future valuation criteria.
– Guided by industry trends, customer and market direction, create asset acquisition strategy to continually ideate investment pipeline.
– Establish and maintain industry relationships to ensure information relating to ongoing deal flow is current and accurate.
– Maintain trusted relationships with shareholders, external capital providers, business partners and other authorities to gain support for investment financing.
– Analyze problematic situations and occurrences and provide solutions to ensure continuity and successful outcomes.
– Ensure market leading intelligence and insight on real estate, cap rates, and technology trends affecting current and future valuation of portfolio.

 

KEY QUALIFYING CRITERIA

We are seeking candidates with a unique combination of data center real estate specific investment and development expertise to ensure maximum returns and realized value on all SDV investments.

 Real Estate Development – Demonstrated success in an analytically rigorous Real Estate development role, with extensive data center market knowledge to successfully strategize, capitalize on, and execute investment and development opportunities. 

 Investment – Advanced analytical and financial modeling skills including acquisitions due diligence, risk evaluation and mitigation, cash‐on‐cash returns, IRR analysis, and discounted cash flow packaged in clear business case analysis and presentation.

Risk Balanced – The VPDCD will demonstrate competence and knowledge in managing market and economic environments to anticipate factors which positively or negatively affect SCG’s current and future development decisions.

 Strategic and Analytical – The VPDCD will demonstrate strong business acumen and critical thinking in the development and execution of their business charter using empirical data to make clear and concrete business cases to support and/or influence decisions.

 Results Oriented – The VPDCD must be a builder, performance-driven, and able to provide measurable results. He/She will be resourceful, action-oriented, and possess a proactive sense of urgency and the ability to overcome obstacles to produce results in a timely fashion.

Market Knowledge – Extent of data center specific business transactions across the full investment, development, and divesture life cycle of assets to provide necessary insight to stay ahead of market developments and forecasts.

Communication – The VPDCD will be succinct, organized, and structured in their time investment and communications. He or she should be articulate, dynamic, and compelling in front of both external and internal audiences.

Culture – Ambition and eagerness to “grab an oar”’ in partnering to accomplish what’s necessary to create and maximize platform value. This is a lean, energetic, non-hierarchical environment where critical thinking and defining ambiguity are empowered.

Intangibles – Intellectual, ethical, and polished in representing the best interests of SCG in all interactions which earns confidence, encourages comfort in judgement, and empowers support and collaboration from the Managing Directors.

 

WHY CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH SDV?

Precedent – SCG is the 3^rd largest private real estate firm with a track record of fund raising, new platform development initiatives, and successful exit performance history.

 Platform – SCG has quietly amassed significant global data center capacity, with a meaningful presence in the US providing a strong foundation for continued growth.

 Privilege – SCG’s track record speaks for itself. This type of investment pedigree comes with a relationship value and extended network that is a privilege to be a part of, not to mention the enduring value once maintained.

 Opportunity – Getting in on the ground floor of a growth platform backed by the third largest real estate private equity firm in the world with a 30-year track record of success starting and exiting growth platforms in less promising markets.

 

COMPENSATION

Compensation for the VPDCD will include a competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, comprehensive health package, and participation in the significant long-term incentives resulting from the target value creation of the platform.

 

SEARCH PROCESS

Following the receipt of a resume and mutually addressing desired criteria, culture fit, and professional motivation, we’ll make an introduction to the Managing Directors of Starwood Digital. Finalists will subsequently meet with members of SCG contributing to SD’s formation and growth. Finalists will meet with select members of the SCG leadership team. The finalist will be presented with a compelling and competitive offer contingent on clean references and background check.