Regional community engagement manager

Who We Are:

It's pretty exciting, to find yourself standing in a pivotal moment in time. It's even more exciting to be out front leading it. At QTS, our world-class data centers are supporting our customers most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us at the forefront of today's dynamic digital transformation.

As AI and cloud drive the demand for increased speed, capacity and capability, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader, committed to connecting the world for good. Driven by purpose and fueled by a spirit of innovation, QTS designs, builds and operates some of the world's most advanced, forward-thinking data centers. QTS is a portfolio company of Blackstone.

QTS is Powered by People . People who play a vital role in our company's culture, innovation and growth. People who are committed to contributing to the communities where we operate and work. People who are knowledgeable, resourceful and mission driven. Together, we do great things.

Who You Are & the Impact You Will Have:

QTS Data Centers is seeking a Regional Community Engagement Manager to serve as the on-the-ground representative for QTS in key communities where we operate and develop data centers. This role is responsible for building trust, addressing community concerns in real-time, and ensuring QTS is viewed as a responsible corporate partner.

As part of the Government Relations & External Affairs team, this position will work directly in communities across a region, leveraging the expertise of Communications, Brand, Community Impact, and Government Relations teams to execute an informed and strategic engagement approach. The goal is to proactively engage communities, mitigate opposition, and ensure smooth project execution while upholding QTS's core values.

What You Will Do:

Serve as QTS's primary local representative in a geographic region, engaging directly with residents, businesses, government officials, civil society organizations, churches and advocacy groups to foster relationships based on integrity and trust.

• Establish an on-site presence during major construction projects, acting as a first point of contact for community concerns and ensuring quick issue resolution with accountability and respect.

• Attend public meetings, hearings, and town halls to represent QTS and communicate the company's mission, demonstrating character and transparency.

• Work with QTS Community Impact Team to assess site specific community needs and align with QTS Community Impact priorities to identify fit-for-purpose partnerships in a particular community that align with QTS values and goals.

• Identify and develop strategic local partnerships that align with QTS's commitment to supporting communities and volunteerism.

Collaboration with Internal Teams

• Partner with Government Relations to navigate regulatory, permitting and policy environment in each community and region where operate.

• Work with Communications & Brand teams to ensure consistent messaging and support the media team to engage with appropriate local media.

• Align with Community Impact on philanthropic initiatives and local partnerships that support families, faith organizations, and volunteer efforts.

• Coordinate with Pre-Development & Real Estate teams to provide insights on community sentiment and potential project risks associated with community opposition.

Risk Mitigation & Outrage Management

• Conduct early assessments of community sentiment and political risk before QTS enters a new market, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

• Implement on-the-ground engagement strategies during construction to prevent minor concerns from escalating into major opposition.

• Function as a real-time analytical person, addressing complaints (e.g., noise, dust, traffic) before they turn into larger advocacy efforts against QTS projects.

• Provide regular updates to leadership, flagging potential issues and recommending initiative-taking solutions.

Long-Term Community Relationship Building

• Maintain engagement with local stakeholders after projects are completed, ensuring QTS remains a trusted long-term community partner.

• Foster relationships with schools, nonprofits, and civic organizations to support QTS's commitment to family, faith, and volunteerism.

• Monitor and report on community sentiment trends, helping QTS stay ahead of emerging issues.

Community Engagement Strategies & Feedback Mechanisms

• Develop and execute engagement strategies that include digital engagement platforms, community forums, and virtual outreach events.

• Implement systems for collecting and analyzing community feedback, ensuring QTS adapts its approach based on real-time insights.

What You Will Need to be Successful:

• Five or more years of experience in community engagement, public affairs, government relations, or a related field.

• Experience collaborating directly with communities, particularly in industries involving land use, infrastructure, or large-scale development projects.

• Bachelor's degree in public affairs, Political Science, Communications, Business, or related professional experience.

• Experience in crisis response and managing public opposition to development projects, demonstrating accountability and action-oriented leadership.

• Ability to travel regionally, with an estimated 50-75% travel depending on project locations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience in real estate development, energy, mining, or hyperscale projects is a plus.

• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with data analysis tools to assess community feedback and sentiment is preferred.

• Military veterans with Civil Affairs Corps experience or professionals with a background in community engagement for regulated industries are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Exceptional communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders in a respectful and solution-driven manner.

• Ability to navigate local government processes, permitting, and regulatory frameworks while maintaining transparency and accountability.

Total Rewards:

• This role is also eligible for a competitive bene?ts package that includes: medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ?exible spending and HSA accounts; paid holidays; paid time off; paid volunteer days; employee assistance program; tuition assistance; parental leave; military leave assistance; QTS scholarship for dependents; wellness program, and other company bene?ts.

• This position is Bonus eligible.

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim.

The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here:

Know Your Rights (English) ( EEOC\ KnowYourRights\10\20.pdf)

Know Your Rights (Spanish)

The pay transparency policy is available here:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted (%20English\ formattedESQA508c.pdf)

QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

It's exhilarating to find yourself at a pivotal moment in history- and even more so to be leading the way. At QTS Data Centers, we are proud to stand at the forefront of today's dynamic digital transformation. Our world-class data centers empower our customers' most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us as a global leader in digital infrastructure.

As AI and cloud technologies fuel the demand for increased speed, capacity, and innovation, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader. We are committed to connecting the globe for good. Driven by purpose and a spirit of innovation, we design, build, and operate some of the most advanced data centers worldwide. In addition to our cutting-edge technology, we are dedicated to sustainability, incorporating renewable energy solutions to minimize our environmental footprint and drive meaningful impact. As a proud portfolio company of Blackstone, QTS is uniquely positioned to achieve ambitious growth and innovation goals.

At QTS, we are Powered by People . Our team members are the cornerstone of our culture, innovation, and growth. They are mission-driven, resourceful, and committed to making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Together, we're achieving remarkable things and shaping the future of digital infrastructure.

And we'd like to invite you to join us.

In addition to a variety of benefit packages, QTS goes above and beyond for our employees:

• Roth and Traditional 401(k) matching contributions with immediate vesting

• Every employee is bonus or commission eligible

• Generous PTO, Paid Volunteer Days Plus Floating Holidays

• Stock Purchase Plan (SPP)

• 11 paid Holidays Annually/Holiday compensation when worked

• Pet and Legal Insurance

• Q-Rest Sabbatical Program

• Q-Anniversary Service Award Program

• Parental Leave for primary and secondary caregivers

• Military Benefits Package

• QTS Charitable Matching Gift Program

• QTS Scholarship for Employee Dependents

• QTS Crisis Fund

• Wellness Program

• Tuition Reimbursement Program