Project Development Manager - Data Centers

Overview

This role is offered by a partner organization seeking a Project Development Manager to lead data center infrastructure initiatives from agreement through construction readiness in Germany. This pivotal position involves steering multifaceted development processes, including engineering oversight, utility coordination, permit management, as well as collaborating with consultants and internal teams. The role emphasizes strategic infrastructure growth in a rapidly expanding AI technology sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end development for extensive data center and infrastructure projects, ensuring readiness for construction phases.
• Manage comprehensive development plans comprising timelines, financial budgets, key milestones, assumptions, and risk assessments prior to construction.
• Oversee permitting, entitlement procedures, utility planning, and infrastructure requirements, ensuring compliance with owner commitments.
• Define criteria for project readiness and facilitate seamless transfer of projects to execution teams.
• Assess project status and advise on continuation decisions at critical checkpoints.
• Coordinate planning for essential infrastructure such as electrical systems, fiber networks, water, sewage, and transportation.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with utilities, municipal bodies, engineering consultancies, and external collaborators.
• Ensure consistency of technical assumptions, budget forecasts, and scheduling throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead review sessions, prepare executive-level updates, and unify stakeholders.
• Anticipate and mitigate development risks early to avoid adverse effects on project timelines and budgets.
• Participate in the design of development standards, governance structures, readiness procedures, and project management controls.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of eight years in data center development, industrial or infrastructure projects, land development, or mission-critical environments.
• Demonstrated capability in managing complex development projects involving permits, utility coordination, consultant supervision, and stakeholder management.
• Strong expertise in infrastructure development including pre-construction planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk mitigation, and project controls.
• Experience in cross-functional team leadership spanning engineering, construction, utilities, legal, design, and development disciplines.
• Proven ability to independently handle intricate projects within dynamic, fast-paced settings.
• Excellent communication skills with proficiency in executive presentation and stakeholder alignment.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent professional experience) in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Real Estate Development, Urban Planning, or related field.
• Preferred experience with hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, or mission-critical facilities.
• Familiarity with utility coordination, entitlement approaches, infrastructure planning, and owner representation is advantageous.
• Professional certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), or similar credentials considered beneficial.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Fully remote working arrangement based in Germany.
• High degree of autonomy and ownership within a rapidly growing tech environment.
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge AI infrastructure projects with global reach.
• Prospects for career advancement and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborative and innovative organizational culture.
• Experience handling intricate infrastructure development challenges and strategic initiatives.
• Work within an international and diverse team distributed across multiple regions.

Additional Information

The company utilizes an AI-driven matching system to assess and shortlist candidates objectively based on core role requirements. The partner company manages subsequent recruitment stages including interviews and assessments.

Applicants should be aware that personal data will be processed in line with GDPR for recruitment purposes. AI tools may support application review processes; however, all final hiring decisions remain under human control.