VP, Legal, Real Estate & Infrastructure

Who are we?

A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future.

A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact. You’ll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

The VP, Legal, Real Estate & Infrastructure is responsible for the global strategy, planning and execution of legal strategy across Equinix’s Real Estate and Infrastructure domains, with direct responsibility to drive Equinix's organic regional expansion plans and xScale product outcomes.

This role leads a global team of professionals overseeing legal efforts around real estate, design and construction, and energy solutioning areas of practice in support of the business and our Build Bolder strategy. The VP drives global strategy, policies and processes that align and embody a consistency of approach and use of systems and tools, together with a focus on regional engagement and execution. Serving as the primary strategic partner and trusted advisor to SVPs for Global Real Estate, Global Design & Construction and Global Energy, this leader plays a critical role in guiding Equinix’s continued global growth and operational excellence.

 

Responsibilities

Strategy and Execution Leadership

• Responsible for shaping a strategy and execution model around legal support for the delivery of inventory/capacity to support Equinix’s organic expansion plans across all three regions.

• Support the work of the Global Real Estate, Global Design & Construction and Global Energy teams, with a deliberate focus on operating with excellence and scalability, repeatability, and continuous improvement as expansion volumes increase.

• Represent One Legal on applicable investment committees, handling any legal and related queries and escalations as part of the review and approval of new organic expansions.

• Drive preparation and adoption of appropriate global policies and procedures and risk frameworks to ensure consistent stakeholder experience while accommodating local nuance.

Legal Operations and Execution

• Lead and manage all real estate transaction activity (acquisitions, ground leases, and commercial leases) and advisory work associated with the same, designing standardized deal frameworks, playbooks, and process flows to enable efficient execution at scale and appropriate outsourcing of routine or repeatable work.

• Lead and manage all construction contracting activity, zoning, planning, and advisory work associated with the same, embedding process discipline, template-driven contracting, and system-enabled tracking to improve cycle times, quality, and predictability.

• Lead and manage legal support for power strategies in region, including support for power purchasing contracts, advising on renewable and sustainability issues, supporting complex power projects such as onsite power generation and building and operating sub-stations while continuously refining legal delivery models to support increasingly complex, high-volume, and capital-intensive programs.

• Support through a RACI model on all real estate, construction and energy aspects of xScale JV businesses, and partner with the GC for xScale-on-xScale related matters.

Team Leadership and Organizational Development

• Build and maintain a network of external counsel relationships across the region with the necessary expertise and knowledge of Equinix to ensure excellent, timely, and cost effective external legal support, and manage budgeted spend accordingly.

• ‘Live’ the Equinix values and operating norms to role model and strengthen culture from the top down.

• Motivate the team around a shared vision and change story in line with transformation, and gauge and monitor the team’s motivations, aspirations, and expectations to translate Equinix’s global talent strategy into applicable contexts.

Stakeholder and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Develop peer relationships and work closely with other areas of One Legal, such as the Legal Supplier team regarding MCE procurement and critical vendor relationships, and with leaders in the Global Contracts team supporting customers regarding ensure issues of joint interest around acquiring and selling inventory/capacity are understood and managed.

Qualifications

• Extensive legal experience including a substantial track record of operating in an executive leadership role.

• Experience leading a globally diverse team & delivering outcomes across jurisdictions.

• Experience leading an organization through transformation.

• Experience in legal leadership as a strategic legal partner, preferably in the technology/data center sector or an industry aligned to real estate, power, or construction.

• Demonstrated deep legal expertise in one or more key practice areas.

• Strong leadership skills in motivating a team and delivery on team objectives as a unified team with one voice.

• Possesses a highly evolved commercial sensibility.

• Possesses executive presence, and ability to influence at the SVP level and above.

• Ability to standardize global policies while translating for local complexities.

• Adept at balancing intense short-term pressures with overall long-term goals.

• Adept at inspiring behavior change through motivating teams, planning initiatives, designating priorities, and being decisive when faced with ambiguity

• Focus on execution and results – establishing high standards for performance, setting goals and developing plans, following through and holding people accountable for results.

This posting is a new position within our organization.

The United States targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are: • San Francisco, CA / Bay Area: $276,000 to $414,000 per year • California (Non-SF/Bay Area), Connecticut, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Washington state: $274,000 to $410,000 per year • Colorado, Nevada, Rhode Island: $260,000 to $390,000 per year Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training. This position may be offered in other locations. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process. The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position. As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. Details about our company benefits can be found at the following link: USA Benefits eBook

Equinix Benefits

As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.

Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.

US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms. Canada Core Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in healthcare coverage that is designed to complement the provincial healthcare system, along with life, disability and optional benefit plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You may also enroll in Equinix-sponsored retirement or savings plans: Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), Group Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax-Free Savings Plan (TSFA). - Vacation and Paid Holidays: Equinix offers both vacation and personal time, along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to specific plan or program terms, and to change at Equinix discretion.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability.  If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law. 

We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here.