Director, External Affairs

Overview
Tract is a team of digital infrastructure experts dedicated to accelerating responsible data center growth by developing master-planned data center parks with access to pre-positioned power and fiber in key markets where hyperscale and AI demand is going. Our approach is collaborative with governments, utilities, cities, and regions to ensure development is targeted for the optimal locations to maximize the economic development benefits for the community while being good stewards of the land and minimizing the impact on neighbors. Tract is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with real estate holdings throughout the United States.

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced, organized, detail-oriented, and relationship-driven Senior Director of External Affairs to join our growing team to drive federal, state, and regional/local governmental and energy external affairs and community outreach throughout the United States.

The role of the Senior Director, External Affairs will be responsible for developing, prioritizing, tracking, and communicating Tract’s external affairs priorities at the national, state, and local level across the United States. This position will collaborate with a matrixed set of external and internal stakeholders, supporting and implementing the political engagement strategy necessary to allow Tract to push forward the industry and development of master-planned campuses. This position will develop strategies to manage the political opportunities presented from changing regulations to the public perception of data centers. Many of these challenges occur at the local level, however this person will support efforts to develop positive support from National, State, and Non-governmental advocacy organizations throughout the process. Aggregating the capital investment, tax generation, and direct and indirect jobs projected for these developments create highly impactful opportunities for State economic development. Tract desires to create momentum for our mission at the highest levels of government, paving the way for our project teams to be able to do what they do best, delivering the highest quality developments. Numerous issues and challenges vie for attention from Nation and State leaders, Tract’s future opportunities depend on staying one step ahead of policy. Tract wants to tell our story in our own voice, and we are looking for someone who can create those opportunities.

Reporting to the Vice President, Business Development and External Affairs, a strong Senior Director, External Affairs candidate demonstrates a strong political acumen, a thorough understanding of national, state, and local-level public policy and can be effective with all constituents. They will build and maintain networks of contacts both within Tract and externally with national and state-level policy makers and can clearly articulate ideas to senior internal and external audiences. This role requires one with great judgment and impeccable ethics with the desire to succeed in a demanding, innovative, and entrepreneurial setting.

This role is intended to serve as an execution-oriented partner to the Vice President, with responsibility for disciplined tracking, reporting, follow-through, and day-to-day management of assigned policy matters.

Job Responsibilities

The Senior Director, External Affairs will work closely with internal stakeholders to understand the interests of Tract and our clients as they relate to governmental affairs developments, involving subject matter experts as appropriate to help craft a consistent narrative and approach to gain the political support required to reach successful outcomes. They will prepare briefing and presentation materials for engagements with policymakers, regulators, and clients, write comment letters to policy makers and contribute to thought leadership on relevant policy topics.  The Senior Director will monitor legislation and federal/regulatory developments, manage outside lobbyist updates, prepare weekly reports, draft bill summaries, and escalate risk to the Vice President and appropriate Tract senior leaders. Additionally, as appropriate, the Senior Director may take primary responsibility for a subset of markets prioritized by the Vice President, Business Development and External Affairs (e.g., three to five Western states in the continental U.S.).

In addition to other duties assigned by supervisors, the Senior Director, External Affairs will have the following key primary functional responsibilities:

• State Government Affairs

  • Develop, prioritize, track, and communicate Tract’s priorities at the state-level.
  • Take initiative to define and implement response strategies across states and jurisdictions in coordination with the Vice President.
  • Represent Tract’s views and interests with trade associations, consultants, and clients.
  • Manage outside lobbyist and consultant workstreams, including agendas, action items, follow-up, deliverables, and weekly reporting.
  • Support site RFI process to gather available sites that meet our well-defined parameters.

• National Government Affairs          

• • Monitor federal developments involving Congress, DOE, FERC, NERC, federal permitting, large-load interconnection, energy reliability, tax policy, and AI/data center infrastructure policy.
  •  Identify and monitor key U.S. public policy issues and Data Center Development trends that impact Tract and shape Tract’s position on these opportunities.
  • Provide technical recommendations on legislative and regulatory proposals, collaborating closely with Senior Leadership, Legal and other teams to ensure alignment across Tract.
  • Coordinate lobbying activity, as needed, on incentives, regulation, energy, land use, and related policy matters.
  • Build and maintain networks of contacts with national-level policy makers.
  • Provide expert level information on priority issues with key stakeholders across the business.

• Community Affairs         

  • Represent Tract positively and consistently with Tract values within the community in coordination with Tract local project teams.
  • Assist with relationship management with adjacent neighbors and community groups. 

Education & Experience

•  Bachelor’s degree in one of the following: Political Science, Communications, Public Relations, Speech, Journalism, or other related and/or equivalent degrees. JD highly preferred.
• Five to eight years’ experience in external affairs, public policy, government relations, legislative affairs, energy policy, infrastructure, economic development, or closely related fields. Experience managing projects, consultants, coalitions, or legislative processes preferred. Previous demonstrated success supporting major infrastructure development projects throughout the United States preferred.

Required Traits, Expertise, and Skills

• Strong political acumen with a thorough understanding of national, state and local-level public policy and the ability to be effective with all constituents.
• Excellent written communication skills including internal reports and external engagements.
• Ability to produce concise, accurate, decision-ready written work under time pressure, including bill summaries, state updates, risk assessments, briefing memos, and executive-ready talking points.
• Precision, follow-through, legislative tracking, deadline management, and synthesis in a high-paced environment.
• Exceptional verbal communication skills including internal presentations, external speaking engagements, and governmental engagement at the highest levels.
• Ability to problem solve, leveraging federal, state, and local relationships, corporate resources, and executive support to advance Tract’s message and projects.
•  Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries while continuing to drive Tract’s message.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of legislative and regulatory documents and information.
• Responsible, ethical, and collaborative mindset with a can-do attitude and pride in work product
• Strong work ethic, with ability to manage time and energy independently toward well-understood target outcomes.
• Curiosity coupled with the ability to network in structured and unstructured environments to quickly identify, understand, and communicate opportunities and challenges.
• Eagerness to be a part of building something unique, special, and valuable with a top-notch team of diverse professionals who lead in their respective sectors.

Location: Denver, CO office; Alexandria, VA office; Remote; 

Travel Requirement:  This position will require occasional travel to Tract Headquarters or Tract markets.

Expected Salary Range: $175,000 - $200,000 Base Salary + Discretionary Bonus

Tract Employment

Tract employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Tract is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance applying for any of our open positions, please contact us at info@tract.com.