Director of Data Center Certification

EQL Tech (sales & engineering talent)

. Build the independent certification body for AI data centers from first principles .

Posted 11/3/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in building certification frameworks for AI data centers, including developing rigorous criteria, establishing a digital-first process, and leading a certification team. Possesses strong commercial instincts and exceptional communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders, including developers, municipalities, and regulators.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Certification Strategy DevelopmentData Center FundamentalsLeadership and Team BuildingCommercial Pricing ModelsStandards and Accreditation Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Certification Criteria DevelopmentTechnical Knowledge in EnergyPower ProcurementInterconnectionRenewables and StorageLoad FlexibilityPricing and Revenue ModelsData Center OperationsAI InfrastructureNonprofit Leadership

Soft Skills

Exceptional CommunicationSound JudgmentConflict ResolutionCommercial InstinctRelationship Building

Industry Keywords

Data CentersEnergy DevelopmentUtilitiesMunicipalitiesRegulatorsStandards BodiesClimate FundersMembership OrganizationsPhilanthropic FundersCertification Independence

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build the independent certification body for AI data centers from first principles
Set and own the certification strategy and determine its scope
Lead development and publication of rigorous, adoptable certification criteria with technical experts, developers, utilities and municipalities
Design the business model, including facility-size-scaled fees, annual recertification, membership tiers and a practitioner credential
Build a financially self-sustaining certification business
Establish a digital-first certification process, remote auditor network and consistent quality assurance
Win initial developer and municipality adopters and position certification in siting, permitting and procurement decisions
Protect certification independence and resolve conflicts between commercial relationships and certification integrity
Partner with the Director of Data Center Energy Strategy
Hire and grow the certification team and auditor network
Build external relationships across hyperscalers, developers, utilities, grid operators, municipalities, regulators, standards bodies and climate funders
Work with the Foundation CEO on budget, impact, risk, grants and impact investing
Deliver the first-year strategy, Version 1 standard, business model and governance, auditor program, pilot certifications and strategy-track partnership
Travel as needed to meet developers, utilities, municipalities and the Foundation

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience building a new organization, product or market from an early stage, ideally one where you had to create the demand as well as the offer
Credibility on two fronts: holding your own with data center developers and energy executives, and with municipal officials and regulators
Working fluency in energy and data center fundamentals, including power procurement, interconnection, renewables and storage, and load flexibility
Enough technical knowledge to lead technical experts and challenge their work
Commercial instinct: designing pricing and revenue models, and selling to skeptical buyers
Demonstrated leadership of a team, with a track record of hiring well
Sound judgment on independence and conflicts of interest, and willingness to hold a line under commercial pressure
Exceptional communication, including making a technical standard compelling to developers, municipalities and the public
Deep personal commitment to clean, reliable power for the AI era
Experience with standards, certification, ratings or accreditation strongly preferred
Direct experience in data centers, AI infrastructure, utilities or energy development strongly preferred
Experience working with municipalities, permitting authorities or state energy regulators strongly preferred
Experience leading a nonprofit or membership organization, or operating within or alongside a philanthropic funder strongly preferred
An engineering or technical background, or an advanced degree in a relevant discipline, strongly preferred
An existing network across hyperscalers, developers, utilities and climate investors strongly preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive Salary & Benefits
A founding leadership role building a new institution with seed backing from the Sijbrandij Foundation
Direct reporting line to the Foundation CEO and a close working partnership with the strategy track
Fully remote within the US