Research Consultant - Associate Director / Director

About the Role

CBRE's Data Centre Research & Consulting team operates at the forefront of the European data centre and digital infrastructure market. Working alongside our wider Data Centre Advisory business, we provide investors, developers, operators, occupiers and public sector organisations with the research, analysis and commercial advice needed to support investment, development and strategic decision-making.

As an Associate Director or Director, you will lead complex consulting engagements across the data centre sector, helping clients navigate opportunities and challenges relating to data centre development, operations, power and energy strategy, AI infrastructure and digital infrastructure investment.

This is a highly commercial and client-facing role that combines market expertise, research, consulting and business development. You will be responsible for producing high-quality research and advisory outputs, managing senior client relationships, and contributing to the continued growth of the business.

What you'll do

• Lead consulting assignments across the European data centre and digital infrastructure sector.
• Advise investors, developers, operators, occupiers and public sector organisations on market, investment and business-critical decisions.
• Manage projects from initial client engagement and scope definition through to delivery.
• Develop proposals, scopes of work and advisory solutions that convert client requirements into revenue-generating engagements.
• Lead the preparation of market assessments, commercial due diligence reports, investment committee papers, strategic advisory reports and bespoke research assignments.
• Produce high-quality written research, commercial analysis and client deliverables capable of supporting major investment, development and operational decisions.
• Support clients in evaluating acquisitions, investments, development opportunities and market entry strategies.
• Present findings, recommendations and investment cases to senior stakeholders, executive teams and investment committees.
• Work closely with CBRE's Data Centre Capital Markets, Occupier Services and Research teams to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, identifying opportunities to expand existing mandates and develop new business opportunities.
• Contribute to the commercial growth of the Data Centre Research & Consulting business through revenue generation, client development and thought leadership.
• Support the continued development of CBRE's market-leading position within the data centre sector.

What you'll need

• Strong understanding of the European data centre market and the key drivers influencing investment, development and operational decisions.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Data centre market analysis
• Power procurement and energy strategy
• AI infrastructure and AI hardware
• Data centre operations
• Data centre development
• Digital infrastructure investment
• Capital markets and financing

Experience within data centre consulting, digital infrastructure, infrastructure investment, strategy consulting, transaction advisory, market research or a related field.

Demonstrable experience producing high-quality written research, commercial due diligence reports, investment committee papers, market assessments and executive-level recommendations.

Strong analytical and report-writing skills, with the ability to distil complex market, technical and commercial information into clear, well-structured and actionable outputs.

Experience supporting investment, acquisition, development or market entry decisions through rigorous research and analysis.

Ability to interpret complex data and market trends and translate them into commercially relevant recommendations.

Strong client management and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working directly with senior executives and decision-makers.

Commercially minded, with experience identifying client needs, developing advisory propositions and supporting business growth.

Track record of contributing to the generation, conversion or delivery of revenue within a consulting, advisory, research or investment environment.

Excellent written, communication and presentation skills.

Degree educated. Additional professional qualifications would be advantageous.

Fluent in English. Additional European languages would be beneficial but are not essential.

We welcome applications from professionals who have developed their expertise through a range of routes, including:

Investment, Advisory or Strategy Consulting

You may have experience within:

• Infrastructure investment
• Private equity
• Investment banking
• Commercial due diligence
• Transaction advisory
• Strategy consulting
• Real estate or digital infrastructure advisory

You will bring strong commercial judgement, experience evaluating investment opportunities and the ability to develop clear, evidence-based recommendations for senior decision-makers.

Data Centre Research & Consulting

You may currently work within:

• Data centre advisory
• Digital infrastructure consulting
• Research and market intelligence
• Specialist consulting organisations focused on the data centre sector

You will bring experience delivering research-led consulting assignments, preparing client-facing reports and supporting strategic decision-making across the data centre market.

Industry Operator or Developer

You may come from:

• Data centre operators
• Colocation providers
• Hyperscalers
• Data centre developers
• Energy and power strategy teams

You will bring deep sector expertise, an understanding of operational and commercial challenges within the market, and experience supporting strategic business decisions.

Why CBRE?

CBRE is one of the leading advisers to investors, developers, operators and occupiers across the global data centre market. Our combination of market knowledge, industry relationships and specialist expertise enables us to support clients on some of the sector's most important investment and development decisions.

This is an opportunity to work on high-profile mandates across one of the fastest-growing areas of real estate and digital infrastructure, partnering with leading organisations and helping to shape some of the industry's most significant investment and growth decisions.

Applicant AI Use Disclosure

We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.

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