Sr. Director, Power Interconnection — Europe

WorldWide Mission Critical is seeking a Sr. Director, Power Interconnection – Europe to lead the strategy and execution of grid connections for our hyperscale data center campuses across the UK, Ireland, and Continental Europe. This role owns the end-to-end interconnection process — from initial TSO/DSO engagement and capacity reservation through connection agreement negotiation and energization — and serves as the company's primary relationship owner with European transmission and distribution system operators and national energy regulators.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute grid interconnection strategy for hyperscale data center campuses across target European markets (e.g., UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Nordics).
• Serve as the primary leadership point of contact with TSOs and DSOs (e.g., National Grid ESO, TenneT, Elia, EirGrid, RTE) for customer-utility issues. Oversee 3P vendors engaging utility regarding connection applications, capacity reservations, and connection agreements.
• Track grid connection queue positions across the portfolio and prepare project maturity/readiness documentation required under the EU Grids Package and national queue-reform rules.
• Negotiate connection agreements, including flexible and curtailable demand structures, to accelerate time-to-power in grid-constrained zones.
• Coordinate with customer development teams and WMCC development and engineering teams to align interconnection milestones with overall project development schedules.
• Develop and monitor electric regulatory engagement program with national regulators (e.g., Ofgem, CRU, BNetzA, ACM, CRE) and industry bodies (e.g., Eurelectric) on large-load connection and grid flexibility policy.
• Provide interconnection cost, timeline, and risk inputs to commercial and finance teams to support investment decisions.
• Manage third party consultants and advisors engaged for grid impact studies, permitting support, and connection negotiations.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in grid interconnection, transmission/distribution planning, or utility-facing power development in Europe.
• Direct experience negotiating with TSOs/DSOs and navigating national grid connection queue processes.
• Working knowledge of EU, UK, and national grid codes, connection agreements, and queue-reform frameworks.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, energy, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience managing interconnection activity across multiple countries or regulatory markets.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel both domestic and international as required by project needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience specific to hyperscale data center, large industrial, or other large-load power development.
• Existing working relationships with National Grid ESO, TenneT, Elia, EirGrid, or other major European TSOs/DSOs.
• Familiarity with flexible/curtailable connection structures and battery energy storage system (BESS) integration.

Core Competencies

• Grid connection queue strategy and capacity reservation
• TSO/DSO relationship management and negotiation
• Regulatory and policy engagement across multiple jurisdictions
• Commercial and technical risk assessment

Estimated 25% travel, primarily within Europe, to meet with grid operators, regulators, and site teams.

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