Senior Commercial & Strategy Director

Senior Commercial & Strategy Director

Location:

Paris, France

Salary: €200,000 (plus 25% bonus)

The Opportunity

A leading data centre developer and operator is seeking three senior leaders to join its European platform in Frankfurt, Paris, and London. This is a highly strategic, client-side leadership role, positioned above Project Director level, with a clear focus on growth strategy, commercial decision-making, and risk leadership across large-scale data centre developments.

The role is not delivery-led. Instead, it is designed for a commercially astute leader who can shape markets, define long-term development strategies, and influence major investment and growth decisions at country level.

Role Overview

Reporting directly into the Country Lead, the Senior Commercial & Strategy Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s development and expansion strategy within their assigned market. The role combines strategic planning, commercial oversight, and senior stakeholder engagement, acting as a key advisor to the country leadership team.

This position requires someone comfortable operating in a client-side, executive environment, influencing outcomes across feasibility, investment, risk, and governance rather than managing day-to-day project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Growth

Lead the development of country-level growth and expansion strategies for large-scale data centre developments
Create and own long-term development roadmaps, capacity planning, and investment strategies
Advise the Country Lead on market entry, timing, scale, and commercial positioning

Commercial Leadership

Own the commercial strategy for data centre developments from early feasibility through to execution
Lead financial and commercial modelling, including ROI, value optimisation, and cost-risk trade-offs
Drive informed, client-side decision-making aligned with wider European objectives

Risk & Governance

Lead risk identification, mitigation, and scenario planning across the development portfolio
Provide senior oversight of key development risks including planning, land, power, supply chain, and programme
Ensure strong governance frameworks are embedded from concept through delivery

Senior Stakeholder Engagement

Act as a senior external-facing representative, engaging with clients, investors, partners, and authorities
Influence and align internal stakeholders across development, delivery, finance, legal, and operations
Operate credibly at executive and board level, shaping strategic discussions and outcomes

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

Proven experience operating above Project Director level within:
Data centres
Mission-critical infrastructure
Large-scale, capital-intensive real estate or infrastructure developments
Strong client-side background (developer, operator, investor, or senior advisory role)
Demonstrable experience leading growth strategy, commercial planning, and risk management
Experience working within complex European markets; experience in Germany, France, or the UK preferred

Key Skills & Attributes

Highly commercially driven with strong financial and strategic acumen
Comfortable shaping strategy rather than managing delivery teams
Able to influence without direct authority in a matrix environment
Executive presence with confidence engaging at C-suite and board level
Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, outcome-focused mindset

What’s on Offer

Base salary circa €200,000
25% bonus
Flexible hybrid working (3–4 days on site)
Opportunity to play a key role in shaping a European data centre growth platform