External Affairs Regional Manager

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is redefining how data centers are delivered—faster, smarter, and at scale. We partner with hyperscale customers to provide tailored, high-performance infrastructure with a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and flexibility.

Our experienced, end-to-end team delivers custom solutions across a growing portfolio of strategic sites in key markets across the United States. Backed by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, Rowan is committed to enabling the next generation of digital infrastructure—and building a more sustainable future in the process.

Ready to help transform how the world’s most important technologies are powered? Join us.

Role Summary

Rowan Digital Infrastructure is looking for an External Affairs Regional Manager - DMV to help lead economic development, government affairs, public policy, and community relations within Rowan’s DMV data center project portfolio. This role is a critical part of the team that works with project leadership and subject matter expert teams from across the business to protect and expand Rowan’s portfolio in this region.

This role will help to bring into fruition Rowan’s portfolio of projects by ensuring the government and community landscape is favorable to our company’s operations. The External Affairs Regional Manager - DMV will also help to protect existing investments by tracking legislation and local policy changes that may impact our operations. The role will act as a face of the company in communities where we are making investments throughout the region.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully working in public policy/government affairs/economic development settings. The successful candidate will have excellent strategic thinking and negotiation skills, organizational and communication skills, the ability to multitask, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Travel: Ability to travel up to (30%) to project sites and/or for company gatherings.

Location: A preference for candidates located in the Frederick County MD or Washington D.C. metro areas, or at our corporate HQ in Denver, CO.

Compensation: $130 - $175K (Offers Bonus)

Essential Responsibilities

• Engage with government representatives, community organizations, residents, and other local stakeholders about Rowan's projects

• Track state/local legislation, regulatory proceedings, and project entitlements and advocate on these items as necessary

• Form coalitions with interested individuals and organizations to support/oppose state legislation, local policy issues, and more

• Support drafting and managing the execution of strategic plans for political and community engagement in key markets across the region

• Represent Rowan at various public events and effectively communicate the benefits of Rowan project investments to external key stakeholders, including AHJs, economic development partners, elected officials, and the community at large

• Support the identification of new site development opportunities within the local market

• Support the drafting of communications content to broaden and amplify messaging about our community, economic, and environmental benefits in public settings, including project pitches, AHJ presentations, customer meetings, etc

• Identify and track pertinent legislation and local policy proposals that may have business implications on Rowan’s operations

• Support the negotiation, execution and implementation of economic development agreements with community partners

Education, Skills, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 5+ years of public policy experience within government and/or relevant nonprofits, economic development organizations, public interest groups, business, campaigns or industry associations

• Skilled at persuasively and diplomatically advocating policy positions publicly before key stakeholders

• Demonstrated track record of success in developing strong partnerships with AHJs, economic development organizations, state and local government, and other key stakeholder

• Public policy/government affairs experience

• Experience communicating with senior leaders and executives

• Experience drafting strategic communications and supporting public relations

• Knowledge of policy impacting data center industry preferred

• Experience with legislative tracking for targeted industries preferred

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Ability to work effectively in a fa