Senior Manager, Government Relations

Who We Are:

Its pretty 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.

Who You Are:

The Senior Manager Government Relations will lead the State Government relations team within the Government Relations & External Affairs team to understand business objectives and spot opportunities for value creation in the pipeline of future project sites where QTS operates or considers as a prospective location across the United States. This role will manage a regional team while also covering one four regions.

The Impact You Will Have:

This role will work with internal and external teams to formulate strategic plans to deliver positive outcomes (either lowering risk or increasing value) in critical path state level legislative and regulatory will be a key part of the Government Relations & External Affairs leadership team that is charged with developing comprehensive government relations community engagement and project enablement requirements aimed at advancing QTS interests and creating competitive differentiation.

This role will work closely with internal teams focused on real estate acquisition project pre-development operations legal tax and marketing/communications. This role will identify existing organizational gaps to recognize risks at the state government level and identify future opportunities for growth and develop a team that delivers your leadership the State Government relations team will identify key stakeholders in key states and build meaningful relationships that help QTS align its goals with the goals of the communities where we invest and operate. Identifying win-win outcomes is a top KPI for the entire Government Relations & External Affairs team. You will work closely with the Economic Development Federal Government Affairs Community Engagement and Marketing & Communications teams to create integrated aligned and coordinated external engagement outcomes.

What You Will Do:

• Research identify and state legislation and regulatory developments impacting data center development across the United States.

• Manage a team of State Government Relations professionals focused on particular regions that cover the QTS pipeline of operations or prospective data center sites.

• You will support the team in ensuring they understand business priorities and help them to prioritize key deliveries in their regions.

• Participate in the drafting of 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.

• Utilize internally formulated narratives to engage and educate key stakeholders in state government.

• 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 in economic development and critical path entitlements.

• Support internal teams to identify assess and diligence prospective new locations for QTS operations.

• Lead the team in designing and implementing state government relations strategy and priorities.

• Support the Economic Development team to 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 at the state government level.

• 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 fulfil legislative regulatory and incentive outcomes.

What You Will Need to be Successful:

• Bachelors degree or professional equivalent.
• Six or more years of combined experience working in state or local government corporate state government relations function economic development institutions contract lobbying firms or other advocacy organizations that focus on multi-state advocacy.
• Experience managing third-party advocates trade associations and coalitions.
• Understanding of the policy dynamic around AI data and energy infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience in state level legislative and regulatory environments.
• Management experience of regional teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data center site selection development and operations needs.
• Background in data center development supply chain or energy viewed as positive.
• Political and campaign experience is helpful but not required.

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.

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 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.