JDL Recruitment are thrilled to be closely partnered with an exciting Data Centre Developer as they expand their design & delivery teams across Europe. We’re looking for an experienced Development Director to be based out of the UK or Nordics to lead and oversee front-end development activities across projects in the region, including significant contributions to flagship initiatives and other key developments. This role will be a cornerstone of the regional leadership team, guiding projects from early acquisition through to handover to our Construction function, while helping build and lead a growing team of development professionals.
Responsibilities
* Development Leadership – Lead the full lifecycle of front-end development across European data centre projects — from site identification and acquisition support, through design development, permitting, and into construction handover.
* Regional Strategy – Shape and drive development strategy in Europe, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives, regional regulatory environments, and evolving AI infrastructure needs.
* Team Building & Leadership – Help build, establish, and lead a high-performing regional team, fostering collaboration between design and development, construction, cost, GPU deployment, and operational functions.
* Project Oversight – Oversee the development of major projects such as the Stargate initiatives, coordinating internal and external stakeholders to deliver best-in-class, AI-optimized data centre solutions.
* Permitting & Compliance – Manage permitting processes across multiple European jurisdictions; engage with local authorities, consultants, and stakeholders to secure timely approvals and mitigate regulatory risks.
* Stakeholder & Partner Engagement – Develop and maintain strong relationships with local partners, landowners, consultants, and public bodies. Represent the company in discussions on project delivery, sustainability, and infrastructure alignment.
* Cross-Functional Collaboration – Work closely with design, construction, and cost management teams to ensure technical, commercial, and schedule objectives are met across all phases.
* Governance & Reporting – Maintain clear reporting and documentation across all European developments, ensuring consistency with delivery standards, governance structures, and digital collaboration tools.
Requirements
* Experienced – 10+ years in development or project leadership roles, ideally in data centre, mission-critical, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
* Culture – Align with mission, objectives, and collaborative, fast-paced environment that values autonomy and accountability.
* Technically Strong – Deep understanding of site development, permitting, and design coordination for complex technical infrastructure.
* Strategic & Hands-On – Capable of operating at both leadership and delivery levels; you’re a doer who leads by example.
* Collaborative – Comfortable working across regions, time zones, and disciplines. You’ll be part of a fast-growing and high-performing European team.
* Leadership Mindset – Experienced in building and managing teams, consultants, and contractors to deliver projects with pace, quality, and precision. You will have expert knowledge of local markets.
* Permitting-Savvy – Proven experience managing development and permitting processes across Europe is a significant advantage.
* Multilingual – Fluency in English is required; other European languages are an advantage.