Overview
This role serves as the organization’s US-based infrastructure legal counsel for critical infrastructure projects. The Director, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, US is a hands-on execution position responsible for managing the full contracting lifecycle for US data center campus activities, including construction, design and consultancy, major equipment supply and O&M, real estate, and power—from term sheet through delivery and closeout.
Responsibilities
- Lead negotiation of owner-contractor, EPC, and design-build agreements for data center campus construction across the US.
- Draft and negotiate design and consultancy agreements with architects, engineers, and specialist consultants, including framework agreement and work order structures, ownership of deliverables, and professional liability.
- Negotiate supply, installation, and O&M agreements for on-site power generation and critical electrical and mechanical equipment, including performance guarantees, warranties, and service levels.
- Support site acquisition, development arrangements, and ground leases, as well as power procurement, utility, interconnection, and power purchase arrangements in coordination with regulatory and local counsel.
- Maintain and improve infrastructure contract templates and playbooks.
- Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, adapting for local law and market practice.
- Manage contracts through delivery and closeout, including change orders, cost and schedule claims, payment and retention issues, defect correction, and dispute avoidance.
- Coordinate insurance and bonding requirements with the insurance team, and partner with Debt Capital Markets Legal on lender requirements for project-financed sites.
- Manage US outside counsel, including scope, budgets, and quality of advice.
- Partner closely with construction, procurement, finance, real estate, energy, and operations teams to support project delivery at pace.
Requirements
- 7+ years of construction and infrastructure legal experience, gained in-house and/or at a top-tier law firm.
- Strong track record negotiating major construction EPC, design-build, professional services, and equipment supply agreements for large-scale, mission-critical, or industrial projects.
- Fluency in construction risk allocation, including pricing structures, delay remedies, warranties and defects, indemnity, insurance, liability, and dispute-resolution provisions.
- Confident first-chair negotiator, able to run multiple high-value contracts in parallel and drive them to signature.
- Ability to clearly explain complex legal and commercial risk to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable working alongside project finance, power, insurance, and regulatory counterparts.
- Qualified attorney admitted in at least one US state and in good standing.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, data center developer, major contractor, or infrastructure investor.
- Energy and power project experience, including equipment supply, O&M, utility and interconnection, or power purchase arrangements.
- Construction claims and dispute resolution experience.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range (base): $210,000—$340,000 USD
- Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location.
- This role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs.
- Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.
Location
US-based. (Director, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, US)