Principal Consultant | Data Centres & Mission Critical Infrastructure | UK, Europe & US | Partnering with Developers, EPC Contractors & Operators Role: Delivery Director – Data Centres (UK & Europe) Location: UK or mainland Europe (hybrid), with extensive travel to project sites across the UK and Europe Client: The client is a pan-European data centre owner, developer, and operator delivering large-scale, next-generation data centre campuses across the UK and Europe. The business is focused on new-build, multi-phase campus developments, supporting hyperscale and enterprise demand in power-constrained and complex planning environments. Its model is based on repeatable, scalable delivery, enabling rapid expansion while maintaining high standards of resilience, availability, and operational performance. With a strong emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, the client integrates low-carbon design principles and works closely with utilities, local authorities, and supply-chain partners to deliver future-ready infrastructure. Backed by experienced leadership and institutional capital, the company is executing an ambitious growth strategy and expanding its owner-side delivery capability. Role Purpose The Delivery Director is accountable for the end-to-end delivery of new data centre campus developments across the UK and Europe, from site acquisition support and planning through construction, commissioning, and handover to operations. Acting as the owner’s representative, the role ensures projects are delivered safely, compliantly, on time, and on budget, while meeting European operational, sustainability, and regulatory requirements and supporting the company’s long-term growth strategy. Key Responsibilities Campus & Project Delivery Leadership

Take full accountability for the delivery of new data centre campuses across the UK and Europe, typically involving multi-building, multi-phase developments with shared critical infrastructure. Lead projects from site selection support, due diligence, master planning, and planning consent through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and operational handover. Develop and manage phasing strategies that enable scalable campus growth aligned with customer demand and power availability.

Planning, Utilities & Regulatory Interface (UK & Europe)

Lead engagement with local planning authorities, statutory consultees, and regulators, ensuring compliance with UK and European planning frameworks. Manage relationships with grid operators and utilities (e.g. National Grid, DNOs, TSOs, DSOs) to secure power, water, and fibre connections. Ensure compliance with UK and EU legislation, including building regulations, fire safety, environmental and energy efficiency requirements.

Owner’s Representative & Governance

Act as the senior owner’s representative for all delivery activities across the region. Establish and maintain robust project governance, reporting, and controls, including cost, programme, risk, and change management. Provide regular, high-quality reporting to executive leadership, boards, and investors.

Design, Engineering & Technical Oversight

Oversee and challenge design development to ensure solutions are resilient, efficient, scalable, and compliant with European data centre standards. Ensure alignment with internal technical standards covering power, cooling, resilience, security, and availability (Tier III / Tier IV or equivalent). Drive consistency of design and delivery standards across multiple countries while respecting local code requirements.

Commercial & Contract Management

Define and lead procurement strategies appropriate to UK and European markets, including EPCM, Design & Build, Construction Management, and hybrid models. Oversee contract negotiations and commercial management of consultants, contractors, OEMs, and specialist suppliers.Maintain rigorous control of capital expenditure, forecasting, and commercial risk, including management of variations and claims.Ensure safe and high-quality construction execution in line with programme, cost, and quality targets.Oversee European best-practice commissioning strategies, including integrated systems testing (IST) and authority approvals.Lead structured handover to operations, ensuring compliance with local statutory certification and internal readiness requirements. Stakeholder & Internal Collaboration

Work closely with internal teams including operations, commercial, sustainability, IT, legal, and finance to ensure seamless project delivery. Support customer, JV partner, and investor engagement where required. Act as a senior ambassador for the company within the UK and European data centre and construction markets.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

Build and lead a high-performing regional delivery team across the UK and Europe. Embed a strong culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and delivery excellence. Develop regional delivery capability, succession planning, and knowledge sharing across projects.

Health, Safety & Sustainability

Champion a zero-harm H&S culture aligned with UK and European standards. Ensure compliance with CDM Regulations (UK) and equivalent European HSE frameworks. Embed sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction principles in line with UK net-zero targets and EU regulations.

Key Skills & Experience

Extensive experience delivering large-scale data centre developments in the UK and/or Europe, ideally for an owner/operator or hyperscale environment. Proven track record of delivering multi-phase campus developments in complex planning and grid-constrained environments. Strong understanding of European mission-critical engineering systems, including power resilience, cooling strategies, and redundancy models. Demonstrated ability to manage cross-border projects, consultants, and contractors. Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills. Experience working in key European FLAP or emerging markets (e.g. London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Nordics, Iberia). Experience with joint ventures, public–private partnerships, or investor-led developments. Knowledge of European sustainability frameworks and reporting requirements.

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline. Chartered status (CEng, MCIOB, MRICS, or European equivalent) desirable.

Seniority level Director Employment type Full-time Job function Project Management, Construction #J-18808-Ljbffr