Site Acquisition Manager, Data Centre (UK)

Cognisant; England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share structure

Supportive leadership team

Job summary

A well-capitalised real estate development group in South West London is seeking a Data Centre Site Acquisition professional to lead their new business division. This role involves identifying and acquiring strategic data centre sites, managing due diligence, and developing strong partnerships. The successful candidate will benefit from a substantial profit-share structure and the opportunity to shape a new venture in a growing market.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in data centre site origination or powered land acquisition.
• Strong understanding of grid connections and planning frameworks.
• Ability to evaluate site feasibility and exit strategies.
• Entrepreneurial and able to scale a new platform with backing.

Responsibilities

• Establish and grow a new Data Centre Land Trading Division.
• Lead site origination and acquisition for potential data centre developments.
• Manage technical due diligence and secure grid connections.
• Secure grid connections and optimise planning consents to enhance asset value.
• Build relationships with DSOs, TSOs, carriers, consultants, and operators.
• Oversee investment appraisals, project economics, and transaction structuring.
• Take full P&L responsibility for the division and drive growth.

Skills

Data centre site origination

Powered land acquisition

Infrastructure understanding

Site feasibility evaluation

Networking across data centre industry

Job description

Overview

Exceptional Package + Profit Share. South West London (UK-based).

Our client is an established, well-capitalised real estate development group launching a dedicated Data Centre Division to acquire, enable, and trade powered land and data centre assets across the UK.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Data Centre Site Acquisition professional to build and lead a new business line from the ground up, shaping strategy, establishing key partnerships, and delivering high-value, data centre-ready sites to market.

The Opportunity

You will lead the identification, due diligence, and acquisition of strategic data centre development sites, taking them through the critical enablement phase securing power, fibre, and planning with a view to flipping or forward-selling to operators, hyperscalers, or investors. Working closely with utilities, carriers, planning consultants, and investors, you’ll leverage the group’s financial backing to deliver a scalable portfolio of powered land opportunities across the UK’s major data centre markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and grow a new Data Centre Land Trading Division within the group.
• Lead site origination, assessment, and acquisition for potential data centre developments.
• Manage technical due diligence, including power availability, fibre connectivity, planning constraints, and environmental considerations.
• Secure and optimise grid connections, fibre routes, and planning consents to enhance asset value.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with DSOs, TSOs, carriers, consultants, and data centre operators.
• Oversee investment appraisals, project economics, and transaction structuring through to disposal.
• Take full P&L responsibility for the division and drive long-term growth strategy.

About You

• Proven experience in data centre site origination, powered land acquisition, or infrastructure-led real estate.
• Strong understanding of grid connections, fibre infrastructure, planning frameworks, and market dynamics affecting data centre site viability.
• Commercially and technically astute, with an ability to evaluate site feasibility, value creation, and exit strategies.
• Entrepreneurial, hands-on, and driven to create and scale a new platform with significant financial backing.
• Well-networked across data centre developers, utilities, consultants, and hyperscale/colo operators.

The Rewards

This is a unique opportunity to build a business within a business – supported by significant capital, a clear growth strategy, and an experienced leadership team.

Substantial profit-share structure offering outstanding earning potential for the right individual.

If you’re a data centre land and infrastructure specialist ready to lead a new venture, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply directly or contact Dan Petrie

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Project Management, Management, and Business Development

Industries

• Real Estate, Construction, and Building Construction