The Director of Digital Assets will drive performance and optimization of a data center portfolio by overseeing acquisitions, developing strategies for asset management, and ensuring alignment with investment objectives.
Harrison Street Asset Management ("HSAM") is a leading global alternative investment management firm focused on real estate, infrastructure, and credit strategies across North America and Europe. Headquartered in Chicago, Toronto, and London with offices across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the firm has over $108 billion in assets under management on behalf of institutional investors and registered investment advisors globally.
Founded on a culture of innovation, HSAM is an early mover in alternative real estate and mid-market infrastructure. Today, the firm’s global team, consisting of more than 520 professionals, is committed to creating long-term value through deep sector expertise and forward-thinking strategies.
Join a high-performing team deploying capital in one of the fastest-growing real estate sectors. As an Investment Director of Digital Transactions and Asset Management, you'll drive the performance and optimization of a data center portfolio. This role carries responsibility for transactions underwriting and execution as well as financial and operational performance of assets, driving value creation, and ensuring alignment with broader investment strategies and risk management parameters.
The ideal candidate has deep experience in the data center sector with prior roles in underwriting, acquisitions, leasing, financing, power infrastructure, construction oversight, and hyperscale/enterprise tenant dynamics. The ideal candidate will be well versed in partnering across multiple functional areas including portfolio management and capital markets.
Job Description: The Director is responsible for driving asset-level performance and value creation, while also leading and supporting acquisitions, developments, and capital markets activity.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the financial and operational performance of a national and/or international portfolio of data center assets, driving NOI growth, tenant satisfaction, and long-term value creation.
- Develop and execute detailed asset-level business plans, including leasing strategies, capital improvement programs, power optimization, risk management, and redevelopment or expansion initiatives.
- Monitor and optimize asset performance across key metrics including occupancy, lease performance, operating expenses, power usage effectiveness (PUE), and return on invested capital.
- Manage relationships with data center operating and development partners, overseeing performance, governance, and strategic alignment.
- Collaborate closely with internal teams (development, engineering, ESG, finance, legal) and third-party property and facility managers to ensure operational excellence and alignment with investment objectives.
- Prepare and present asset and portfolio-level reporting, forecasts, and performance updates for senior leadership, Investment Committee, and institutional investors.
- Stay current on data center market trends, tenant demand dynamics (hyperscale and enterprise), power availability, sustainability considerations, and technological developments to inform asset strategy.
- Lead and support the origination, underwriting, and execution of data center acquisitions, developments, and structured investments.
- Execute transaction processes including due diligence, financial modeling, deal structuring, negotiation, and preparation of Investment Committee materials.
- Work with Partners and Capital Markets on a range of transaction strategies, including:
- Entity-level investments and programmatic joint ventures with operating partners
- Portfolio acquisitions
- Opportunistic development and redevelopment
- Loan acquisitions and workouts
- Provide asset-level and market insight to inform acquisition and disposition decisions.
- Support capitalization strategies, financing, and dispositions in coordination with Portfolio Management and Capital Markets teams.
Asset Management & Portfolio Performance
Transactions, Acquisitions & Capital Deployment
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (real estate and finance concentrations preferred);
- 8+ years of experience in real estate investment, asset management, infrastructure, or private equity, with direct data center or mission-critical facilities experience required.
- Demonstrated expertise in data center operations, including power, cooling, network infrastructure, leasing, and tenant requirements.
- Core knowledge of real estate investment and finance principles, as well as a working understanding of real estate accounting;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills;
- Ability to draw conclusions from research and data analysis and communicate them concisely and effectively;
- Thorough understanding of business software (Excel at minimum - Argus preferred).
This position requires frequent travel to visit properties, property managers, and operating partners.
Harrison Street Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
444 W Lake St, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60606
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