VP of Capital Projects Greater London, United Kingdom Area

Job Title: Vice President of Capital Projects

Location: UK or EIRE Based but with Frequent travel to Europe / Nordics

POSITION OVERVIEW

Verne is seeking an exceptional Vice President of Capital Projects to provide executive leadership, strategic oversight and independent delivery assurance across its portfolio of data centre development and construction projects in the European Union and Nordic region. Reporting directly to the CDO, the VP will be accountable for portfolio performance, governance, capital stewardship and delivery confidence, ensuring projects are delivered safely, predictably and to required commercial, technical and operational standards.

The VP will lead experienced Project Directors, each accountable for day-to-day execution in their jurisdiction. This is an executive leadership position, not a hands-on project management role. The VP will establish clear accountability, challenge performance and intervene at executive level when required without displacing the Project Directors’ delivery responsibilities.

A defining responsibility is to provide the CDO with an independent, objective and evidence-based view of actual portfolio performance, capital exposure, forecast credibility and delivery risk—not simply a consolidation of project status reports.

1 | EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE

Own executive-level oversight of portfolio delivery against approved investment, schedule, safety, quality and operational objectives.

Translate development strategy into portfolio priorities, governance requirements, credible execution plans and measurable performance expectations.

Maintain an integrated view of schedules, milestones, capital commitments, forecast expenditure, resourcing and cross-project dependencies.

Advise the CDO on capital allocation, investment prioritisation, strategic delivery choices and timely executive interventions.

2 | INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE & EXECUTIVE CHALLENGE

Independently test project budgets, cost-to-complete estimates, critical paths, schedule forecasts, risk allowances and milestone confidence.

Challenge Project Directors and delivery partners on assumptions, progress evidence, recovery plans and the realism of reported outcomes.

Identify gaps between reported status and site progress, contractor performance, contractual commitments and actual financial exposure.

Commission or lead targeted assurance and stage-gate reviews; ensure findings have owners, corrective actions and follow-through.

Provide the CDO with candid, concise assessments of delivery confidence, material threats, potential downside exposure and recommended decisions.

Escalate emerging issues early, including uncomfortable findings, and protect the integrity and transparency of executive reporting.

3 | LEADERSHIP OF PROJECT DIRECTORS

Lead, mentor and assess Project Directors across jurisdictions, establishing delegated authorities, decision rights and escalation thresholds.

Hold each Director accountable for local project execution, including contractor performance, cost, programme, safety and quality.

Create a culture of ownership, constructive challenge, transparent reporting and proactive risk management.

Build organisational capability, succession depth, collaboration and consistent standards across the capital projects function.

4 | CAPITAL STEWARDSHIP & COMMERCIAL GOVERNANCE

Oversee approved capital budgets, commitments, contingencies, cost-to-complete forecasts and material financial exposures.

Challenge forecast final costs and significant variances; ensure robust change control, commercial governance and financial reporting.

Provide executive oversight of procurement and contracting strategies, major awards, negotiations, claims and material disputes.

Partner with Finance and the CDO on investment approvals and capital decisions; identify opportunities for capital efficiency and value protection.

5 | COMMERCIAL OVERSIGHT & CONTRACTUAL ACUMEN

Provide executive oversight of contract strategy, risk allocation, negotiation, award and administration across major construction, engineering and infrastructure packages.

Demonstrate strong working knowledge and practical experience of FIDIC and NEC forms of contract, together with bespoke commercial and construction agreements used on complex international projects.

Challenge and guide Project Directors and commercial teams on contractual obligations, notices, compensation events, variations, extensions of time, claims, payment mechanisms and dispute avoidance.

Oversee high-value contract negotiations and ensure that commercial terms, liabilities, performance security and remedies are proportionate, enforceable and aligned with Verne’s risk appetite.

Ensure disciplined contract administration, including timely notices, accurate records, change control, contractor performance monitoring and effective management of contractual entitlements.

Provide executive direction on material claims, disputes and settlement strategies, working with internal commercial and legal advisers while preserving project-level accountability.

6 | ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

Apply deep engineering expertise to challenge design choices, construction methodologies, technical interfaces and execution assumptions.

Ensure solutions meet Verne’s reliability, scalability, operational readiness and long-term asset performance requirements.

Oversee critical interfaces including electrical and mechanical infrastructure, utility connections, commissioning and handover.

Promote consistent engineering assurance, standardisation, modular solutions and lessons learned where they improve delivery outcomes.

7 | STRATEGIC STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

Represent Verne at senior level with major contractors, engineering partners, utility providers, government bodies and regulators.

Support resolution of critical dependencies involving grid connections, power infrastructure, planning, permits and regulatory approvals.

Work with development, engineering, operations and commercial teams to align project delivery with wider business priorities.

Lead high-level negotiations and difficult stakeholder engagements requiring executive authority and sound judgement.

8 | RISK, GOVERNANCE, SAFETY & QUALITY

Establish consistent portfolio risk management, credible mitigations, stage-gate controls and executive escalation processes.

Identify systemic risks and interdependencies that may be missed when individual projects are reviewed in isolation.

Champion rigorous health, safety, environmental and quality expectations and transparent decision-making across all jurisdictions.

CANDIDATE PROFILE | ESSENTIAL

Minimum 25 years’ progressive experience in engineering, construction and delivery of major industrial, commercial or infrastructure capital projects.

Substantial executive or regional leadership experience overseeing multiple large, technically complex projects and senior Project Directors, preferably internationally.

Demonstrated command of capital budgets, contracting, procurement, commercial risk, forecasting and project assurance.

Proven contractual and commercial acumen, including hands-on senior-level experience of contract negotiations and administration, with familiarity with FIDIC, NEC and bespoke construction and commercial contracts.

Strong engineering background and credibility to independently challenge senior technical and construction professionals.

Proven ability to identify delivery problems early, test optimistic forecasts and communicate difficult conclusions at executive or board level.

Exceptional communication, negotiation, stakeholder management and multicultural leadership skills; willingness to travel extensively.

Engineering degree (electrical, mechanical, civil, structural or related discipline) and an MBA or comparable postgraduate business/management qualification.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Data centre, hyperscale, colocation or other mission-critical project delivery; comparable experience in energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals or advanced manufacturing is also valued.

Knowledge of high-voltage power infrastructure, grid connections, utilities, planning, building permitting and environmental approvals in EU/Nordic markets.

Chartered Engineer or equivalent accreditation; additional project, programme or commercial management qualifications. (MBA desirable)

Experience with international EPC contractors, standardised designs, modularisation and capital delivery improvement.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

Independent judgement and intellectual rigour; executive presence and strategic perspective; ability to lead through others; engineering credibility; capital and commercial discipline; clear, persuasive communication; decisiveness, integrity and accountability; cultural awareness and resilience.

KEY MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Delivery confidence

Credible forecasts, early risk identification and achievement of critical milestones.

Capital performance

Forecast accuracy, cost-to-complete visibility and controlled financial exposure.

Independent assurance

Objective challenge, effective escalation and actionable executive recommendations.

Leadership

Accountable, capable and high-performing Project Directors across jurisdictions.

Risk & governance

Proactive mitigation, consistent controls and reliable executive reporting.

Safety & quality

Consistent achievement of Verne’s safety, environmental and quality standards.

Stakeholders

Effective relationships with utilities, contractors, regulators and internal partners.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an opportunity to shape Verne’s capital delivery capability across Europe and the Nordics. Working directly with the CDO, the VP will combine leadership of the capital projects organisation with independent assurance of the programme’s true performance, risks and financial exposure—supporting disciplined investment decisions, transparent reporting and predictable delivery outcomes.