Senior Manager, Public Policy, EU Public Affairs in Slough

About Vantage Data Centers. Vantage is committed to being a workplace of inclusion, equity, respect and acceptance. We celebrate diversity and intentionally seek out opportunities to learn from one another’s experience. 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. In this newly created role, the Senior Manager, Public Policy – EU and Regulatory Affairs will be responsible for developing, implementing, and reporting on the company’s public affairs program at the European Union (EU) level and on regulatory topics that impact the business across major markets (e.g. transpositions of EU directives across member states). The Senior Manager will partner with various internal stakeholders to determine Vantage’s priorities and positions on programme-level policy topics including ESG (e.g. energy efficiency, carbon accounting and waste heat); planning and permitting policy (e.g. environmental impact assessment); energy (e.g. self-generation of electricity, renewable energy); and technology-related policy (e.g. cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data sovereignty). This role will be responsible for engagements with relevant EU government and trade bodies to advance Vantage’s policy position as part of creating and maintaining a long-term policy and political climate that supports the business’s growth, ESG goals, and research and development strategies.

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead the development and execution of a strategic public policy engagement plan to drive forward business objectives at the EU level.
• Support regional public policy team members in developing and implementing policy messaging and engagement plans on programme-level policy topics around ESG, energy policy, and technology policies at member state level.
• Research, identify, track and report on current and emerging policy issues at EU level that are relevant to the data centre sector and Vantage’s business strategies.
• Lead and/or contribute to the public policy efforts in cross-functional programme level initiatives in partnership with teams like operational compliance, sustainability, energy, design and engineering, legal, and/or corporate compliance.
• Support the development and execution of any multi-market policy advocacy strategies in response to transposition of EU directives.
• Oversee third-party public affairs agencies and industry associations supporting EU and programme level efforts.
• Build and manage relationships with public affairs counterparts in the industry and with Vantage customers.
• Support early market intelligence gathering, risk analyses, and early stakeholder engagement in select EU countries; in partnership with Site Selection, Market Development and New Site Development teams.

Duties:

• Monitor policy and political developments at EU level, and track and report on issues of importance to Vantage and the data center industry.
• Coordinate and draft Vantage positioning statements and external-facing documents for public policy matters, including responses to official requests for information, prepare slide decks and talking points for internal and external meetings, as well as manage briefings for executives and key internal stakeholders when related to EU matters and programme-level policy topics.
• Engage with public stakeholders by advocating for Vantage’s position in full compliance with applicable law and regulations.
• Represent Vantage at government and industry meetings at EU level to testify/comment on Vantage’s behalf.
• Partner with marketing and business teams to develop messaging, collateral, and public relations materials to drive the public narrative around Vantage and the data center industry.
• Act as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert to market and central teams on policy topics under this role’s scope.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional or cross-market working groups on topics with significant policy impact or influence.

Job Requirements:

• At least 5 years' hands-on experience at EU level in public policy, government relations, civil service, policy advisory, or similar is required.
• Fluency in German language is essential.
• A strong understanding of the policy environment and mechanisms at EU level, with hands-on experience navigating and shaping policy within this context.
• A strong network with relevant EU stakeholders and organisations (e.g. DG ENER) is preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing lobbying strategies at EU-level.
• Experience in energy-, technology-, and/or data-centre-related fields is strongly preferred. Experience working on policy topics around artificial intelligence, cyber security and resiliency, energy efficiency and net zero, and/or infrastructure development is welcome.
• Graduate or post-graduate studies in public, energy, or international law is strongly preferred. A degree in political science, economics, international relations, public policy, humanities, behavioural sciences or similar is otherwise required.
• Experience managing third party public affairs agencies a plus.
• Advanced political acumen and the ability to connect with stakeholders from all backgrounds.
• A creative and strategic thinker with the ability to understand complex issues and identify clear and effective action plans to resolve them.
• An affinity for project management, strong prioritisation skills, and the ability to objectively assess business risk and opportunity stemming from the policy environment.
• Empathetic and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
• Strong written and verbal communication to internal and external audiences including senior government officials and company executives.
• Business-fluency in English is mandatory. Fluency in another European language, particularly French, German and/or Italian, is a strong plus.
• A team player that is comfortable working in a matrixed organization and driving forward business value creation.
• Some travel is required. Travel may include visits to other Vantage offices, capital cities, industry association meetings, and conferences. As this role develops, an increase in travel should be expected.

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.