JLL
Technical Director, EMEA Data Centers
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Project & Development Services (PDS)
Reporting Structure
Reports to: EMEA Head of Data Centers
Matrix reporting line: EMEA Head of Operations, PDS & Tetris
Location: London (preferred)
Direct reports: None but strong matrix on technical oversight of in-country delivery teams
Collaborates With
- EMEA Head of Data Centers (strategic direction, commercial ownership, client relationships)
- EMEA Head of Operations, PDS & Tetris (delivery governance, resourcing, operational standards)
- Country PDS Directors and market leadership teams
- Client technical, engineering, and procurement leads across hyperscale and colocation accounts
- MEP, commissioning, and specialist engineering partners
- Ingenious platform and digital delivery teams
- HSSE, Risk, and Legal functions
Role Overview
The Technical Director, EMEA Data Centers is the senior technical authority for data center project delivery across the region, responsible for ensuring that every hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center engagement is delivered to a consistently high technical standard, on programme, and in line with client and regulatory requirements. The role provides hands-on technical leadership across live projects while building the technical capability, standards, and governance that underpin PDS's data center practice in EMEA. Working in close partnership with the EMEA Head of Data Centers on strategy and client relationships, and with the EMEA Head of Operations on delivery governance and resourcing, the Technical Director ensures technical excellence is embedded consistently across markets.
Technical Leadership & Standards
- Own and continuously develop PDS's EMEA data center technical delivery framework, covering design review, commissioning, and handover standards
- Act as the senior technical escalation point for complex engineering, MEP, and construction issues across the regional project portfolio
- Set and enforce minimum technical governance standards for all data center projects, including design stage gates and quality assurance protocols
- Represent PDS in technical forums, industry bodies, and standards groups relevant to hyperscale and colocation infrastructure
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Project Delivery Excellence
- Provide direct technical oversight on the region's most complex or highest-value data center projects, from feasibility through to commissioning and energization
- Partner with Project Directors to identify and resolve programme, cost, and technical risk before it impacts delivery
- Drive consistent application of project controls, risk registers, and technical documentation across all markets
- Support recovery planning and remediation on any project falling outside agreed technical or programme tolerances
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain trusted technical relationships with client engineering, construction, and operations leadership at key hyperscale and colocation accounts
- Support the EMEA Head of Data Centers in technical input to pursuits, proposals, and framework negotiations
- Lead technical due diligence and lessons-learned reviews with clients following project completion
Sector & Technical Expertise
- Maintain deep, current expertise in hyperscale and colocation data center design, construction, and commissioning methodologies
- Track emerging technical requirements driven by AI infrastructure, high-density cooling, and power availability constraints across EMEA markets
- Provide guidance on jurisdiction-specific regulatory, planning, and grid-connection considerations across core EMEA markets
Innovation & Digital Delivery
- Champion adoption of the Ingenious platform and other digital delivery tools across data center projects to improve programme visibility and reporting
- Identify and pilot new technologies, methods, or delivery models that improve speed-to-energization or reduce delivery risk
- Partner with clients on innovation initiatives that create measurable technical or commercial value
Risk, Compliance & HSSE
- Ensure all data center projects meet JLL and client HSSE requirements, with zero tolerance for critical safety non-compliance
- Own technical risk reporting into regional governance forums, flagging material issues to the EMEA Head of Data Centers and EMEA Head of Operations
- Ensure commissioning and handover documentation meets both client and regulatory audit requirements
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Team Development & Capability Building
- Build technical capability across country delivery teams through mentoring, training, and structured knowledge-sharing
- Support recruitment and development of senior technical talent for the EMEA data center practice
- Establish and lead a data center technical community of practice across EMEA markets
Qualifications & Experience
- Degree-qualified in engineering, construction management, or a related technical discipline; chartered status (e.g., MRICS, CEng) preferred
- 15+ years' experience in data center design, construction, or project delivery, including significant hyperscale or colocation experience
- Proven track record leading complex, multi-disciplinary technical delivery across multiple EMEA jurisdictions
- Strong working knowledge of MEP systems, commissioning processes, and data center operational requirements
- Experience engaging directly with hyperscale or colocation client technical and engineering leadership
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence both client and internal senior leadership
- Fluent English; additional European language capability an advantage
- Willingness to travel extensively across EMEA markets
JLL Behaviours
The successful candidate will embody and amplify JLL's core behaviours across all activities:
- Be humble — Create a compelling vision for JLL's Data Center technical excellence that motivates teams and attracts top talent
- Win Together — Drive successful outcomes through effective collaboration across country teams by deepening client relationships
- Simplify — Streamline complex technical delivery processes to improve client experience and operational efficiency
- Be Decisive — Apply strategic focus to the highest-risk, highest-value technical challenges across the regional portfolio as a trusted team member
- Be Curious — Anticipate emerging technical requirements (AI infrastructure, high-density cooling, power availability) and position JLL ahead of market shifts leading with agility
JLL is committed to hiring and developing the most talented people, reflecting the diversity of the communities in which we operate.
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