Director of Community Engagement (Data Centers)

Director of Community Engagement (Data Centers)

Do you want to work with high caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading company backed by SoftBank and Ares pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our Mission is to provide reliable, affordable energy at scale to support America's growing energy demands. Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, SB Energy develops, builds, owns & operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since launching in 2019, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with over 3 GW in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also utilizes its strong culture of innovation to identify and incorporate new technology into our projects, including our AI-based digital platform, to deliver energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and technology future—today.

Come join us in accelerating the energy transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of power!

Basic Function

The Director of Community Engagement will be the ambassador between SB Energy and communities where we are developing large-scale AI data centers across the U.S. The successful candidate will be responsible for building strong relationships with local leaders, stakeholders, and residents, and for communicating with communities about upcoming AI data center projects. The role works closely within the Development team and with cross-functional teams such as Construction, Capital Markets, Grid Integration, and Legal departments during data center development.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain relationships with local leaders, community organizations, and residents.

Develop and execute community engagement strategies for new AI data centers.

Originate, negotiate, and secure favorable property tax abatement and economic development incentive packages with states and counties.

Partner with respective departments on incentive compliance and community benefits.

Develop proactive communications to address concerns, highlight benefits, and reduce risk of opposition.

Monitor community sentiment and advise executives on risks and opportunities.

Oversee data-driven community needs assessments, transforming research into actionable insights for projects.

Represent SB Energy in public forums, hearings, and community events.

Define and implement the strategic roadmap for programmatic community development.

Qualifications / Requirements

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a related field. Master's or JD is preferred but not required.

8+ years in community engagement, business development, market development, economic development, public policy, or program / project management.

Previous Experience

Proven track record engaging and building trust with diverse community stakeholders (local municipalities, non-profit decision makers, etc.) for large infrastructure or technology projects.

Experience with creating and implementing external communications plans, including crisis communication management, utilizing modern communication strategies.

Experience integrating community benefits (workforce, education, infrastructure support) into development strategies.

Strong public speaking and facilitation skills.

Ability to manage sensitive political and reputational issues.

Experience managing contractors, agencies, or other third-parties.

Understanding and experience in developing and presenting strategic recommendations from a broad range of data sources (e.g., survey data, social intelligence, qualitative research, online telemetry, business metrics).

Collaborative and adaptable, with experience working across government, community, and corporate teams.

Location

San Francisco Bay Area; San Diego, CA; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Houston, TX preferred. The position requires up to 30% domestic travel.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Pay – 190 000 – 220 000. The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our team. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus, a long-term incentive plan aligned with our ownership mindset, and a market-leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

Our Health & Wellness Benefits

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy :

100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)

401(k) with Company Match

Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays

12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave

Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)

Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)

Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits

Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data

Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans

Device Purchase Support

SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.

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