📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Director – Strategic Data Center Partnerships
• Company: Lambda
• Location: Bay Area, California, United States (Remote-friendly)
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Category: Strategic Partnerships & Business Development
• Date Posted: 2025-06-11
• Experience Level: 10+ years
• Remote Status: Hybrid (prefers presence in Bay Area office locations, but open to remote for the right candidate)

🚀 Role Summary

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a unique opportunity for an experienced professional to shape the foundation of the world's most powerful AI infrastructure by leading Lambda's hyperscale data center development strategy and driving strategic partnerships with land developers and build-to-suit providers.

💡 Key Responsibilities & Impact

• Lead the identification, negotiation, and execution of joint ventures and strategic partnerships with land developers and build-to-suit providers.
• Act as Lambda's primary external relationship manager and internal cross-functional integrator, guiding the full development lifecycle from land entitlement and partner structuring to power procurement and construction alignment.
• Ensure Lambda's engineering standards are successfully delivered through third-party execution, driving the industry benchmark for hyperscale data center deployment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

🤝 Strategic Partnerships & Joint Ventures

• Serve as Lambda's lead negotiator and business relationship owner for build-to-suit developers and strategic land partners.
• Lead the structuring of joint ventures and strategic development agreements in collaboration with Legal and Finance.
• Evaluate and align partner capabilities with Lambda's roadmap, delivery timelines, and engineering standards.

🏢 Real Estate & Entitlement Leadership

• Review and validate developer-led diligence on title, zoning, access, environmental risk, and infrastructure readiness.
• Interface with local jurisdictions to navigate entitlement challenges and permitting timelines.
• Provide actionable recommendations on entitlement risks, tradeoffs, and mitigation strategies.

🛠 Infrastructure & Execution Alignment

• Partner with Lambda's principal engineering team to translate the basis of design (BoD) into enforceable partner deliverables.
• Represent Lambda's programming and design interests throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Support utility interconnect strategy and power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiations with internal and external stakeholders.

💰 Financial Structuring & Internal Alignment

• Collaborate with Lambda leadership, Legal, and Finance to shape commercial deal terms and capital partnership models.
• Present development risks, investment scenarios, and partner strategies to executive and investment leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

📚 Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven experience (10+ years) in real estate development, infrastructure investment, or hyperscale expansion strategy.
• Experience in the data center, energy, or high-density infrastructure space is preferred.

🛠 Required Skills

• Proven success negotiating and structuring complex land, joint venture, or build-to-suit agreements.
• Deep understanding of entitlement processes, risk mitigation, and utility infrastructure planning.
• Ability to bridge engineering standards with commercial terms and real-world execution.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and persuasive communication skills.

🌟 Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with MEP programming, liquid-to-chip cooling, or large-scale power distribution models.
• Background in commercial real estate, public-private partnerships, or PPA negotiations.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements (N/A for this role)

💵 Compensation & Benefits

💰 Salary Range

• Based on market data and other factors, the annual salary range for this position is $169,000 - $249,000. However, a salary higher or lower than this range may be appropriate for a candidate whose qualifications differ meaningfully from those listed in the job description.

🎁 Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents.
• Commuter/work from home stipends for select roles.
• 401k Plan with 2% company match (USA employees).
• Flexible Paid Time Off Plan that we all actually use.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

• Industry: AI Computing Platform
• Company Size: ~350 employees (2024) and growing fast
• Founded: 2012
• Team Structure: Lambda's infrastructure strategy organization collaborates closely with executives, legal counsel, and engineering teams to accelerate delivery timelines, reduce risk, and develop high-impact networks of strategic development partners.

🌐 Work Environment

• Office Type: Hybrid (prefers presence in Bay Area office locations, but open to remote for the right candidate)
• Office Location(s): Bay Area, California, United States
• Workspace Context: Lambda offers a flexible and collaborative work environment, with a focus on driving innovation and delivering high-quality AI computing solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

• Web Technology Career Level: This role is a senior leadership position, offering significant growth opportunities in the strategic partnerships and business development domain.
• Reporting Structure: The Director of Strategic Data Center Partnerships reports directly to Lambda's executive leadership team and works closely with various internal teams, including Legal, Finance, and Engineering.
• Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on Lambda's ability to deliver high-density, hyperscale data center deployments globally, enabling the company to scale its AI computing platform and maintain its competitive edge.

🛠️ Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure (N/A for this role)

👥 Team Culture & Values

💡 Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Values

• Lambda values strategic partnerships that drive innovation, accelerate delivery timelines, and reduce risk. This role requires a deep understanding of real estate development, infrastructure investment, and deal-making fluency to ensure Lambda's standards are successfully delivered through third-party execution.

🤝 Collaboration Style

• Lambda fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment, encouraging cross-functional integration between strategic partnerships, business development, engineering, and other internal teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

🏢 Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Challenges

• Navigating complex real estate markets and regulatory environments to identify, negotiate, and execute joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
• Ensuring Lambda's engineering standards are successfully delivered through third-party execution, driving the industry benchmark for hyperscale data center deployment.

📈 Learning & Development Opportunities

• Lambda offers opportunities for professional growth and development, including mentorship programs, training, and conference attendance to help employees expand their skills and advance their careers.

💡 Interview Preparation

🤝 Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Interview Process

• Interview Process:
  • Initial phone or video screen to discuss the role and Lambda's strategic partnerships strategy.
  • In-depth on-site or virtual interview with Lambda's executive leadership team, focusing on the candidate's experience, skills, and cultural fit.
  • Final interview with the hiring manager to discuss the candidate's qualifications and Lambda's strategic priorities.

📝 Interview Tips

• Research Lambda's AI computing platform, strategic partnerships, and business development strategy.
• Prepare examples of your experience negotiating and structuring complex joint venture or build-to-suit agreements.
• Be ready to discuss your understanding of entitlement processes, risk mitigation, and utility infrastructure planning.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this strategic partnerships and business development position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided.
• Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills in real estate development, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships.
• Prepare for the interview process by researching Lambda's AI computing platform, strategic partnerships, and business development strategy.
• Be ready to discuss your experience negotiating and structuring complex joint venture or build-to-suit agreements, as well as your understanding of entitlement processes, risk mitigation, and utility infrastructure planning.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and strategic partnerships & business development industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Lambda before making application decisions.