European Datacenter Energy Strategy Director H/F Digital Realty

Your role

Strategic Energy Leadership

- Develop and execute a multi-year European energy strategy aligned with datacenter expansion, sustainability commitments, and grid-interaction goals.
- Anticipate energy market trends, grid constraints, and evolving regulatory frameworks to inform datacenter siting and capacity planning.
- Drive integrated strategies for energy resilience, thermal management optimization, and on-site flexibility technologies.

Demand Response & Grid Flexibility

- Lead development of grid-interactive datacenter capabilities enabling participation in:
- Demand response programs
- Flexibility and balancing markets
- Frequency regulation and ancillary services
- Peak-shaving and load-shifting initiatives
- Work with engineering and operations teams to design and implement load-shedding, battery optimization, and flexible load management solutions.
- Evaluate feasibility and deployment pathways for on-site generation, long-duration storage, and emerging flexibility technologies.

Regulatory & Grid Engagement

- Serve as a key point of contact with European regulators, TSOs/DSOs, and permitting authorities in coordination with our regional and subregional MDs.
- Influence policy related to energy flexibility, datacenter grid integration, carbon accounting, and waste heat utilization.
- Manage grid interconnection strategy, capacity reservations, and compliance with EU and national regulations.

Stakeholder Leadership & Collaboration

- Work closely with datacenter operations, construction, sustainability, finance, legal, investments/acquisitions and public policy teams
- Communicate strategy, risks, performance, and opportunities to executive leadership and external partners.
- Lead a regional energy strategy team and manage external consultants.

What you'll need

- 10+ years of experience in energy strategy, energy systems, utilities, or large-scale infrastructure.
- Strong understanding of European electricity markets, transmission and distribution networks, and regulatory environments.
- Experience with demand response, flexibility markets, or grid-interactive buildings/industry.
- Proven experience engaging with regulators, TSOs/DSOs, and government entities.
- Demonstrated leadership in multi-country, cross-functional initiatives.

Preferred

- Experience in hyperscale datacenters or other mission-critical, high-energy-intensity sectors.
- Understanding of European climate policies, carbon accounting frameworks, and renewable certification mechanisms.
- Technical knowledge of datacenter electrical and cooling systems.
- Advanced degree in engineering, energy systems, economics, sustainability, or related fields.