Director, Data Center Development & Site Acquisition

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

CRG is a privately held real estate development and investment firm with deep expertise in industrial, office, student housing, land, and data center assets. Since 1993, we’ve developed over 220 million square feet across 12,500 acres, representing more than $14 billion in value. The firm serves clients and investors from headquarters in Chicago and St. Louis, and regional offices in Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

CRG manages $2.3 billion in real estate assets across institutional joint ventures and four fund vehicles with over $500 million in AUM. As part of Clayco, a nationally recognized, vertically integrated real estate and construction enterprise, CRG combines the strength and scale of an industry leader with the agility of an entrepreneurial platform.

CRG is building a scalable data center development platform focused on controlling land, securing power, and entitling sites for hyperscale users. We are seeking a senior development professional to lead site acquisition, entitlements, and power strategy across targeted markets. This role is senior focuses on entitlements, utilities, and early-stage risk mitigation.

• Source, underwrite, and advance data center sites from raw land through entitlement
• Evaluate zoning, land use, infrastructure, environmental, and political risk
• Drive LOIs, purchase agreements, extensions, and entitlement strategies
• Lead engagement with electric utilities, co-ops, and power providers
• Secure power availability, load studies, and interconnection paths
• Evaluate substation and transmission scalability
• Own rezoning, special use permits, and land‑use approvals
• Interface directly with planning staff, elected officials, and communities
• Manage land use counsel, engineers, and consultants
• Advance sites to fully entitled, power‑ready status
• Coordinate with internal development, construction, and capital markets teams

• 10+ years of development experience
• Proven entitlement and utility coordination track record

• This position is based in St. Louis, MO or Chicago, IL
• We work on creative, complex, award‑winning, high‑profile jobs across the United States.
• The pace is fast!

• Join a mission‑driven, entrepreneurial team backed by Clayco’s national platform.
• Gain visibility and impact at the highest levels of leadership.
• Be a part of landmark real estate projects across the U.S.
• Work in an innovative culture that values speed, integrity, and excellence.
• 2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2025 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design‑Build Firms – Design‑Build Contractor (Top
  5).
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top
  3).
• 2025 ENR Top 25 Data Center Builders – Data Center Contractor (Top
  3).
• RE Journals: 2023 Developer of the Year.
• RE Journals: #1 Midwest Developer (2020 & 2021), Top 4 Midwest Developer (2022–2024).
• Industrial Influencer (2021, 2022 & 2024).
• Multifamily Influencer (2023 & 2024).
• Crain’s Chicago Business, NAIOP, , Student Housing Business, , Connect CRE, RE Journals:
  Award‑winning leadership and rising stars across multiple disciplines.

• Discretionary Annual Bonus:
  Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including:
  Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to:
  Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.