Public Policy & Community Relations Director (East)

Description

About CoreSite:

At CoreSite, we empower a more connected future through high-performance data centers and interconnection solutions. Recognized as a trusted partner in digital transformation, our strategically located facilities and innovative services enable businesses to connect, collaborate, and grow in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Our culture is defined by operational excellence and a relentless drive for innovation. We foster a collaborative environment where every team member is valued, wins are celebrated as a team, and ownership is part of our DNA. At CoreSite, we’re not just building state-of-the-art infrastructure—we’re creating a community of forward-thinkers committed to solving complex challenges and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

At CoreSite not only are we Committed to Excellence, but we also Build Connections, Own It, Do the Right Thing, Have Fun, and Win as a Team. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping the future of digital infrastructure while nurturing your professional growth and success.

Director, Public Policy and Community Relations Role:

As a member of the company’s Legal team, the Public Policy and Community Relations Director will help define and build CoreSite’s public policy strategies. This includes planning and executing strategic communications programs while operating at a high-level of autonomy and regularly collaborating with cross-functional subject matter experts. This role enables CoreSite to deliver on its growth plans across the U.S. and has responsibility for establishing and maintaining local regulatory environments and positive community outreach that support CoreSite’s economic development. The Director, Public Policy and Community Relations, develops and delivers sustainable strategies and proactively initiates and regularly engages with local leaders and communities in which we are located. 

CoreSite delivers essential interconnection hubs for our customers across the U.S. to effectively conduct business and support their customers. The Director, Public Policy and Community Relations, develops advocacy strategies at the local market level, positions CoreSite on key issues, and advises CoreSite’s cross-functional team leaders on local matters including local legislative priorities, the political environment, and public sentiment related to data centers. This role will problem-solve and build relationships with local leaders and communities through a position of trust, creating a more favorable and resilient local public policy environment for our company. This work ensures success, mitigates risk, and fosters sustainable, long-term growth for CoreSite and our customers while adding value to the communities in which we operate.

Duties:

• Partner with Marketing, Legal, and Corporate Development department leaders to build out the company’s important Public Policy and Community Engagement function.
• Collaborate with American Tower’s (CoreSite’s parent company) Public Affairs Team for alignment and to leverage their knowledge and best practices.
• Direct and support the execution of strategic local regulatory and community engagement plans to drive forward business objectives in the markets in which we operate.
• Research, identify, and track current and emerging policy issues across the U.S. and engage internal team members to determine the company’s strategies, position, priorities, and risks.
• Develop strategies to navigate and impact policy objectives; engage with state and local governments to advance the company’s public policy interests.
• Direct, lead, and collaborate with CoreSite’s corporate development, legal, construction, finance, operations, and additional teams on key local issues and workstreams. Engage in and support pre-development processes, researching policy drivers, public sentiment, and media coverage in new markets, understanding and pursuing local tax incentives and funding programs for data center development and with permit and zoning authorities.
• Develop and direct communication strategies to engage with community leaders in existing and new CoreSite markets.
• Manage contract lobbyists, association memberships, and coalition partnerships.
• Research industry trends and incorporate relevant insights into messaging development to help educate and prepare cross-functional colleagues.
• Regularly analyze performance against goals and report to marketing department and cross-functional leaders.
• Promote and demonstrate the behaviors consistent with CoreSite’s culture and core values.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment that includes at least two onsite days per week.
• Flexibility to travel up to 25% of the time to multiple CoreSite markets, capital cities, regional meetings and hearings. With the potential for increased in-office presence as business needs evolve.  
• Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with diverse internal and external audiences, including senior government officials and company executives, adapting language, tone, and style to fit the context.
• Experience in government relations, economic development, or community engagement.
• Experience learning business needs and representing those interests before government officials.
• Creative and critical thinking skills and the ability to understand complex issues and identify clear and effective action plans to resolve them.
• Experience working on policies related to data centers, AI, tax policy, energy, and sustainability.
• Experience in handling contract lobbyists and working as an internal lobbyist for a private company is highly preferred.
• Advanced political savvy and the ability to connect with customers and community members.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university preferred.
• Information technology and Business-to-Business experience preferred.
• Between 7–10 years of hands-on experience in government relations, economic development, or community engagement.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described herein represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the job’s duties the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop or kneel, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Ability to travel is required. 

Compensation:

Compensation for this role includes a base salary between $179,000 and $190,000 annually. This role is also eligible for an annual bonus and equity, based upon individual and company performance.

Benefits:

Not only does CoreSite have a fun, team-focused work environment, but we also offer great benefits to all employees regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours a week!

• First-day medical insurance through Cigna with generous premium cost coverage
• Dental insurance through Delta Dental
• Vision insurance through VSP
• Telemedicine through MDLive for Cigna
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) plans
• Health saving account (HSA) plans for employees participating in the High Deductible Health Plan
• Life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance fully paid by the company
• Voluntary coverage benefits for supplemental life, critical illness, accident, and hospital insurance
• First-day eligibility for 401(k) savings plan through Fidelity, which includes an attractive matching company contribution with a 5% company match
• Discretionary annual bonus and equity incentive plan
• Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) with a 15% discount
• 16 days of paid time off (PTO)11 paid company holidays and additional floating holidays
• Additional paid time off for school events, elder care, volunteering, bereavement, jury duty, voting, parental leave and disability leave
• Free parking or a company contribution toward a public transit pass

Additional Perks:

• Wellness Reimbursement Program: Yearly stipend of $500 for employees and $300 for dependents, up to $800 total for the family
• Wellness Incentive Program: Participate in various wellbeing activities to earn up to $450 per year in cash incentives
• Technology Stipend: $100 monthly stipend.
• Educational Reimbursement Program: Work-related learning and development with reimbursement on qualifying degree programs, up to $5,250 per year
• Giving Back: Charitable donation matches up to $5,000 per year and nominate organizations for Company Foundation grants
• Financial Management: Access to financial coaching, digital tools and services to manage and pay student loan debt quicker
• Pet Insurance: Keep your furry friends healthy and happy
• Family Planning: Benefits and services related to fertility, pregnancy, menopause, adoption and surrogacy
• Employee Assistance Program: 24x7 service to support family, work, money, health, legal and life challenges
• Counseling and Caregiving Programs: Including access to mental health services, licensed counselors, and caregiving tools including membership for finding care.
• Referral Bonus: Receive a $3,000 cash bonus if referred candidate is hired and meets eligibility requirements
• Discounts: Discounts, cash back offers and perks on thousands of brands
• LinkedIn Learning Membership: Support your development when accessing LinkedIn’s online library of courses and videos

General Statements:
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Please note that all offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and, where permitted by law, a 5-panel drug test conducted after the offer letter is signed, which will screen for THC, opiates, PCP, cocaine, and amphetamines. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Applicant Privacy Notice: CoreSite is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information submitted by applicants. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires us to provide you information about our personal information handling practices. As a result, we’re providing this Privacy Notice that describes how we collect, use, share, and update personal information from individuals who wish to be considered for employment with CoreSite. To read the Applicant Privacy Notice, please go to https://www.coresite.com/applicant-privacy-notice.

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this job posting on external sites is prohibited without prior written consent from CoreSite. We are not responsible for any postings or offers not originating from our official channels or approved partners.