Technical Program Manager (Data Center Site Selection)

Site Selection team will work on conducting overseas facility market research, negotiating deals, managing vendor and partner relationships and presenting deal strategy and proposals to our leadership. Successful analysis and selection of the site have the potential to save millions of dollars in operating costs, mitigate risks to site availability and impact every part of the business. The team will work with networking, procurement and finance team to identify locations and sites of interest for self-developed, build to suit or co-location facilities, establish contacts and build relationships with 3rd party facility providers as well as facility developers, landowners, economic development officials, power grid and energy companies, telecommunications companies and government officials. Lead negotiations for technical and service contracts with these key stakeholders with knowledge of existing contracts, compliance measures, local relationships, and company goals. Tasks may include advocating a broad range of compliance issues including site/infrastructure development strategy and milestone tracking. Job responsibilities: Work with internal and external teams to identify, define, and pursue new site selection projects and initiatives to meet Alibaba’s ongoing facility needs, including the procurement of traditional and green energy for existing and new sites. Lead the site evaluation and selection process from start to finish, monitoring progress against objectives, providing regular status reports, and advocating financial metrics to support both site and energy-related portfolio decisions as required. Lead and develop strategic agreements with vendors, landowners and key suppliers for space and utility services. Manage the strategy with capacity planning team for ongoing growth at existing sites, develop metrics for mapping, tracking, and advocating of a broad range of portfolio management issues regarding site/infrastructure development. Job requirements: Bachelors degree in technology, engineering, science, economics or a related field. 5 years of international site selection or acquisition experience in mission-critical, large scale production facilities such as plants, facilities. Experience in developing strategic agreements, project management and financial modeling. General understanding of hybrid real estate solutions such as build-to-suit, Retail, and Wholesale facility leases. Strong analytical, creative thinking, written and verbal communications skills. High attention to detail and proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously. Ability to think and react in a high energy, fast paced environment. Preferred qualification: MBA or Master Degree plus. Experience with any of the following: large colocation deals, site selection for industrial-scale projects, real estate evaluation, acquisition, development, and construction, negotiating or managing utility agreements, financial modeling. Experience with end-to-end industrial-scale infrastructure development in support of facilities. Experience or familiarity with economic development policy, infrastructure development and build-to-suit developments. Familiarity with facility technology and/or other related areas of technical expertise. Experience with corporate communications and public relations strategies. Able to speak mandarin as this role will communicate with HQ in Hangzhou on regular base.