Vice President, Site Selection

A Snapshot 

As Vice President, Site Acquisition, this role defines and drives the site acquisition strategy for data centre expansion, shaping long-term growth, and market entry. This strategic, regionally focused role leads a multi-layered function and is accountable for delivering commercially viable, development-ready sites while influencing high-stakes decisions across industry, government, and internal leadership. 

You will: 

• Set and drive regional strategy, aligning land and site priorities with company objectives and long-term capacity growth
• Lead and scale the function, overseeing a regional team across land acquisition, master planning, due diligence, and permitting
• Influence critical outcomes, leading strategic negotiations and resolving complex, business-critical challenges with senior stakeholders and external partners 

As a senior leader in the business, you will report to the Chief Customer and Innovation Officer and operate as a strategic leader shaping the land pipeline and team across the organisation.  

In this role, you will influence senior leaders, direct key functional areas, and lead high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that strengthen organisational capability, performance, and culture at scale. 

Your Day to Day  

Strategic Leadership & Regional Direction  

• Define & drive the end-to-end site selection & development readiness strategy across the region, integrating acquisition, planning, capacity & infrastructure considerations. This will be done in collaboration & close partnership with the energy team. 
• Shape market entry, expansion, and capital deployment decisions in partnership with Executive leadership.
• Establish frameworks, governance, and standards to ensure consistent, scalable execution across all markets.
• Develop and close on land opportunities across the region – partnering with key teams – particularly the energy team. 

Functional Leadership & Capability Building  

• Lead a multi-disciplinary function spanning site transactions, planning & permitting, architecture inputs/masterplanning, and due diligence  
• Manage and develop a regional team, building a high-performing, scalable organisation  

Site Acquisition, Deal Execution & Commercial Outcomes  

• Oversee the origination and execution of complex land transactions, partnerships, and development agreements  
• Lead strategic negotiations with landowners, governments and key partners  
• Maintain accountability for commercial outcomes, including land cost, risk exposure, and speed to market  
• Manage a site pipeline across all AirTrunk geos 

Master Planning & Test fit Team Oversight  

• Provide senior level oversight of master planning & test fits feasibility to ensure scalable, high-efficiency developments which are maximising capacity outcomes  
• Ensure alignment between site selection, design standards, and customer requirements, including hyperscale and multi-tenant solutions  
• Guide feasibility-stage design, balancing cost, risk, constructability, and long-term operational performance  

Planning, Permitting & Regulatory Strategy  

• Set and lead regional planning and permitting strategies, ensuring timely approvals and predictable delivery outcomes  
• Build and maintain senior relationships with government authorities and regulatory bodies, influencing policy where required  
• Navigate complex regulatory environments and remove systemic barriers to entry  

Due Diligence, Risk & Governance  

• Establish and enforce best-in-class due diligence frameworks across technical, environmental, commercial, and legal domains  
• Oversee risk identification and mitigation strategies, ensuring informed investment decisions and portfolio resilience  
• Provide executive-level reporting on pipeline status, risks, and investment readiness  

Cross-Functional & Customer Alignment  

• Partner with energy, design, development, construction, commercial, and customer solutions teams to ensure seamless transition from site selection to delivery  
• Support customer engagement by aligning site strategy with client requirements and market demand  
• Enable data-driven decision-making through development of site intelligence and market insights  

Industry Leadership & External Influence  

• Represent the organisation as a senior industry leader, influencing infrastructure outcomes and building strategic partnerships  
• Engage across industry forums, utilities, and government to shape power, planning, and infrastructure ecosystems 

Requirements  

• 15+ years in site selection, real estate, infrastructure, or data centre development, with a strong track record delivering large-scale, multi-market projects  
• Proven success in land acquisition, complex deal execution, and planning/permitting across multiple jurisdictions  
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams through senior leaders  
• Strong understanding of data centre site selection drivers (power, fibre, land, cooling) and early-stage design/master planning considerations  
• Solid knowledge of regulatory, planning, and environmental frameworks impacting large-scale developments  
• Demonstrated ability to lead at senior organisational level, influencing strategy, investment decisions, and external stakeholders  
• Strong commercial judgement with accountability for risk, cost, and long-term value outcomes  
• Degree in a relevant field (e.g. Real Estate, Engineering, Architecture, Planning, Business); advanced degree preferred