Real Estate Development Associate Jobs in Massachusetts

Position Title: Subregional Real Estate Development Lead
Your role
The Data Center Subregional Real Estate Development Lead is responsible for the end-to-end development of data center facilities, coordinating planning, entitlements, design, and construction to deliver projects on time and within budget. This role provides oversight of consultants, contractors, and internal partners while proactively identifying and communicating risks to support Digital Realty's strategic and financial objectives.
What you'll do

• Lead end-to-end development activities including feasibility, due diligence, entitlements, design management, construction, and turnover.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to implement comprehensive project plans that support on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, providing clear updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage project budgets, development pro formas, cash flows, and financial forecasts, escalating potential variances.
• Partner with HDL, PMG, DEC, Investments, Finance, Legal, and Operations teams to validate underwriting assumptions and drive alignment.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies, support contract negotiations, and drive value optimization.
• Oversee design teams and specialty consultants to maintain alignment on scope, schedule, cost, and brand standards.
• Monitor construction performance including quality, safety, schedule, contract compliance, and review of RFIs, submittals, and change orders.
• Support entitlement, permitting, zoning, and community engagement activities in partnership with internal teams and public stakeholders.
• Lead commissioning, closeout, and turnover activities, ensuring complete documentation, warranties, and financial reconciliation.

What you'll need

• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale real estate or data center development projects from concept through delivery.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with project budgets, pro formas, forecasting, and cost controls.
• Experience coordinating across multiple internal functions and external partners in complex project environments.
• Working knowledge of entitlement, permitting, design management, and construction delivery processes.
• Ability to identify and communicate project risks clearly to executive stakeholders.
• Strong contract, procurement, and consultant management capabilities.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of ownership, accountability, and sound business judgment.
• Bachelor's degree in real estate, engineering, construction management, architecture, or related field preferred.

A bit about us
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents.
To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
A bit about our team
Our Operations team keeps our customers' infrastructure running safely and securely. We get plenty of opportunities to take on a variety of tasks and develop our technical skills. From overseeing electrical power to cooling and fire suppression systems, our team plays a vital role in making sure everything in our data centers operates as it should.
What we can offer you
Our rapidly evolving business sector offers the opportunity to be part of a courageous and passionate team who work together to understand and meet the changing needs of our global customers.
Join us and you'll be part of a supportive and inclusive environment where you can bring your whole self to work. As part of our team, you'll get to work with people from different business areas, challenge the way we do things and put your ideas into action. We'll also give you plenty of development opportunities so you can build a rewarding and successful career with us.
Apply today, take charge of your career and grow your talents with us.
Health and Safety
Safety isn't just a priority here at Digital; it's critical to everything we do. Safeguarding lives, protecting assets, and securing data aren't just ideals - they're essential pillars of our commitment to excellence for our people, our partners and our customers. We have a culture of care where every member of Team Digital embraces a relentless pursuit of working safely across Digital Realty. Together we are Safely Powering Progress.
Our Compensation Philosophy
Digital Realty offers its employees a highly competitive compensation package, excellent benefits, and an environment that recognizes and rewards your contributions. Central to our compensation philosophy is rewarding our employees for achieving the values and objectives aligned to the company's overall goals and values.
Our published pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and geographical location. Individual pay is based on additional factors including but not limited to job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training. Moreover, an employee's total compensation package varies by role and may include salary, cash bonus or commissions, and equity awards not quantified below.
Compensation range $200,000 - $240,000. This compensation range represents the Company's good faith belief as to what it will pay as a base salary for this position at the time of this posting.
Benefits: For this role, Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, 401k match, disability benefits, wellness and education benefits, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off, holidays, and more.
Responsibilities
The role is responsible for overseeing all phases of data Center construction, from initial planning through to project completion. This includes managing project budgets, schedules, and resources to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery. The role requires proactive risk management and the enforcement of rigorous safety protocols, while promoting a culture of collaboration among internal teams and external partners. The role supports digital transformation initiatives, implements operational improvements, and ensures compliance with governance frameworks. Additionally, the position advocates for standardized best practices, monitors performance metrics, and drives continuous process optimization. Effective communication and stakeholder engagement are essential, as is the ability to adapt to evolving project demands and industry standards.
Qualifications
Bachelors degree in construction management, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)12-18 Years proven experience as a construction/project manager or director, preferably in data Center projectsDeep knowledge of construction processes, methodologies, and industry best practicesProficiency in project management software/toolsFamiliarity with data Center design, infrastructure, and MEP systemsStrong understanding of relevant building codes, regulations, and standardsFluent in English (oral and written); additional regional language preferredAdvanced project management and leadership skillsStrong problem-solving and analytical abilitiesExcellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skillsPeople management and influencing capabilityHigh digital competency and understanding of digital strategy/reportingProcess improvement and metric-based managementAttention to detail, organization, and flexibilityCustomer focusResilience and adaptability under stressMulticultural sensitivity and collaborative approach