Director, State Government Relations and Economic Development
Director, State Government Relations and Economic Development
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1 Vacancy
Job Description
Learn what makes QTS a unique place to grow your career!
Who We Are:
Its exciting to find yourself standing in a pivotal moment in time. Its even more exciting to be out front leading it. At QTS our world-class data centers are supporting our customers most strategic growth initiatives positioning us at the forefront of todays dynamic digital transformation.
As AI and cloud drive the demand for increased speed capacity and capability QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader committed to connecting the world for good. Driven by purpose and fueled by a spirit of innovation QTS designs builds and operates some of the worlds most advanced forward-thinking data is a portfolio company of Blackstone.
QTS is Powered by People. People who play a vital role in our companys culture innovation and growth. People who are committed to contributing to the communities where we operate and work. People who are knowledgeable resourceful and mission driven. Together we do great things.
Whole You Are:
You strive to maximize your organizations competitive advantages mitigate operational risks and leverage strategic relationships for continuousbusiness growth through strategic approaches to state level government relations and local engagement on economic development.
The Impact You Will Have:
As Director State Government Relations & Economic Development you will lead work with internal teams to understand business objectives in the state and local jurisdictions where QTS operates or is considering as a prospective location. You will work with internal and external teams to formulate strategic plans to deliver positive outcomes (either lowering risk or increasing value) in state government relations and economic development partnerships with local institutions and communities. You will use your experience in state and local policy advocacy stakeholder engagement and economic development to formulate a strategy. These responsibilities will encompass a comprehensive government relations communications and economic incentive practice aimed at advancing QTS interests and creating competitive differentiation. This role will identify existing organizational gaps to recognize current liabilities cultivate future opportunities for growth and develop a team that will position QTS as the industrys premiere thought leader in engagement with state and local governments and economic development institutions. You will have demonstrated capabilities in working closely with partners from the manufacturing supply chain energy suppliers and communities. You will report to the Executive Vice President Government Relations & External Affairs based in our Ashburn VA headquarters.
What You Will Do:
Policy & Advocacy
- Research identify and track state and local policy development impacting the data center industry and energy production.
- Manage a team of regional leads in state government relations and economic development supporting their understanding of business priorities and helping them to prioritize issues in their region.
- Participate in the drafting of position statements and external-facing documents; prepare presentation materials and talking points for internal and external meetings as well as manage briefings for executives partners and external stakeholders.
- Support efforts to select manage and engage with state and local advocacy groups and coalitions.
- Support selection management and engagement with outside advisors with expertise and relationships in particular jurisdictions.
- Attend government and industry meetings to testify/comment on behalf of QTS and its interests.
- Act as a partner to other external facing colleagues with lead responsibility for federal government affairs media communications community engagement pre-development suppliers and customers.
Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Communications
- Utilize internally formulated narrative to engage and educate key stakeholders at state and local level.
- Build meaningful relationships with key stakeholders across QTS existing and prospective markets and engage with state and local policy makers to advocate for QTS priorities on issues of importance including tax energy land use and permitting.
- Support internal teams to identify assess and diligence prospective new locations for QTS operations.
Economic Development
- Lead the team in designing and implementing economic development pre-positioning strategy.
- Identify quantify and negotiate market-specific economic incentives on behalf of QTS and its tenants.
- Support due diligence and pre-development activities across the North American portfolio.
- Articulate market advantages and differentiations to internal decision makers.
- Provide consultative support to sales throughout pre-funnel deal-flow lease negotiation and onboarding processes.
- Align property development sales and prospective tenant timelines to maximize benefit windows and scope capital investment/job creation commitments for contractual performance targets.
- Coordinate teaming efforts and management of existing critical deadlines; align stakeholders to create visibility and accountability over current unfulfilled program obligations.
- Structure team workflows to pursue and proactively fulfill incentive program obligations.
What You Need to be Successful:
- Bachelors degree or masters degree
- Six or more years of combined experience working in state or local government economic development institution trade association or corporate government relations team.
- Experience managing third-party advocates trade associations and coalitions
- Understanding of the policy dynamic around AI data and energy infrastructure
- Demonstrated experience in state government relations and/or economic development
- Demonstrated knowledge of data center siting development and operations needs.
- Background in data center development supply chain or energy viewed as positive
- Political and campaign experience helpful but not required.
The Skills You Need:
- Substantial knowledge of Local and State legislative processes
- Ability to analyze legislative policy proposals.
- Ability to foster relationships and negotiate favorable outcomes.
- Ability to grow and manage internal and external teams.
- Ability to relate effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to relay complex issues to executives with little to know knowledge of processes or participants.
- Ability to build facilitate and participate in collaboration between diverse groups.
- Ability to integrate data effectively and work diplomatically with a broad range of individuals including senior management consultants and government officials.
- Self-starter who takes initiative and follows through on tasks to completion.
The Perks (and these are just a few!):
- QRest Sabbatical
- Employee Stock Purchase
- QTS scholarship for dependents
- Eagle Club award trip eligibility
- Paid volunteer days
- Tuition assistance parental leave and military leave assistance
TOTAL REWARDS
- This role is also eligible for a competitive benets package that includes: medical dental vision life and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; exible 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 benets.
- This position is Bonus eligible.
- This job 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:
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 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full Time
