Apto
Public Policy Director
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Join us to help lead the next wave of the digital economy.
The world depends on the infrastructure that keeps us connected. From the way we work to how we live, every moment depends on it. Yet most of that infrastructure sits in the same crowded hubs, running up against constraints of space, power and permits. That’s where you come in.
At Apto, we design, build and operate hyperscale data centres where they’re needed most - in Europe’s fastest-growing markets, working with customers to unblock capacity bottlenecks. These are the places our customers need to be next, where land and power can be unlocked and where growth is possible - so the digital economy can thrive.
You’ll join a business formed to develop and operate the European data centre assets of global investment manager PIMCO, we benefit from the scale, resources and land sourcing capabilities of one of the largest real estate platforms in Europe.
We have the firepower to deliver - but it’s our people who make the difference: a leadership team behind some of the most ambitious data centre projects in the world, and colleagues who will push you, back you and bring you into the decisions that shape our future. From day one, we’ve been deliberate about the company we’re building - values-led, customer-obsessed and ambitious for each other’s success.
If you want to work somewhere you can see the direct impact of what you do, this is your moment. At Apto, we don’t just build data centres. We build careers, capabilities and a culture where everyone owns the outcome.
Position Overview
The Public Policy Director (PPD) will be responsible for shaping, executing, and reporting on Apto’s public affairs at the European Union (EU) level, as well as on regulatory topics that affect Apto across various markets, such as the implementation of EU directives in member states.
The PPD will collaborate with internal stakeholders to establish Apto’s priorities and positions on key policy areas, including ESG (e.g., energy efficiency, carbon accounting, and waste heat), planning and permitting policy (e.g., environmental impact assessments), energy (e.g., self-generation of electricity, renewable energy), and technology-related policy (e.g., cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data sovereignty). This role involves engaging with relevant EU government and trade bodies, advocacy groups, public bodies, and industry-wide representative groups to research and assess the direction of legislation and regulation to ensure Apto is able to anticipate the direction of regulatory changes to best serve its customers, thereby fostering a long-term policy and political environment that supports the company’s growth, ESG objectives, and research and development strategies.
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The role will also require engagement with local communities and local permitting bodies to understand and respond to local development concerns.
The role
- Develop and execute a strategic public policy engagement plan to advance business objectives at the EU level.
- Assist in crafting and implementing policy messaging and engagement plans on program-level policy topics, including ESG, energy policy, and technology policies at the member state level.
- Research, identify, monitor, and report on current and emerging policy issues at the EU level that are relevant to the data center sector and Apto’s business strategies.
- Lead and/or contribute to public policy efforts in cross-functional program-level initiatives in collaboration with teams such as operational compliance, sustainability, energy, design and engineering, legal, and corporate compliance.
- Assisting on project-specific permitting and local community engagements to understand and respond to concerns and, thereby, advance development goals.
- Support the development and execution of multi-market policy advocacy strategies in response to the transposition of EU directives.
- Oversee third-party public affairs agencies and industry associations supporting EU and program-level efforts.
- Build and maintain relationships with public affairs counterparts in the industry and with Apto customers.
- Lead on early market intelligence gathering, risk analyses, and early stakeholder engagement in select EU countries as it relates to policy landscape.
Duties
- Monitor policy and political developments at the EU level, and track and report on issues that are important to Apto and the data center industry.
- Coordinate and draft Apto's positioning statements and external-facing documents for public policy matters. This includes responding to official requests for information, preparing slide decks and talking points for internal and external meetings, and managing briefings for executives and key internal stakeholders related to EU matters and program-level policy topics.
- Engage with public stakeholders by advocating for Apto’s position in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Represent Apto at government and industry meetings at the EU level to testify or comment on Apto’s behalf.
- Partner with marketing and business teams to develop messaging, collateral, and public relations materials to drive the public narrative around Apto and the data center industry.
- Act as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert to market and central teams on policy topics within the scope of this role.
- Coordinate and lead cross-functional or cross-market working groups on topics with significant policy impact or influence.
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What we offer
Apto offers competitive salaries and bonuses alongside a full package of benefits that you’d expect. All employees are part of the Long-Term Incentive Plan, which offers a meaningful incentive to align the whole Apto team on the success of the platform. Further details will be provided during the interview process.
You will be joining Apto at an early stage in our development and the opportunities for career growth are limited only by your ambition, we will offer a breadth of exposure to senior executives, investors and daily interaction with a world class team. Everyone takes accountability for the success of Apto - this mindset isn’t for everyone but if it is for you - we'd love to have a conversation.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Law, Environmental Studies, or related discipline.
- 8-12+ years in government affairs, public policy, or legislative advocacy, in Europe and across multiple markets, with at least 5+ years directly focused on digital infrastructure, data centres, energy utilities or industrial scale commercial real estate development.
- Deep experience of engaging with policymakers at all levels of government across Europe.
- Deep understanding of public policy issues around the European data centre industry, utility sector and sustainability.
- Proven network within the data centre industry and beyond.
- Confident communicator with demonstrated experience in driving change and stakeholder management.
- Experience of presentation preparation, and research.
- Execution experience with ability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English.
- Willingness to travel up to 50% within Europe.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience of working with large data centre providers across Europe.
- Ability to converse in Italian, German, Spanish or French is advantageous.
- Experience working in rapidly scaling organisations and high-performance, cross-functional teams.
Location
Dublin or London. Travel across Europe as required.
Reporting
Mark Dolan - Chief Strategy & Acquisitions Officer at Apto.
Apto is an equal opportunities employer.
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