{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"d77bbdff806fc1f9fc6ff7d3","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d77bbdff806fc1f9fc6ff7d3","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d77bbdff806fc1f9fc6ff7d3","title":"Data Center Site Selection Manager","description":"Data Center Site Selection Manager\nVertical Edge | Chicago, IL\nCompany: Vertical Edge LLC\nLocation: Chicago, IL preferred. Remote candidates will be considered. Regular travel to candidate sites is required.\nAbout Vertical Edge\nVertical Edge is an edge data center platform funded through a joint venture with a global private equity firm. Our first project is a 20 MW conversion of 300 West Adams in downtown Chicago. We acquire and convert existing buildings and powered land into 20 to 100+ MW data centers in Tier 1 & 2 US markets, targeting less than 24 months from acquisition to ready for service. We focus on buildings and sites with power and connectivity already in place.\nPosition Summary\nThe Site Selection Manager leads the identification and evaluation of candidate sites and buildings for data center development. The position covers the full assessment process, including power availability and utility interconnection, fiber connectivity, water and cooling, permitting and zoning, and the local political and regulatory environment. The Site Selection Manager prepares site evaluations and acquisition recommendations for the investment committee and supports due diligence through closing.\nResponsibilities\nIdentify and screen candidate buildings, sites and powered land in Tier 1 and Tier 2 US markets.\nAssess power availability, including utility capacity, substation proximity, interconnection timelines and rate structures for loads of 20 to 100+ MW.\nEvaluate fiber connectivity, including carrier presence, dark fiber availability and proximity to major interconnection hubs.\nAssess water availability and cooling options, including district cooling, municipal supply and discharge permitting.\nAnalyze zoning and permitting requirements, including by-right data center use, entitlement timelines and conversion feasibility.\nEvaluate the local political and regulatory environment, including municipal posture toward data center development, tax incentive programs, community sentiment and moratorium risk.\nPrepare site evaluations, scorecards and acquisition recommendations for the investment committee.\nDevelop and maintain relationships with utilities, brokers, municipalities and economic development agencies.\nSupport acquisition due diligence and underwriting.\nBasic Qualifications\n5+ years of experience in data center site selection, real estate development, utility interconnection or a related field.\nDemonstrated experience evaluating power availability and interconnection timelines with US utilities.\nWorking knowledge of fiber infrastructure and carrier networks.\nExperience with municipal permitting, zoning and entitlement processes.\nAbility to present technical and commercial findings clearly to senior leadership and investors.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with adaptive reuse or conversion of existing buildings.\nEstablished relationships with utilities, brokers or municipalities in Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets.\nFamiliarity with district cooling systems.\nPrior experience at a data center developer, REIT or hyperscaler site selection team.\nCompensation\nCompensation includes base salary, a performance-based bonus tied to sites sourced and closed, and equity in the platform.\nHow to Apply\nSubmit a resume and a brief summary of one site you have evaluated, including the factors that supported or ruled out the site, to gerardo@verticaldata.io , Include salary expectations. A cover letter is not required.\nPay: $160,000.00 - $210,000.00 per year\nApplication Question(s):\nHow many years of experience do you have in data center site selection, utility interconnection, or large-load real estate development?\nHow many sites or buildings have you personally evaluated or closed for data center, industrial, or other large-load (10MW+) development?\nDescribe one site you evaluated that you ultimately ruled out. What specific factor killed it — power capacity, interconnection timeline, fiber availability, zoning, or political/community risk?\nDo you have direct experience negotiating or evaluating utility interconnection queues, capacity studies, or timelines for loads of 20MW or greater?\nHave you prepared site evaluations, scorecards, or acquisition recommendations presented directly to an investment committee or senior leadership? Briefly describe your role in that process (author, presenter, or supporting analyst).\nThis role is based in Chicago, IL (or remote with regular travel to candidate sites), and compensation includes a performance-based bonus tied to sites sourced and closed, plus equity, on top of base salary. Are you able to meet the travel requirement and comfortable with an at-risk bonus component?\nWhat is your annual salary expectation in USD?\nWork Location: Remote","company":"Vertical Data","rawCompany":"vertical data","city":"Chicago","state":"IL","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-05T09:44:37.009Z","occupations":[{"code":"11-3021.00","title":"Computer and Information Systems Managers","slug":"computer-and-information-systems-managers"},{"code":"11-9021.00","title":"Construction Managers","slug":"construction-managers"},{"code":"11-9141.00","title":"Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers","slug":"property-real-estate-and-community-association-managers"}],"industries":[{"code":"541690","title":"Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services","slug":"other-scientific-and-technical-consulting-services"},{"code":"541330","title":"Engineering Services","slug":"engineering-services"},{"code":"518210","title":"Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services","slug":"computing-infrastructure-providers-data-processing-web-hosting-and-related-services"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Data Center Site Selection Manager","description":"Data Center Site Selection Manager\nVertical Edge | Chicago, IL\nCompany: Vertical Edge LLC\nLocation: Chicago, IL preferred. Remote candidates will be considered. Regular travel to candidate sites is required.\nAbout Vertical Edge\nVertical Edge is an edge data center platform funded through a joint venture with a global private equity firm. Our first project is a 20 MW conversion of 300 West Adams in downtown Chicago. We acquire and convert existing buildings and powered land into 20 to 100+ MW data centers in Tier 1 & 2 US markets, targeting less than 24 months from acquisition to ready for service. We focus on buildings and sites with power and connectivity already in place.\nPosition Summary\nThe Site Selection Manager leads the identification and evaluation of candidate sites and buildings for data center development. The position covers the full assessment process, including power availability and utility interconnection, fiber connectivity, water and cooling, permitting and zoning, and the local political and regulatory environment. The Site Selection Manager prepares site evaluations and acquisition recommendations for the investment committee and supports due diligence through closing.\nResponsibilities\nIdentify and screen candidate buildings, sites and powered land in Tier 1 and Tier 2 US markets.\nAssess power availability, including utility capacity, substation proximity, interconnection timelines and rate structures for loads of 20 to 100+ MW.\nEvaluate fiber connectivity, including carrier presence, dark fiber availability and proximity to major interconnection hubs.\nAssess water availability and cooling options, including district cooling, municipal supply and discharge permitting.\nAnalyze zoning and permitting requirements, including by-right data center use, entitlement timelines and conversion feasibility.\nEvaluate the local political and regulatory environment, including municipal posture toward data center development, tax incentive programs, community sentiment and moratorium risk.\nPrepare site evaluations, scorecards and acquisition recommendations for the investment committee.\nDevelop and maintain relationships with utilities, brokers, municipalities and economic development agencies.\nSupport acquisition due diligence and underwriting.\nBasic Qualifications\n5+ years of experience in data center site selection, real estate development, utility interconnection or a related field.\nDemonstrated experience evaluating power availability and interconnection timelines with US utilities.\nWorking knowledge of fiber infrastructure and carrier networks.\nExperience with municipal permitting, zoning and entitlement processes.\nAbility to present technical and commercial findings clearly to senior leadership and investors.\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience with adaptive reuse or conversion of existing buildings.\nEstablished relationships with utilities, brokers or municipalities in Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets.\nFamiliarity with district cooling systems.\nPrior experience at a data center developer, REIT or hyperscaler site selection team.\nCompensation\nCompensation includes base salary, a performance-based bonus tied to sites sourced and closed, and equity in the platform.\nHow to Apply\nSubmit a resume and a brief summary of one site you have evaluated, including the factors that supported or ruled out the site, to gerardo@verticaldata.io , Include salary expectations. A cover letter is not required.\nPay: $160,000.00 - $210,000.00 per year\nApplication Question(s):\nHow many years of experience do you have in data center site selection, utility interconnection, or large-load real estate development?\nHow many sites or buildings have you personally evaluated or closed for data center, industrial, or other large-load (10MW+) development?\nDescribe one site you evaluated that you ultimately ruled out. What specific factor killed it — power capacity, interconnection timeline, fiber availability, zoning, or political/community risk?\nDo you have direct experience negotiating or evaluating utility interconnection queues, capacity studies, or timelines for loads of 20MW or greater?\nHave you prepared site evaluations, scorecards, or acquisition recommendations presented directly to an investment committee or senior leadership? Briefly describe your role in that process (author, presenter, or supporting analyst).\nThis role is based in Chicago, IL (or remote with regular travel to candidate sites), and compensation includes a performance-based bonus tied to sites sourced and closed, plus equity, on top of base salary. Are you able to meet the travel requirement and comfortable with an at-risk bonus component?\nWhat is your annual salary expectation in USD?\nWork Location: Remote","datePosted":"2026-08-05T09:44:37.009Z","dateModified":"2026-08-05T09:44:37.009Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Vertical Data","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Chicago","addressRegion":"IL","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"d77bbdff806fc1f9fc6ff7d3"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/d77bbdff806fc1f9fc6ff7d3"}}