At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the construction and delivery of cutting-edge data centres across EMEA.
- Company: Join Ada Infrastructure, a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of technology.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across global teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on large-scale projects while working with a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in construction management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
Ada Infrastructure is a global data center business committed to being a positive force for technology, people, and the planet. As part of the digital infrastructure platform of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), Ada Infrastructure is positioned to be a leader in the industry in reliable, safe, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure. With nine in-flight campuses across the US, Japan, the UK, and Brazil, we have over 850 MW of power currently available and more than 1,500 MW in our global pipeline.
Why Join Us: This role is an excellent opportunity to join a deeply experienced and high-performing team with the ability to directly impact and contribute to Ada's development program. Our team combines industry-wide experience and in-country expertise across all our regions. We are committed to collaborating cross-functionally and partnering to drive efficient and effective solutions that meet the needs of our internal and external stakeholders.
The Team you are joining: The Delivery team is responsible for the full construction lifecycle, following handoff from the development team who is responsible for pre-construction planning and permitting. The delivery function manages scope, schedule, budget, and risk mitigation throughout construction, commissioning, and turnover to operations with the goal of delivering scalable future ready solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers in line with commercial performance targets.
Summary: The Delivery Lead for EMEA is accountable for the end-to-end construction and delivery of Ada Infrastructure's development portfolio, overseeing all active and future EMEA campuses. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide strategic leadership, governance, and operational oversight across multiple large-scale, capital-intensive data center developments, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and aligned with Ada's commercial, technical, and operational objectives. This role spans all of EMEA Delivery, including campus-based delivery teams (e.g. Docklands and other UK and European locations). You will also serve as Ada's senior construction delivery authority in the region. The position will partner closely with Development, Design, Product, Finance, Sales, Operations, EHS, ESG, and executive leadership, while representing Delivery in customer, vendor, and Board-level discussions.
Responsibilities:
- Own and execute the EMEA delivery strategy across all EMEA campuses, from pre-construction handoff through commissioning and turnover to operations including but not limited to leading the tender/contractor selection, contracting, construction and power delivery, coordinating LLE purchase and delivery, and project closeout.
- Lead, manage, and develop a high performing regional delivery team, of ADA and contract employees.
- Establish and continuously refine delivery governance, processes, controls, and reporting standards to enable scalable execution across multiple markets.
- Ensure consistent application of Ada's global design standards, delivery methodologies, and risk management frameworks across all campuses.
- Maintain full accountability for regional CAPEX performance, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and cost controls.
- Provide clear, executive level reporting on portfolio status, risks, opportunities, and performance metrics including project level cost analysis, budget/estimating insight, and cost driver transparency.
- Oversee regional contractor and vendor strategies, including MSAs, GPAs, SOWs, and contractor qualification.
- Drive execution excellence with Design team across CSA and MEP intensive construction programs, ensuring constructability, schedule integrity, and quality outcomes.
- Identify and mitigate program level risks, including schedule, supply chain, labour, permitting, and power delivery constraints.
- Collaborate with the Development, Design and Project Controls teams to identify cost optimization opportunities and incorporate prefabrication, modularization, and alternate delivery strategies to improve speed, cost certainty, and scalability.
- Champion a proactive safety culture across all sites, embedding safety as a baseline expectation, leading by example, and ensuring safety is treated as a core value rather than a compliance driven exercise.
- Partner with EHS and ESG leadership to ensure delivery outcomes align with Ada's sustainability and environmental commitments.
- Act as the senior Delivery interface for EMEA with customers, hyperscalers, and strategic partners and support Sales in leasing pursuits through customer engagement, construction related RFP responses, and delivery commitments.
- Ensure consistent and accurate use of delivery systems (e.g., Procore, Primavera P6) as sources of truth across the region.
- Foster a collaborative, high accountability culture that encourages continuous improvement and shared learning through coordination with parallel delivery leaders across the globe and incorporating lessons learned campus to campus and phase to phase.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, Engineering, or related discipline; equivalent experience considered.
- 15+ years of experience delivering large-scale, capital-intensive construction programs, with 10+ years in senior leadership roles.
- Extensive experience delivering mission critical or data center infrastructure required.
- Proven leadership of multi-site, multi-billion dollar construction portfolios.
- Deep expertise in CSA and MEP construction, construction means and methods, and delivery models.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including CAPEX management, contract strategy, and risk allocation.
- Executive presence with the ability to influence internally and externally at the LT and customer level.
- Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments with evolving priorities.
- This role is expected to have 30-50% travel which may evolve over time, working with teams across all sites, and manufacturers and vendors as required.
Reporting Relationships: Managing Director, Head of Ada EMEA.
EMEA Data Center Delivery Director employer: Ada Infrastructure
As a leading employer in the construction sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. Located in the vibrant city of London, we offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, particularly in the education sector. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and supports your career development in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land EMEA Data Center Delivery Director
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Ada Infrastructure, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like EMEA Data Center Delivery Director at Ada Infrastructure.
We think you need these skills to ace EMEA Data Center Delivery Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ada Infrastructure
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!