VP EMEA Operations

Join DayOne – Shaping the Future of Data Infrastructure

DayOne is a global leader in the development and operation of high-performance data centers. As one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, we’ve built a robust presence across Asia and Europe — and we’re just getting started.

As we expand into new international markets, we’re looking for talented, driven individuals to join us on this exciting journey. This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to be a key contributor to our dynamic team and help shape the future of global data infrastructure.

If you're passionate about innovation, technology, and growth, we invite you to be part of DayOne’s next chapter.

The VP Construction – EMEA is responsible for the strategic leadership and successful delivery of DayOne's construction portfolio across the EMEA region. This role provides executive oversight of all construction activities from site acquisition support and pre-construction planning through construction, commissioning, operational readiness, and customer handover.

As a key member of the regional leadership team, this individual will partner closely with Development, Design & Engineering, Commercial, Procurement, Operations, Finance, Legal, and key customer stakeholders to support DayOne's growth strategy and establish a scalable construction delivery platform capable of supporting significant regional expansion.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in mission-critical construction, strong commercial and contractual leadership, and a proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams across complex international environments.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Delivery & Portfolio Leadership

• Own the overall performance of the EMEA construction portfolio, including schedule, cost, safety, quality, commissioning, operational readiness, and customer delivery outcomes.
• Lead the delivery of multiple hyperscale and colocation data centre projects across EMEA.
• Oversee all phases of project execution, including due diligence, pre-construction, procurement, construction, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational handover.
• Drive programme execution against agreed milestones, budgets, customer commitments, and operational readiness targets.
• Establish portfolio-level governance, reporting, project controls, risk management, and escalation frameworks across all active developments.
• Ensure consistent implementation of delivery standards, methodologies, and best practices across the region.
• Lead construction readiness reviews, executive steering committees, and portfolio performance reviews.
• Proactively identify and mitigate programme, commercial, technical, and delivery risks.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the regional construction strategy aligned with DayOne's growth objectives and market expansion plans.
• Partner with executive leadership on regional growth initiatives, market entry strategies, and long-term delivery capability planning.
• Support land acquisition, technical due diligence, utility engagement, permitting, and development feasibility activities.
• Provide construction expertise to support investment decisions, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic transactions.
• Contribute to long-term capital planning, construction investment strategy, and portfolio prioritisation.
• Evaluate delivery models, contractor strategies, and organisational capability requirements to support future growth.
• Build scalable construction delivery capabilities to support rapid expansion across multiple geographies.

Team Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop direct and indirect high-performing regional construction and delivery teams, providing leadership across internal and external delivery partners.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, innovation, and execution excellence.
• Drive consistency of governance, reporting, delivery standards, and performance management across all EMEA markets.
• Develop succession plans and leadership capability within the construction organisation.
• Mentor and coach future leaders to support long-term organisational growth.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Own regional CAPEX delivery and financial performance across all active projects and programmes.
• Drive budget forecasting, cost management, contingency planning, and portfolio financial reporting.
• Establish regional contractor and supply chain strategies to ensure delivery capacity, cost competitiveness, and operational resilience.
• Lead contractor negotiations, commercial strategy, and strategic vendor relationships.
• Ensure robust governance across contracts, procurement, change orders, claims management, and dispute resolution.
• Drive portfolio-level financial performance and capital efficiency initiatives.

Stakeholder & Customer Management

• Serve as executive sponsor for key customer relationships throughout project delivery, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with hyperscale customers, colocation clients, contractors, consultants, and strategic partners.
• Collaborate closely with Operations to ensure seamless commissioning, operational acceptance, and facility readiness.
• Engage with utilities, local authorities, regulators, and permitting agencies across the region.
• Partner with internal functions including Development, Design & Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and Operations.
• Provide regular updates to executive leadership, investors, and board-level stakeholders regarding portfolio performance, risks, and strategic initiatives.

Health, Safety, Quality, Commissioning & Sustainability

• Champion a world-class safety culture with a relentless focus on achieving zero harm across all projects.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable EMEA construction regulations, HSE requirements, and company standards.
• Drive quality assurance, commissioning excellence, integrated systems testing, and operational reliability standards.
• Ensure operational readiness requirements are achieved prior to customer and operational handover.
• Support sustainability objectives relating to energy efficiency, environmental compliance, responsible sourcing, and carbon reduction initiatives.
• Ensure lessons learned, innovation, and continuous improvement practices are embedded across all programmes and projects.

Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
• Significant leadership experience within mission-critical, hyperscale, industrial, or major infrastructure environments.
• Proven experience leading large-scale data centre developments across multiple EMEA markets.
• Experience managing annual construction portfolios exceeding €500M–€1B+ CAPEX.
• Demonstrated success delivering multiple concurrent hyperscale or mission-critical programmes across several countries.
• Strong experience managing CSA and MEP construction disciplines within complex mission-critical environments.
• Extensive experience overseeing commissioning, integrated systems testing, operational readiness, and live environment risk management.
• Experience working with hyperscale customers, colocation providers, developers, investors, or major contractors.

Technical & Commercial Expertise

• Deep understanding of data centre design, construction methodologies, and critical systems infrastructure.
• Strong commercial, contractual, procurement, and supplier management expertise.
• Experience administering and negotiating major construction contracts, including NEC, JCT, FIDIC, and similar frameworks.
• Strong understanding of European regulatory, permitting, environmental, and HSE requirements.
• Advanced programme management, reporting, governance, and risk management capabilities.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Leadership Competencies

• Executive-level leadership experience within a rapidly scaling organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence board, investor, customer, and C-suite stakeholders.
• Proven capability leading geographically dispersed teams and complex delivery organisations.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with exceptional operational execution.
• Ability to balance long-term business objectives with short-term delivery priorities.
• Comfortable operating in high-growth, fast-paced, and highly dynamic environments.

• Commitment to developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

DayOne is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

If you're ready to grow with one of the fastest-moving companies in the data center industry, apply now and be part of our global journey.