Director, Land Acquisition & Energy – Design, Build & Operate; EMEA London,UK; Hybrid

About Submer

Submer designs and delivers end-to-end AI data center infrastructure built around industry-leading liquid cooling.

• Start: ASAP
• Contract:
  
  Full-Time / Permanent
• Travel:
  Domestic & Select International

The Director, Land Acquisition & Energy – DBO (NAM) plays a foundational role in enabling Submer’s Design, Build & Operate strategy, owning the origination of land and power infrastructure required to deploy high-density AI data centers across EMEA.

This role is not just transactional—it is strategic and programmatic, ensuring that land and energy decisions are aligned with long-term platform scalability, operational efficiency, and speed to deployment.

You will directly influence where and how Submer builds its infrastructure footprint, acting as the critical link between site origination, energy strategy, and project execution.

• Define and execute a region-wide land and energy origination strategy aligned with the DBO expansion roadmap
• Identify priority markets based on power availability, latency requirements, customer demand, and scalability
• Ensure all site origination decisions support long-term operational performance and lifecycle efficiency

• Lead engagement with utilities, Independent System Operators (ISOs), and energy providers across EMEA
• Secure scalable, reliable, and cost-effective power capacity for high-density AI workloads
• Negotiate interconnection agreements, capacity reservations, tariffs, and infrastructure contributions
• Develop forward-looking energy strategies, including renewable integration, PPAs, and redundancy planning
• Align power delivery timelines with DBO project execution schedules

• Build and manage a strategic pipeline of land opportunities across EMEA markets
• Identify sites aligned with DBO technical requirements (size, zoning, connectivity, environmental constraints, proximity to power)
• Lead commercial structuring of land deals (purchase, lease, options, JV structures where relevant)
• Establish and maintain relationships with landowners, developers, brokers, and public sector stakeholders
• Oversee full due diligence process (legal, environmental, technical, and infrastructure readiness)

• Navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional planning and permitting environments
• Partner with local authorities to accelerate entitlement timelines and de-risk projects
• Ensure alignment between land strategy and regulatory frameworks across EMEA
• Structure projects to optimize speed-to-build while maintaining compliance

• Lead early-stage feasibility assessments including:
• Land pricing and acquisition structures
• Grid connection costs and timelines
  
  Infrastructure and substation investment requirements
• Partner closely with engineering, design, and construction teams to validate site viability within the DBO model
• Provide key inputs into investment cases, capital allocation, and project prioritization

• Act as a senior external representative of Submer across real estate, energy, and infrastructure ecosystems
• Build long-term partnerships across priority markets to create proprietary deal flow and early access opportunities
• Represent Submer in negotiations, industry forums, and strategic discussions
• Work cross-functionally with DBO leadership, Finance, Legal, and Executive teams

• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure development, real estate, energy, or large-scale industrial projects
• Proven experience securing both land and power for data centers, logistics, renewables, or major infrastructure developments
• Strong understanding of European planning, permitting, and energy frameworks across multiple jurisdictions
• Deep experience working with utilities and navigating grid connection processes
• Commercial and technical understanding of:
• Power delivery and substation infrastructure
• Land acquisition structures and risk mitigation
• Early-stage project development economics
• Experience operating in a project-driven, build-led, or vertically integrated…