Head of Data Center Development

Head of Data Center Development - Milan

Opportunity to join a fast-growing industrial investment platform operating across Southern Europe, with an expanding footprint in digital infrastructure. Backed by a major publicly traded energy group and active across Spain, Italy and Portugal, the company has already delivered large-scale renewable and storage projects and is now accelerating its data center development portfolio, including hyperscale sites in Milan and Northern Spain.

As they build out their data center platform, the business is searching for a Head of Data Center Development Italy. A technically strong, commercially minded project leader who can take projects from early-stage concept through to RTB and construction readiness. This is a high-impact, client-side role: acting as the company's key representative in Italy, coordinating development partners, leveraging local real estate and power networks, and ensuring that data center and power infrastructure projects move decisively through each development phase.

Working remotely from anywhere in Italy, you'll collaborate closely with the Spain HQ and local technical partners, while maintaining autonomy to drive your portfolio. For someone with a background in data centers, oil & gas, energy, BESS, solar PV or infrastructure development looking to step up to a broader, strategic position in the digital infrastructure space, this is a rare opportunity.

Send me your CV now, as interviews start at the end of December and the first weeks of January: ben.anderson@hamilton-barnes.com

Responsibilities

- Coordinate the development and implementation of data center and power infrastructure projects across all phases: site selection, due diligence, design, permitting, utility connection and construction.
- Provide strong project leadership, aligning interdisciplinary teams, resolving blockers, and driving projects toward RTB and construction readiness.
- Act as the company's key representative in Italy, ensuring excellence in execution and delivery across the national development portfolio.
- Manage relationships with external stakeholders including development partners, contractors, landowners, utilities, engineering firms and public entities.
- Drive project structuring and value-add opportunities, acting on behalf of the investor to ensure projects meet technical, commercial and permitting requirements.
- Oversee due diligence activities, ensuring quality of inputs from external partners and technical advisors.

Skills Required

- Based in Italy, with fluency in Italian and English.
- Degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering or a similar technical field.
- Strong autonomy and the ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced developer/investor environment.
- Solid understanding of development processes for infrastructure projects in Italy: site selection, due diligence, grid connection, permitting and local regulatory pathways.
- Ability to build credible relationships with public bodies, utilities, landowners and technical partners.
- Comfort representing the company in high-level meetings and managing diverse stakeholders.
- 5–8 years of experience in infrastructure development, ideally within solar PV, BESS, data centers, energy or engineering consultancy.
- Experience with hyperscale or mission-critical environments is a strong plus.
- Familiarity with taking projects from early-stage concept through to RTB or construction.
- A background that combines technical strength with commercial awareness — suited to a client-side developer/investor environment.
- Willingness to travel frequently across Italy, with occasional travel to Spain and Portugal.