Development Manager / Senior Development Manager - Nordics

About Nscale and the Role

Nscale is pioneering Europe's AI infrastructure with advanced, sustainable data centre campuses critical for hyperscalers, AI innovators, and enterprises across EMEA. Positioned at the forefront of AI's rapid growth, we create platforms that support high-performance GPU infrastructure tailored for AI workloads. As a Development Manager or Senior Development Manager, you will spearhead complex, high-impact data centre development projects throughout Europe from site acquisition to delivery readiness, playing a vital role in our dynamic growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct market analysis to identify and evaluate strategic sites that align with end-user GPU demand across EMEA.
• Carry out feasibility studies assessing power, fiber, water, environmental, and planning considerations to build solid business cases.
• Manage multidisciplinary due diligence activities, including legal, environmental, geotechnical, transport, and utility assessments by coordinating consultants and internal teams.
• Support and negotiate with landowners, developers, and partners while maintaining detailed acquisition documentation, risk registers, and gating procedures.
• Lead front-end development phases encompassing feasibility, design activities, permitting strategy, risk mitigation, and enabling works.
• Engage with utility providers to address power, fiber, gas, and water connections, including grid applications and off-grid solutions.
• Create Project Execution Plans to ensure seamless transition to design, delivery, and operations teams.
• Develop and manage risk-adjusted cost forecasts, schedules, budgets, risk logs, and comprehensive reporting to support business cases.
• Coordinate planning and operational permits across multiple EMEA jurisdictions and actively engage local authorities, utility companies, landowners, and communities.
• Oversee licensing roadmaps, ensure compliance with approval conditions, and maintain regulatory adherence throughout development stages.
• Facilitate the sales team’s understanding of site progress to enhance marketability towards investable and deliverable opportunities.
• Act as a liaison across development, design, delivery, legal, finance, procurement, compute deployment, and operations teams to enhance collaboration.
• Contribute to refining Nscale’s development standards, governance frameworks, and delivery methodologies.
• Monitor sector trends, policy changes, and utility constraints to inform and adjust strategic planning.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum three years’ experience in client-side, front-end data centre or mission-critical infrastructure development, encompassing site acquisition, due diligence, permits, entitlements, and pre-construction activities.
• Strong understanding of utility infrastructure, planning legislation, and large-scale project development cycles.
• A degree in Engineering, Planning, Real Estate, Construction Management, or related fields.
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical and commercial information to varied stakeholders clearly.
• Exceptional organisational abilities enabling simultaneous management of multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail.
• Commercially insightful, confident in challenging assumptions and presenting robust business cases.
• Collaborative yet decisive leadership style, capable of accountability and progressing team-driven outcomes.
• Adaptability and curiosity to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, with willingness to evolve responsibilities.

Additional Information

The role is ideally based in Norway, preferably Oslo, with openness to candidates from other Nordic regions. Travel to development sites, meetings, and project events will be necessary.

Equal Opportunity Commitment: Applications from diverse backgrounds including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, neurodivergent candidates, parents, carers, and candidates from lower socioeconomic groups are strongly encouraged. Nscale is committed to accommodating individual needs during recruitment.