Head of Energy

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage is committed to being a workplace of inclusion, equity, respect and acceptance. We celebrate diversity and intentionally seek out opportunities to learn from one another's experience.

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world's well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

The Energy Team (EMEA) is an expert team tasked with defining Vantage's energy strategy and delivering energy solutions for the business. The team is responsible for the end-to-end solution from bringing power to site, on-site power generation, energy procurement, energy management and monetizing energy assets.

The team works in a dynamic and agile way across a matrix structure, allowing it to support the wider business in country and across the EMEA region.

The Energy Team plays a critical role in banking power for our Data Centres, accelerating energisation, maintaining uptime, and promoting cost-effective, sustainable power solutions which support the overall business growth.

Position Overview

Vantage is seeking a Head of Energy (Italy) to be the local, in country lead for the Energy Team and wider Vantage business. Reporting to the SVP Energy (EMEA), but working for the broader Energy Senior Management Team on a daily basis (matrix structure), the Head of Energy will be responsible for managing local relationships and processes to a successful outcome. Specifically, the Head of Energy will develop and manage external stakeholder relationships from utilities, regulators and suppliers. You will be responsible for managing the local processes from an energy perspective including permitting, planning, grid connections and operational licenses. Furthermore, you will support the Vantage commercial teams in developing commercial energy offers and customer energy account management. Although based in Italy and initially focused on the existing Italian market, you will also support new market development activities and support the Energy and wider Vantage teams across other countries.

Essential Job Functions

• Grid and Regulatory Expertise: In-depth knowledge of local grid and network operators, and high level understanding of regulatory requirements.
• Utility Agreements Management (Power & Energy): Proven experience in acquiring and managing all necessary connection agreements/contracts necessary to deliver power on-site, including usage, meter and electricity supply agreements etc.
• Collaboration with Utility Providers: Proactive coordinate with utility providers to track on-time delivery & manage ongoing communication with regular meetings.
• Power Infrastructure Oversight: Oversee the deployment of utility and infrastructure to ensure timely power delivery and adherence to technical specifications.
• Power Procurement Oversight: Broad understanding of power consumption tariffs (commodity market) from a public and private perspective desirable to inform business models.
• Risk Management: Develop strategies to manage power-related risks and implement alternative power solutions where needed. Understand and manage the critical path for power delivery, including planning and permitting activities, to ensure prompt and efficient power availability on-site.
• Cross-function Coordination: Act as the primary point of contact for energy-related matters, effectively coordinating and communicating with utilities, suppliers and regulators and wider project stakeholders involved in power design/delivery & operations.
• Project Management: Track power connection status, manage contracts, manage power infrastructure delivery and lead/track meetings focused on power delivery to site. Stringent analysis of networks to identify the challenges faced and to reengineer the electrical scheme to meet the techno / commercial / regulatory needs, at all voltage levels from LV to EHV.
• Compliance and Efficiency: Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and collaborate with sustainability teams to optimize power operations and meet efficiency goals.
• Continuous Improvement: Engage in lessons learned, risk sharing, and value engineering initiatives to drive improvement in power management across projects. Engage with regional projects to identify common risks, share lessons learned, and drive continuous improvement in power management practices. Keep up to date with utility/energy legislations, & new technologies.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Proven experience of working with the local utilities and energy service providers.
• Experience of successful on-time delivery of Power from the local utilities on-site.
• Experience of working as a project manager in MV to EHV systems will be given high preference.
• Good understanding of electrical as well as knowledge of the energy use of organizations, with a recognized degree or equivalent (background in electrical/power engineering preferred).
• Minimum 10 years' experience in power delivery with utility and power infrastructure design and management.
• Strong IT skills: ability to use multiple communication tools and packages essential.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills at all levels of the organization and with other stakeholders and third parties such as suppliers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead external teams with excellent relationship building skills and collaborative work.
• Provide a high-level of commitment to customer service with co-workers and stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Able to work under pressure and to prioritize work effort, all with minimal supervision.
• Flexible, adaptable, and self-directed; able to work in a variety of circumstances, e.g.: remotely, while travelling, across multiple time zones, cross functionally, by project, etc.
• National and international travel will be required on a regular basis.
• Native Italian speaker, fluent in English with additional European languages highly valued.

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other's strengths and respecting each other's weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.