Senior Manager, Network Planning & Development

Senior Manager, Network Planning & Development

Join to apply for the Senior Manager, Network Planning & Development role at QTS Data Centers.

It’s exciting to stand in a pivotal moment and lead it. At QTS, our world‑class data centers support customers’ most strategic growth initiatives, positioning us at the forefront of today’s dynamic digital transformation. As AI and cloud drive demand for increased speed, capacity and capability, QTS has emerged as the global digital infrastructure leader, committed to connecting the world for good.

QTS designs, builds and operates some of the world’s most advanced, forward‑thinking data centers and is a portfolio company of Blackstone. QTS is Powered by People who play a vital role in culture, innovation and growth, are knowledgeable, resourceful and mission‑driven, and are committed to giving back to the communities where we operate.

You have a strong understanding of network engineering and relationships with fiber providers across the US. You leverage your business acumen and technical versatility for gathering connectivity requirements, performing fiber due diligence, documenting solutions, conducting cost analysis and negotiating with fiber providers for robust connectivity solutions.

The Sr. Network Planner for QTS Data Centers is responsible for stakeholder‑focused connectivity requirements gathering, fiber due diligence and documentation, cost analysis, and commercial negotiations with fiber providers. Ideal candidates are collaborative program managers specializing in data center & network infrastructure with strong business acumen and technical versatility. The planner will develop technical solutions with fiber providers and provide a complete, unbiased, site‑by‑site fiber connectivity view critical to site acquisition decisions.

• Establish and maintain a repeatable fiber due diligence program for US‑based data center development projects.
• Own customer requirements gathering and documentation to pre‑qualify sites for particular use cases.
• Collaborate with parallel teams inside QTS and Blackstone, fiber providers, and customers to create best‑in‑class connectivity solutions that are intuitive, cost‑effective, well‑designed and easily digestible.
• Lead business meetings, identify, and communicate connectivity challenges that are uncertain, costly or potentially unsolvable.
• Produce and manage a consistent output for connectivity solutions and communicate regularly with parallel teams and executive leadership.
• Manage vendor relationships at the technical, business, and executive level with US fiber providers.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree with >10 years of experience in the telecom, data center, or cloud infrastructure industries.
• Experience and understanding of metro, long‑haul and submarine networks throughout the US.
• Able to articulate data center fiber connectivity best practices, solve for complex engineering and diversity requirements, and identify challenges & risks to the business.
• Able to interpret and evaluate relevant technical addenda in telecom contracts.
• Familiar with basic financial modeling to evaluate and model deal structures (fiber leases, Dedicated Internet leases, IRUs, etc.).
• Ability to document decisions and recommendations to internal technical leadership as well as VPs, SVPs and C‑suite.
• High degree of organization and ability to manage multiple, competing priorities.
• Able to travel for site due diligence trips and industry conferences as needed.
• Proficient in Smartsheet, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Earth, Fiber Locator, Peering DB, and project‑management software.

• QRest Sabbatical
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• QTS scholarship for dependents
• Eagle Club award trip eligibility
• Paid volunteer days
• Tuition assistance, parental leave and military leave assistance

This role is eligible for a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and HSA accounts; paid holidays; paid time off; paid volunteer days; employee…