Program Director Escaudain

DATA4'S MISSION

DATA4 creates Smart & Scalable digital facilities for our customers. Our network of highly connected, resilient and sustainable data center campuses underpins our customers’ digital growth in Europe.

DATA4 Group designs, constructs, finances and operates its own data centers. Delivered through our data center campus model, we provide our customers with secure, scalable and high-performance data hosting solutions.

DATA4 VALUES

At DATA4 we are driven by our values. These are the core of everything we do – from the proactivity we show in delivering great outcomes for our clients, to the responsibility we show as a key contributor to the digital economy. Our three values are:

1. To be entrepreneurial – we are teams of doers who make things happen - with autonomy, energy and a sense of responsibility
2. To always take responsibility – for our impact on the people we work with, the society we are part of, and the environment in which we operate
3. To constantly be adaptable – our business is designed to adapt, answering not only today’s challenges, but also anticipating what’s coming next.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Program Director is responsible for driving the successful development of GW Campus by ensuring that all strategic, regulatory, stakeholder, partnership, and delivery activities progress efficiently and cohesively.

He/She ensures that GW Campus develops as rapidly and smoothly as possible while meeting DATA4's quality, sustainability, financial and operational standards.

The role serves as the central orchestrator of the campus development program, aligning public and private interests, accelerating project execution, managing risks, and creating conditions for sustainable long-term growth.

The Program Director ensures the successful and timely development of the GW Campus by coordinating stakeholders, securing partnerships, facilitating governance and enabling effective delivery across all workstreams.

He/She acts as a catalyst for campus growth, creating the framework, relationships and momentum necessary to transform the campus vision into reality.

The Program Director reports directly to the Country Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Vision & Program Governance

• Define and maintain the overall vision and strategic roadmap for the campus development program.
• Establish governance structures, decision-making processes and performance indicators.
• Ensure alignment between campus objectives, business strategy and public-sector expectations.
• Provide regular executive-level reporting on program progress, opportunities and risks.

Stakeholder Management & Public Affairs

• Develop trusted relationships with public authorities, municipalities, regulators and institutional stakeholders.
• Act as a key representative of DATA4 towards external stakeholders.
• Facilitate discussions and negotiations required to accelerate campus expansion.
• Ensure effective engagement with local communities and regional development initiatives.

Permitting

• Track permits from application till formal approval.
• Maintain visibility on critical path dependencies, public review periods, and submission deadlines.
• Participate in municipal planning hearings and strategic alignment sessions with local officials.
• Ensure project teams adapt design specs to local planning constraints and municipal feedback.

Partnership Development

• Identify, attract and structure strategic partnerships supporting campus growth.
• Collaborate with investors, developers, utilities, technology providers and ecosystem partners.
• Develop opportunities that strengthen the economic attractiveness and competitiveness of the campus.
• Promote initiatives related to energy, circular economy, innovation, education and community engagement.
• Negotiate and coordinate partnership agreements in collaboration with internal experts.
• Contribute to DATA4's ESG ambitions and sustainability commitments.

Risk Management, Compliance & Reputation

• Anticipate and manage regulatory, environmental, legal and organizational risks.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and governance requirements.
• Coordinate with Legal, ESG, Communications and Public Affairs teams.
• Protect and enhance DATA4's reputation across all stakeholder interactions.

Program Leadership & Communication

• Lead multidisciplinary teams and cross-functional working groups.
• Promote collaboration, accountability and shared ownership of objectives.
• Ensure transparent communication across internal and external stakeholders.
• Mobilize resources and influence decision-makers to remove obstacles and accelerate progress.

Program Delivery Oversight

In close collaboration with Development & Construction (D&C) teams and in support of Country Director.

• Monitor program execution across multiple initiatives and projects.
• Oversee milestones, budgets and risk registers.
• Coordinate dependencies between workstreams and stakeholders.
• Ensure delivery objectives are achieved in terms of time, cost, quality and sustainability.
• Escalate issues and propose mitigation plans when necessary.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Real Estate, Public Affairs or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in large-scale infrastructure, real estate development, industrial projects or data center environments.
• Proven experience leading complex multi-stakeholder programs.
• Strong understanding of public-private partnership environments.
• Experience engaging with senior executives, public authorities and strategic partners.
• Demonstrated success in governance, transformation programs and strategic development initiatives.

 Technical skills 

• Advanced program and project management capabilities, including governance, performance management, budget oversight, strategic planning and risk mitigation in complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale transformation and development programs, driving change, stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities, combining strategic thinking with a pragmatic and results-oriented approach to complex challenges.
• Solid understanding of regulatory, ESG and public affairs environments, including permitting processes and interactions with public institutions.
• Excellent organizational and self-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• High attention to detail while maintaining a strong focus on strategic objectives and delivery outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Fluent in French and English.
• Demonstrated professional integrity, sound judgment and a high level of accountability.

Soft skills

• Strategic Vision: ability to define and communicate a compelling long-term vision while aligning diverse stakeholders around shared objectives.
• Leadership & Change Management: proven ability to inspire, engage and mobilize multidisciplinary teams through complex transformation and development programs.
• Influencing & Negotiation Skills: ability to build consensus, manage competing interests and successfully navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Partnership-Oriented Mindset: strong capability to establish trusted relationships and develop strategic partnerships that create long-term value.
• Commercial Acumen & Entrepreneurial Spirit: ability to identify opportunities, anticipate market dynamics and drive initiatives that support sustainable growth.
• Excellent Interpersonal & Communication Skills: strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage effectively from operational teams to executive leaders, public authorities and external partners.
• Pragmatic & Solution-Oriented Approach: ability to translate strategy into action and resolve complex challenges with a practical, results-driven mindset.
• Resilience & Adaptability: ability to perform effectively in dynamic, fast-paced and evolving environments while maintaining focus on objectives.
• Collaborative Mindset & Team Spirit: ability to foster cooperation, trust and alignment across functions, organizations and cultures.
• Integrity & Accountability: demonstrates the highest standards of ethics, transparency and personal responsibility.
  

#LI-DNI