THE ROLE: UTILITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER

As a Utility Development Project Manager at Switch, you will be part of a world-class team that operates in excellence, delivering mission-critical solutions that redefine what’s possible in AI, cloud and enterprise data center needs. Your work will directly impact the future of technology and the sustainable growth of the Internet.
You will work cross departmentally to ensure utility capacity is evaluated and secured at each campus. In this role you will help manage project due diligence, site development, construction, commercial agreements, and operational processes with a focus on delivering off-site utility infrastructure, managing relationships with local officials and utilities, and support early-stage power engagement and utility company coordination across the North American footprint. In addition, in this position you will be critical in implementing and executing infrastructure projects agreements, department input gathering for all studies, and initiatives related to electric utilities and energy services required for Switch’s conceptual and in service data center campuses.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Contract Implementation - Gather input from all departments to sign off for all contracts related to energy services, including agreements with source electric utilities. This role, in coordination with the Energy Team, has direct contact with electric source utilities and communication between utilities and internal Switch stakeholders (Legal, Leadership, etc.).
• Contract Management - Review and provide legal comparisons and redlines for outside counsel, the SVP of Energy and Sustainability, the Power Team, the Development Team and Construction Team, as necessary. Additionally, you will manage the calendar review of contracts with all teams and the utility, track contract timelines, and work with construction development to create a delivery timeline as per the contract.
• Power Capacity Studies - Oversee the study process until final submission, ensuring approval from the Power, Construction, and Development Teams. Lead data gathering for capacity studies for source utilities at existing Switch campuses and conceptual projects as directed by the Energy and Sustainability Leads direction. You will also be responsible to track the timeline for completion, follow up with the utility as needed, process all associated payments, and schedule all required team reviews upon receipt of study results. This includes managing data gathering from all departments, scheduling all necessary meetings, and managing capacity study requests for regulated markets.
• Regulatory Compliance – Monitor and review all contracts and agreements to ensure they comply with local, state and federal regulations. As part of this process you will create a timeline, monitor and track all legal compliance incorporated in contracts. (Example 25% load within 3 years from coming online.) This area of responsibility is vital to understand each source utility and location.
• Coordination and Collaboration - Work with internal and external stakeholders (Consultants, Utilities, etc.) to ensure seamless project operation throughout project life cycle.
• Right of Way/Easement Acquisition – Work with the Manager/Director of Utility Engineering & Development to identify all needed right of way for electric transmission, substation and distribution easements and assist source electric utility to obtain in a timeline manner.
• Reporting and Documentation –Prepare reports, feasibility studies, and technical documents related to utility planning and development. Maintain a central reporting and documentation repository for Development, Energy & Sustainability, Sales and Construction teams.
• Strategic Capacity Planning - Participate and facilitate strategic long term power capacity planning and architecture for current and planned Switch campuses as related to Switch owned electrical infrastructure or utility provided infrastructure.
• Interconnection Agreements - Oversee generator interconnection studies and associated input gathering from internal parties within Switch and the Utility.