Pre-Development Project Manager

The Predevelopment Project Manager is primarily responsible for leading and managing the predevelopment activities on a given project(s). The Project Manager will interact on a daily basis with Civil & Environmental Engineers, Designers, Development Consultants, municipality and utility staff, and internal stakeholders in various departments including Corporate Real Estate, Development, Engineering, and Data Center Operations staff. The Project Manager should have both written and oral communication skills commensurate with this level of regular communication.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the due diligence, entitlements, permitting of multiple projects on a campus(es) to facilitate new datacenter development.

• Create and communicate updates on predevelopment program & project status on a monthly basis suitable for executive level reviews. Effectively present information in a manner to support efficient decision making.

• Work with QTS stakeholders, design consultants, and construction teams to create a master campus development program for site(s), including a complete campus design solution and capital budget.

• Communicate due diligence, entitlement & permitting risks, and identify risk mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines & budgets.

• Oversee the development of site specific multi-phased campus development plans to achieve time, budget, and quality standards in a predictable fashion.

• Continuously update campus master plan(s) to provide predictable statistics in a dynamic environment.

• Draft scopes of work for due diligence, campus master planning, and permitting & participate in vendor screening, evaluation, price leveling, selection, and contract negotiations.

• Ensure key stakeholders are familiar and understand the entitlements & permitting strategy for each assigned project.

• Create & Monitor project budgets to achieve budget and cashflow predictability.

• Establish due diligence, entitlements, and permit schedules and manage internal & external teams to on-time completion.

• Collaborate with Sales Engineers and Product teams to aid in custom deal solutioning for prospective clients within the applicable schedule and budget for an assigned location.

• Represent QTS Interests in critical meetings with AHJs, regulatory agencies, EDCs, and the public.

• Create & build relationships that enhance QTS’s ability to be a leader in creating the World’s Most Valuable Data Center Real Estate.

• Work with the internal development team to enhance project management processes and protocols.

• Other duties may be assigned. 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS 

• May require vocational qualifications and role holder may be working toward a professional qualification.

• Two or more years of professional experience in commercial real estate development, property management, land acquisition.
• Experience with Bluebeam, Smartsheet's, Microsoft Office suite, specifically PowerPoint for use in communicating program updates to executive level, and Excel to create and maintain site program & individual project budgets.
• Be able to travel up to 25% of the time

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 
• MBA, Masters in Engineering, Real Estate, Land Planning, Management, or related field desirable.

• Experience managing a portfolio of projects and associated work streams in multiple markets.

• Experience with delivery of mission critical data center facilities.

• Extensive experience in large scale/complex land development.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 
 

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of commercial real estate development processes, including due diligence, entitlements, and permitting.

• Strong familiarity with zoning regulations, environmental assessments, and municipal approval processes.

• Knowledge of infrastructure planning, civil engineering principles, and utility coordination.

• Understanding of budget forecasting, financial modeling, and capital planning.

Skills

• Project Management – Strong ability to lead, prioritize, and execute complex development projects.

• Strategic Thinking – Ability to assess risks, identify opportunities, and develop mitigation strategies to keep projects on track.

• Technical Proficiency – Ability to utilize Bluebeam, Smartsheet's, Excel, and PowerPoint for documentation and reporting.

• Negotiation & Vendor Management – Experience in negotiating with regulatory agencies, consultants, vendors, and contractors.

• Presentation & Reporting – Ability to develop and deliver clear, executive-level presentations.

• Relationship Building – Proven track record of establishing and maintaining effective relationships with government entities, external partners, and internal stakeholders.

Abilities

• Ability to work cross-functionally with multiple teams and external partners.

• Capable of handling high-pressure environments with tight deadlines.

• Adept at analyzing and interpreting complex regulatory and permitting requirements.

• Ability to quickly adapt to changes in project scope, regulations, or business priorities.

• Strong leadership and problem-solving skills to drive projects forward efficiently.

TOTAL REWARDS 

This role is also eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and HSA accounts; paid holidays; paid time off; paid volunteer days; employee assistance program; tuition assistance; parental leave; military leave assistance; QTS scholarship for dependents; wellness program, and other company benefits. This role is bonus eligible and may be eligible for equity.

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action.  We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings.  We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim.

The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here:

Know Your Rights (English)

Know Your Rights (Spanish)

The pay transparency policy is available here:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted

QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.