Construction Manager – High Voltage Cable Infrastructure
Location: Frankfurt, Germany – Onsite | Contract Opportunity
Start: August
Duration: 6 months initially
Linnk Group is supporting a leading global technology organisation in the search for an experienced Construction project manager to oversee the planning, permitting and delivery of high-voltage underground cable infrastructure supporting hyperscale data centre developments in Germany. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering critical grid connection projects, working with utilities, public authorities and engineering partners on complex infrastructure programmes.
Role Summary
The candidate drives civil planning, permitting, and stakeholder coordination for high‑voltage underground cable infrastructure serving datacenter grid connections. The role focuses on navigating German regulatory and permitting frameworks, managing complex multi‑party stakeholder landscapes, and maintaining rigorous schedule governance across all project phases.
Key Responsibilities
Civil Planning & Permitting- Geotechnical surveys, ground condition assessments, and route optimisation.
- Manage third‑party civil engineering consultants and contractors delivering crossing specifications.
- Coordinate with municipal planning authorities, lower building authorities, and environmental agencies to align on civil requirements and resolve blockers.
- Steer third‑party permitting consultants on strategy and delivery across relevant German authorities, ensuring applications are complete, on schedule, and aligned with civil design progress.
- Serve as primary interface with DSO/TSO for grid connection planning, cable route alignment, and technical coordination.
- Manage relationships with design consultants, civil contractors, and environmental specialists.
- Drive alignment across various internal and external teams.
- Own and maintain the integrated project schedule from route planning through cable energisation.
- Identify critical path activities and drive proactive mitigation of schedule risks.
- Establish and track permitting milestones, authority response timelines, and decision gates.
- Report schedule status, variances, and recovery plans to senior leadership.
- Coordinate schedule interdependencies with parallel workstreams (substation, site development, utility works).
- Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks with focus on permitting delays, landowner objections, and ground condition uncertainties.
- Develop contingency plans for alternative cable routes and permitting pathways.
- Escalate critical blockers with clear impact assessment and recommended resolution.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Experience- Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in infrastructure project management with focus on linear civil works (cable routes, pipelines, or road infrastructure).
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in German permitting and regulatory processes for underground utility infrastructure.
- Demonstrated track record of managing multi‑stakeholder projects with public authorities and landowners.
Stakeholder & Communication Skills
- Native or fluent German (required for authority engagement, landowner negotiations, and permit applications).
- Fluent English (required for internal reporting and coordination).
- Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes involving public authorities, utilities, and private landowners.
- Experience presenting to and influencing senior stakeholders and decision‑makers.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong understanding of civil engineering aspects of underground cable installation.
- Knowledge of German spatial planning and permitting frameworks (BauGB).
- Familiarity with geotechnical and ground condition assessments for cable routing.
- Understanding of HV cable systems (110 kV) at a conceptual level sufficient for coordination with electrical design teams.
- Experience with German utility coordination processes and DSO/TSO interfaces.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with hyperscale datacenter or large‑scale industrial grid connection projects.
- Direct experience with DSOs and TSOs in Germany (e.g., Syna, EAM, TenneT, Amprion).
- Experience with German environmental permitting including FFH assessments.
- Knowledge of German land registry (Grundbuch) and easement registration processes.
- PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
- Experience with fast‑track delivery approaches for critical infrastructure.
