Senior Director, Legal - Policy and Regulatory Counsel

About Nscale

Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you'll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you'll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future.

About the Role

The Senior Director, Legal - Policy and Regulatory Counsel is Nscale's lead US regulatory and policy lawyer. Reporting to the SVP, General Counsel (US), you will partner with the Policy and Government Relations function to advise on legislative drafting, redlines, and impacts of policy changes to Nscale’s business. You will also work with team members on the regulatory strategy for US campuses from site selection through energization and operation. You will advise on Nscale's engagement with federal and state regulators. You will work hand in hand with our AI infrastructure, energy procurement, real estate, construction and public policy teams, so that every project is regulatory-ready, financeable and on schedule.

This is a player-coach role: you will lead your own highest-stakes matters, manage outside counsel across multiple states, and build a regulatory function that scales with Nscale as an AI infrastructure company.

What You'll Be Doing

Rulemaking and Permitting

• Partner with Policy on advocacy around emerging GPU, large-load, co-location and data center rulemakings at the federal and state level, and translate them into clear site and deal decisions.
• Help determine regulatory strategy for US campuses.
• Manage strategy on n contested permits, in partnership with Public Policy & Government Relations.

Project and transaction support

• Run regulatory due diligence on site acquisitions, power deals, and project-financed sites, and flag risks early in the site lifecycle.
• Partner with infrastructure, energy procurement and construction counsel so that EPC, PPA, interconnection and O&M agreements reflect regulatory requirements and change-in-law risk.
• Support Debt Capital Markets Legal and lenders on regulatory conditions precedent and bankability.

Policy and Government Relations 

• Partner closely with the US Policy function to advise on responding to proposed legislation, drafting bills, and understanding impact of pending policy and regulatory developments on Nscale’s business
• Advise on engagement with policymakers and government stakeholders, including responses to inquiries, requests for information, and testimony.

Governance and building the function

• eSupport public-company disclosure on regulatory and environmental matters with Finance and Securities counsel.
• Manage outside regulatory counsel across multiple states, including scope, budgets and quality.

About You

• JD from an accredited US law school and active membership in good standing of at least one US state bar.
• 15+ years of energy or data center regulatory experience, gained at a top-tier law firm and/or in-house.
• Experience managing multi-state outside counsel teams and budgets.
• Ability to explain complex regulatory risk clearly to non-lawyers, executives and the Board, and to turn it into practical site and deal decisions.
• A confident advocate with regulators, utilities and communities, with sound judgment and a commercial, schedule-aware approach.

Nice to Have

• In-house experience at a hyperscaler, neocloud, colocation provider, data center developer, utility, IPP or infrastructure investor.
• Experience with behind-the-meter or co-located generation, including gas turbines, reciprocating engines, storage or nuclear/SMR arrangements.
• Experience leading regulatory work in Texas (ERCOT and PUCT) and PJM states.
• Prior government experience at FERC, a state commission, DOE or EPA.
• Project finance and bankability experience.

Join Nscale as we build a world-class AI cloud platform. If you're ready to lead the regulatory strategy that powers and permits hyperscale data center campuses across the US, we'd love to hear from you!

Equal Opportunity

Nscale is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.