Associate Director Development, EMEA in London

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Position Overview

The Associate Director Development, EMEA plays a pivotal role within the Development department focusing on New Markets, reporting to the Development Director and overseeing multiple teams, supervisors, and managers. This position involves tackling difficult to moderately complex challenges within Development, setting strategic goals, and leading major projects while ensuring the performance and alignment of multiple teams or departments. Highly skilled in executive-level management and decision-making, the Associate Director focuses on policy and strategy implementation for short-term results, collaborating with senior leadership and executives to shape the organization's strategy and initiatives. They provide top-level vision and leadership for the department or function, influencing policies, practices, and procedures beyond their immediate job area, fostering collaboration, and steering the team towards achieving departmental goals.

Responsibilities include spearheading strategic planning, directing resource allocation, overseeing project execution, and shaping the trajectory of site development initiatives to align with organizational strategies and foster sustained growth. The Associate Director Development, EMEA is responsible for a core function in the Vantage team, namely: New Markets Site Development, to drive development in new regions with controlled & existing real estate, and data centers associated with mergers and acquisitions.

This position will oversee due diligence, initial concept, schematic and entitlement/ permitting design and application(s), budget, and schedule for all new major projects; and at the appropriate time transition them to the Construction Project Management Team for execution. The position remains accountable end to end on the financial returns to the business on new market developments.

Constant communication with various departments and subject matter experts will be required to ensure that the design and construction of new facilities will maintain and enhance Vantage’s product and service offering. Collaboration and integration in the sales lifecycle process including client interface is integral to the role as well.

Essential Job Functions

• Support Leadership Team with evaluation and diligence of new sites for data center assets, for the purpose of acquiring and developing into a Vantage Data Center property.
• Lead all aspects of design & engineering project management, scheduling, and budgeting for new projects including site assessment, conceptual design, basis of design, scope of work, and development of design & construction documents.
• Transition design and preconstruction packages to VDC Construction Project Managers for execution.
• Provide thought and team leadership, while being accountable for team results on all preconstruction projects and assignments, including budget, schedule, and coordination with internal and external project stakeholders across several cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate new technology and construction techniques associated with land development and building construction to gain an edge on speed to market.
• Continue involvement in data center construction community to gain valuable knowledge of best practice, new trends and industry standards.
• Support Market Development & Sales, as they identify and select new sites in existing and new markets in line with VDC strategy, including leading land due diligence efforts.
• Lead various aspects of land use & zoning approvals, coordination with landowners, neighborhood groups, community outreach and entitlement process with local jurisdictions.
• Work with our internal Assistant General Counsel to assist with development-related agreements.
• Coordinate local efforts with the various city planners, city councils, utilities (Power, Fiber, & Water), and other relevant parties critical to project success.
• Represent Vantage in the best light to local officials and effectively communicate the benefits of wholesale data center campuses.
• Drive scope, schedule, and budget decisions to conclusion including managing internal and external resources, project teams, contractors, and vendors.
• Provide support to Construction Team from concept through commissioning across Vantage’s portfolio of construction projects.
• Ensure lessons learned are held and placed in the feedback loop to drive continuous improvement.
• Report status of all projects in preconstruction status (risks, schedule, quality, and budget) to management.
• Develop, refine, and implement processes and policies for new construction practices, comparison and ultimately green lighting deployment and actualization.
• Understand business strategies to align product development and innovation to drive success.
• Conduct Consultant/Vendor/Contractor qualification, network management/expansion, new technology evaluation for use on current product line and future product development opportunities.
• Support project management team to establish project budgets, analyze design impacts on build costs, and submit approval packages to executive team.
• Coordinate with site operations to define project requirements.
• Work with sales and marketing to provide technical support wherever needed.

Additional duties as assigned by Management. Travel required is expected to be up to 50% but may increase over time as the business evolves.

Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Real Estate Development experience in the Nordics or Iberia (Spain, Portugal).
• Ability to speak Finnish, Spanish, or Portuguese is preferred.
• 7-10 years of experience in Development, Construction and/or Project Management, with several years of advanced Corporate Real Estate experience.
• Data Center experience is strongly preferred, but not required.
• Industrial Land Acquisition experience is preferred.
• Bachelor or Science Degree in construction, engineering, or real estate development preferred.
• Strong IT skills, with ability to use multiple communication tools and packages including Office Suite and advanced Excel knowledge is crucial.
• Creative and innovative skillset.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively lead project/ design teams.
• Excellent relationship building skills.
• Ability to analyze complex business concepts and documents.
• Ability to make effective presentations on general topics.
• Skilled at solving problems and dealing with a variety of options with limited information.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills at all levels of the organization and with other stakeholders and third parties such as suppliers.
• Flexible, adaptable, and self-directed; able to prioritize projects in a variety of circumstances while traveling, across multiple time zones, cross functionally, by project, etc.

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations. Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.