Development Project Manager

To be eligible, you’ll need to be based in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, or Luxembourg. The role will also involve regular travel across our sites in EMEA.

Overview

The Project Manager will be a critical member of the Cloud HQ (CHQ) Development across the EMEA region, responsible for the pre‑construction phase of hyperscale data centre projects.

The Project Manager is responsible for leading projects from site identification and due diligence through planning, design development, and contractor procurement, ensuring that projects are fully defined, supported by robust cost planning and commercial decision‑making to ensure they are de‑risked prior to construction.

While focused on pre‑construction, the role requires a strong understanding of the full project lifecycle – construction delivery, commissioning, and operations – ensuring early decisions translate into successful project execution.

This position requires a developer mindset, balancing technical, commercial, planning and stakeholder considerations to inform project decisions and define project directions at the earliest stage.

Requirements

• Establish project leadership, build and leverage partnerships with internal teams (development, construction, operations, finance, legal) and external stakeholders (consultants, authorities having jurisdiction, utilities providers, project partners, contractors).
• Lead project governance, reporting and approvals processes.
• Ensure clear communication of project status, risks and identify where key decisions can be made or escalation to executive leadership is required.
• Lead projects from early‑stage feasibility through to construction readiness.
• Define and manage scope, budget, programme and development strategy.
• Support the coordination of site due diligence, working with site selection, legal, technical and consultant teams to assess test‑fit feasibility with regard to tenant requirements, planning and zoning constraints, power, water, fibre and infrastructure availability, environmental, legal, commercial and technical risks, confirm alignment with project business cases and manage internal investment approvals.
• Lead the development of concept, basis of design and detailed design packages with technical teams.
• Manage and coordinate multi‑disciplinary consultants (architects, engineers, planners, project and cost management consultants).
• With consultant support, develop and manage development budgets and ensure cash‑flow alignment.
• Coordinate and manage internal and external resources, driving results in change management, procurement strategies, market conditions, risk identification and mitigation, reporting protocols on scope and schedule.
• Ensure the establishment of a robust and detailed project programme that can be used to negotiate lease agreements with hyperscale tenants.
• Ensure delivery awareness by applying practical understandings of construction sequencing and logistics, commissioning and integration of systems to handover to operational teams.
• Ensure projects are fully prepared for construction delivery prior to handover, liaising with the construction delivery team.
• Ensure compliance to Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) regulations and promote a safe working environment for all team members, colleagues, contractors and customers.
• Challenge and remove barriers by working with others around a shared need or customer benefit. Be proactive in driving the best solutions for customers.
• Maintain a broader perspective, identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance the business through cross‑group collaboration.
• Liaise with customers to assist them in the delivery of their preferred solutions into CHQ Data Centres.
• Consult with global CHQ colleagues to ensure best practice is uniform across all developments.
• Champion CHQ initiatives on all projects and adhere to and promote the core values of CHQ.
• Required Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
• A degree is preferred but not essential.
• Industry‑recognised project management qualifications are desirable.
• Substantial, demonstrable experience delivering complex projects.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in Data Centre, critical infrastructure or complex real‑estate development projects.
• Strong experience in pre‑construction, development and early lifecycle roles with exposure to utilities strategy, planning/permitting systems and different contracting models.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of construction across EMEA.
• Experience managing multiple major projects effectively.
• Working knowledge of construction contracts used across EMEA.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with a team, as well as work independently applying individual expertise.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate.
• Critical thinker and problem solver.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to interface directly with customers.
• Comfortable with high exposure to executive leadership to drive strategic development decisions.
• Willingness to travel locally and internationally (EMEA) on a regular basis, with a valid passport and awareness of visa requirements and Schengen travel limitations.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Proficiency with MS Office.
• Experience with scheduling/programming software and analysis.
• Ability to function effectively in a fast‑paced environment, recognising needs to work outside of normal business hours.
• High attention to detail with ability to think strategically and understand wider business objectives.
• Why Join Cloud HQ
• Shape the next generation of hyperscale design standards across global markets.
• Work on technically challenging, high‑impact projects with massive scale.
• Collaborate with top engineering and construction partners worldwide.
• Work in a high‑growth, innovation‑driven environment with significant career progression opportunities.
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