Principal, Strategic Data Center Partnerships

Remote from: USA
Annual salary: Undisclosed
Salary information is not provided for this position. Check our Salary Directory to estimate the average compensation for similar roles.
Department: Product & Operations
Employment type: Full Time,
Job posted: 13 Jun 2026
Apply before: 13 Jul 2026
Experience level: Senior
Views / Applies: 28 / 7

About company

About Meta

Giving people the power to build community and bring the world closer together

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2004

Actively Hiring

AI Summary

This is a senior leadership role at Meta responsible for developing the global data center strategic partnership program to support AI infrastructure expansion. The Principal will lead complex investment negotiations with financial institutions, developers, and asset owners. They will collaborate across engineering, finance, and legal teams to structure large-scale capacity solutions. The role requires deep expertise in financial modeling, commercial structuring, and executive stakeholder management. It offers a fast-paced, high-autonomy environment with significant impact on Meta's data center growth.

Role DNA

Job Complexity

Easy Hard

Pace & Pressure

Relaxed Fast-paced

Autonomy Level

Guided Full Ownership

Communication Load

Independent Highly Collaborative

AI Insight The role demands exceptional expertise in complex partnership structuring, financial modeling, and cross-functional leadership, combined with the high stakes of enabling AI infrastructure at scale.

Salary Analysis

AI Insight The salary for this Principal role is estimated based on market data for senior infrastructure partnership roles in tech. The median of $300,000 is competitive for the level of responsibility and required expertise.

Key Skills

Strategic Partnerships Data Center Infrastructure Financial Modeling Negotiation Investment Analysis Cross-functional Leadership Infrastructure Development AI Infrastructure Global Strategy Commercial Real Estate

Cover Letter Sample

Dear Hiring Team,

I am writing to express my interest in the Principal, Strategic Data Center Partnerships role at Meta. With over 12 years of experience in infrastructure investment and development, I have a proven track record of structuring large-scale partnerships and financial models. My expertise in cross-functional leadership and navigating complex commercial structures aligns perfectly with Meta's aggressive data center expansion goals. I am excited about the opportunity to drive AI infrastructure growth and would welcome the chance to discuss how my background can contribute to your strategic objectives.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Possible Interview Questions

How do you evaluate a potential data center partnership opportunity?

I start by assessing alignment with strategic objectives, then conduct detailed financial modeling including IRR, NPV, and sensitivity analysis. I evaluate the partner's track record, financial stability, and ability to deliver. I also consider legal and regulatory risks, and ensure the structure meets Meta's cost and timeline targets.

Describe a complex partnership you negotiated. What was your approach?

At my previous company, I led a multi-party joint venture for a large data center campus. My approach involved early alignment on governance structures, clear allocation of risks and returns, and iterative negotiations with legal and finance teams. I built trust through transparent communication and reached a deal that reduced overall cost by 15%.

How do you manage cross-functional teams across time zones?

I establish clear roles, regular syncs, and shared OKRs. I use collaborative tools like Asana and Slack, and schedule meetings at rotating times to be fair. I prioritize face-to-face touchpoints during critical phases and empower local leads to make decisions within agreed frameworks.

What financial metrics are most important when evaluating data center investments?

Key metrics include unlevered IRR, net present value (NPV), payback period, and EBITDA multiples. I also focus on cost per megawatt, total cost of ownership, and scalability of the design. Sensitivity analysis on power pricing and construction costs is critical.

How do you stay ahead of AI trends that impact data center demand?

I subscribe to industry reports, attend conferences like OCP, and maintain a network of experts. I regularly review AI model compute requirements and energy efficiency trends. I also run scenario analyses to anticipate shifts in capacity needs and adjust partnership strategies accordingly.

Meta designs, builds, leases, and operates high-performance, energy-efficient data centers. Meta is seeking a Principal, Strategic Data Center Partnerships to develop Meta’s global data center portfolio in line with the company’s strategic objectives to advance our efforts around AI. This role has global responsibility for the development of the data center strategic partnership program.The Principal, Strategic Data Center Partnerships supports Meta’s data center strategy by developing large-scale capacity solutions. This role focuses on rapid infrastructure expansion through partnerships with key stakeholders, such as financial institutions, developers, colocation providers, and long-term asset owners.ResponsibilitiesLead the strategy for structuring, negotiating, and executing complex, multi-faceted investment partnerships focused on data center and power development* Grow and lead the strategic partnerships program including identification and commercial structuring of development partner opportunities to enable future data center capacity growth* Collaborate with key leaders across design, engineering, construction, finance, and legal to develop the strategic plan needed to execute against the company’s aggressive capacity targets* Lead detailed financial modeling, valuation, and sensitivity analysis of potential investments and partnerships to ensure commercial viability and alignment with Meta’s financial objectives and business objectives* Align and build governance around partnership arrangements* Develop long-term relationships with Meta’s key third-party partners* Interface with the global investment and infrastructure community to meet Meta’s infrastructure needs* Travel domestically and internationally as needed (25%+)Qualifications10 years of overall experience in private equity, investments or infrastructure development with a focus on data center or power infrastructure* Proven experience in financial structuring, investment and analysis, particularly in infrastructure assets* Proven track record of delivering large capital projects leveraging complex commercial structures* Strategic thinker with experience driving decision making in ambiguous environments with experience influencing executive stakeholders* Analytical problem-solving skills, experience being effective in a fast paced, hands-on work environment, and have a track record of success leading projects and developing complex solutions across multiple stakeholders* Effective collaborator and skilled cross-functional communicator* Demonstrated communication and presentation skills* Proven track record of organizational leadership, including leading larger organizations and scaling teams during growth cycles* Experience assessing industry trends, market opportunities, and the competitive landscape in data center or power infrastructure* Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field, or equivalent practical experience Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies* Experience in the data center industry* International infrastructure development experience* 12+ years of commercial real estate investment and development experience* Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)* Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, real estate, MBA or J.D* Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)* Private equity and investment banking experience

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