Director, Data Center Contracts & Commercial Strategy

Nice to Have

• Experience securing capacity for hyperscalers, AI clouds, or large GPU/HPC deployments
• Experience on the landlord, developer, colocation provider, or contractor side
• Experience with complex construction programs such as semiconductor, oil and gas, or energy
• Experience standing up a contracts or sourcing function where little existed
• Salary Range Information
• The annual salary range for this position has been set based on market data and other factors. However, a salary higher or lower than this range may be appropriate for a candidate whose qualifications differ meaningfully from those listed in the job description.

About Lambda

Responsibilities

• Own the contracting and commercial strategy for how Lambda secures data center capacity — from leased and colocation sites today to owned, greenfield builds as the portfolio grows
• Serve as Lambda's lead negotiator on the highest-value capacity agreements — leases, colocation and service agreements, master agreements, design, equipment, and construction contracts — setting negotiation strategy and partnering with Legal and Finance on terms
• Lead lease and colocation negotiations with landlords, providers, and developers from LOI through definitive agreements and service orders — balancing rent, power pricing, delivery dates, expansion rights, and performance obligations
• Manage the existing lease portfolio — renewals, expansions, amendments, restructurings, exits, and landlord performance — and keep obligations, milestones, and critical dates current
• Protect delivery schedules through ready-for-service dates, delay credits, step-in rights, milestones, and SLAs, and hold landlords, suppliers, and contractors accountable for performance
• Build the contracting strategy for owned capacity — design firms and Engineers of Record, long-lead equipment (owner- vs. contractor-furnished), and GC, EPC, or EPCM delivery models and cost types (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus)
• Run competitive bids and RFPs, evaluate proposals, and recommend awards across leases, equipment, and construction
• Negotiate and execute master agreements with key providers, OEMs, design firms, and contractors that secure capacity and favorable terms across sites
• Drive change order, claims, and dispute discipline alongside Construction, Legal, and Finance
• Set standards for contract execution — term sheets, negotiation guardrails, templates, contract abstraction, approval workflows, and governance — that build the foundation for scale
• Partner across Data Center Development, Construction, Design, Capacity Planning, Finance, Legal, and Operations, and deliver executive-level briefings on deal strategy, risks, and contingency plans
• Have 10+ years of experience in data center or complex infrastructure contracting, commercial real estate or capacity leasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement
• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field, or have equivalent experience
• Are recognized as a lead negotiator — you have personally closed large, complex agreements (typically $100M+), not directed someone else to
• Have negotiated data center leases or colocation agreements and understand how landlords and providers price, structure, and deliver capacity and/or have negotiated construction, design, or equipment contracts and understand delivery models (GC, EPC, EPCM, design-build) and cost types (lump sum, GMP, cost-plus)
• Understand the data center lifecycle — land, power and utility, design, equipment, construction, commissioning — and how each affects deliverability
• Have managed contracts after signature — renewals, amendments, change orders, claims, and closeout
• Have set process, policy, or governance standards that an organization adopted
• Brief and persuade executives comfortably and build the business case that earns the decision
• Operate well in ambiguity, on compressed timelines, managing parallel deals in a supply-constrained market