VP Power & Energy
Stealth AI
VP Power & Energy Internal Search Instructions
Role Overview
We are hiring a VP Power & Energy for a confidential AI infrastructure platform currently operating in stealth mode.
Internal company context: Volta External market language: Confidential AI infrastructure platform
Do not use the company name publicly unless instructed.
This is a very senior appointment. The role sits at the heart of the company’s AI infrastructure build strategy. The business is building industrial scale AI factories, not traditional data centres. Power is the foundation layer.
The ideal candidate will have operated at the intersection of:
• Power strategy • Utility relationships • Grid access • Interconnection • Powered land • Hyperscale infrastructure • Large scale data centre campus development • Generation partnerships • Energy procurement • Infrastructure capital • Global capacity deployment
The strongest candidates will have both power depth and broad infrastructure strategy experience.
This is not a narrow power procurement role. It is not a sustainability role. It is not a facilities role. It is a senior infrastructure leadership role focused on securing and scaling power for multi gigawatt AI infrastructure deployment.
Target Candidate Benchmark
Benchmark Profile
The benchmark candidate looks like someone who has done a version of the following:
• Led global data centre and energy strategy for a hyperscaler • Delivered or enabled hundreds of MWs to multiple GWs of capacity • Worked across multiple international markets, ideally North America and Europe • Led utility negotiations, power strategy, site selection and land acquisition • Been involved in power, real estate, infrastructure, finance, legal and engineering decisions • Worked with hyperscale customers, utilities, governments and infrastructure investors • Managed large scale development pipelines or portfolios • Operated at senior leadership level with board, investor or executive exposure
Example of Ideal Pattern
A strong profile may look similar to:
• Google data centre and energy strategy background • CyrusOne, NTT, Vantage, QTS, Digital Realty or similar hyperscale infrastructure leadership • Experience across power, land, site selection, utility engagement and capacity planning • Multi market or global experience • Track record measured in MWs or GWs, not single site projects • Credible with utilities, governments, investors and hyperscale customers
Michael Nudelman is a strong benchmark profile because his experience spans Google global data centre and energy strategy, CyrusOne global location and power strategy, and Beale’s 4GW development portfolio.
What Alfa Should Look For
Must Have Criteria
Only shortlist candidates who show most of the following:
• Senior experience in power, energy or infrastructure strategy
• Direct exposure to data centres, hyperscale infrastructure, digital infrastructure, AI infrastructure or large industrial power users
• Experience securing, structuring or managing large scale power capacity
• Evidence of working with utilities, grid operators, transmission companies or distribution companies
• Experience with grid access, interconnection, power connection agreements or power delivery pathways
• Experience across large MW or GW scale infrastructure programmes
• Ability to support powered land, site selection or campus activation decisions
• Commercial understanding of power cost, energy procurement, infrastructure economics and project risk
• Experience working with senior external stakeholders such as utilities, governments, regulators, developers, investors or hyperscale customers
• Ability to operate across strategy and execution, not just advisory
• Broader international exposure, ideally across Europe and North America
Strong Priority Experience
Prioritise candidates who have experience in one or more of the following areas:
Hyperscale Power and Energy Strategy
Candidates from Google, Microsoft, Meta, AWS, Oracle or similar who have worked on data centre energy strategy, power procurement, utility strategy, site selection, capacity planning or global infrastructure expansion.
Ideal titles may include:
• Global Data Center Energy Strategy • Data Center Power Strategy • Energy Strategy Lead • Global Infrastructure Energy • Director Power and Energy • Head of Energy Infrastructure • Global Capacity Strategy • Data Center Site Selection and Energy Strategy
Digital Infrastructure Power Leadership
Candidates from major data centre operators who have owned power strategy, energy procurement, grid access or campus power planning.
Target companies include:
• NTT Global Data Centers • Vantage Data Centers • CyrusOne • QTS • Digital Realty • Equinix • Stack Infrastructure • Compass Datacenters • Switch • Aligned • EdgeCore • CloudHQ • Iron Mountain Data Centers • Global Switch • Kao Data • Yondr • Colt DCS
Ideal titles may include:
• VP Power & Energy • Senior Director Global Power & Energy • Director Power and Sustainability • Head of Power • Head of Energy • Global Energy Lead • Director Energy Procurement • Director Grid Connections • Director Power Infrastructure • Director Development, Power • Global Location and Power Strategy
Power, Grid and Energy Infrastructure
Candidates from utilities, IPPs, energy developers, grid operators or power infrastructure businesses may be relevant if they have worked with large industrial loads, data centres, grid connections or behind the meter power.
Relevant backgrounds include:
• Utility strategy • Grid connections • Transmission and distribution • Interconnection • Power generation • Behind the meter power • Microgrids • Energy storage • PPAs • Power infrastructure development • Energy project finance • Industrial power supply
Target companies may include:
• National Grid • SSE • EDF • Engie • RWE • E.ON • Iberdrola • Enel • Statkraft • Centrica • NextEra Energy • Duke Energy • Southern Company • Dominion Energy • Constellation • Invenergy • AES • Brookfield Renewable • Blackstone portfolio energy platforms • Macquarie energy/infrastructure platforms • Brookfield infrastructure platforms
Experience Keywords Alfa Should Prioritise
Alfa should search for these keywords in profiles, CVs and LinkedIn experience:
• Data centre power • Data center power • Hyperscale power • Global power strategy • Data centre energy strategy • Data center energy strategy • Grid access • Grid connections • Interconnection • Utility negotiations • Utility agreements • Power procurement • Energy procurement • PPA • Power purchase agreement • Powered land • Site selection • Land acquisition • Campus development • Capacity planning • Global capacity • MW • GW • Multi GW • Transmission • Distribution • Substation • Behind the meter • Microgrid • Generation partnership • Energy infrastructure • AI infrastructure • Digital infrastructure • Data centre development • Infrastructure development • Real estate and energy • Power availability • Power delivery • Energy cost • Power resilience • Queue position • Connection charges • Development agreements • Incentives • Infrastructure finance • Project finance
What Good Looks Like
A Grade Candidate
Shortlist immediately if the candidate has:
• 10 plus years relevant experience • Hyperscale or major data centre power experience • Multi market or global remit • Clear MW or GW scale track record • Utility, grid and power negotiation experience • Site selection or powered land exposure • Commercial and strategic capability • Senior stakeholder credibility • Evidence of working with investors, governments, hyperscale customers or executive teams
Example: someone who has worked in global data centre energy strategy at a hyperscaler and then moved into senior power or development leadership at CyrusOne, NTT, Vantage, QTS, Digital Realty or similar.
B Grade Candidate
Shortlist for review if the candidate has:
• Strong data centre power experience but mainly regional • Strong power and grid background but less data centre exposure • Strong utility or IPP background with large industrial load experience • Strong energy procurement and PPA experience with some site activation exposure • Strong EMEA or North America experience but limited global scope
These candidates may still be relevant, especially if they have strong power depth and senior stakeholder credibility.
C Grade Candidate
Only include if the market is thin.
Examples:
• Strong renewables or PPA background but limited grid or data centre experience • Good data centre operations background but limited strategic power ownership • Power engineer with technical depth but little commercial or leadership experience • Consultant with strong advisory background but limited direct delivery ownership
What Not To Shortlist
Do not shortlist candidates who are mainly:
1. Sustainability Only
Reject if their experience is mainly ESG, carbon reporting, climate strategy, sustainability compliance or green claims without power delivery ownership.
Titles to be careful with:
• Head of Sustainability • ESG Director • Carbon Strategy Lead • Net Zero Lead • Sustainability Manager
Only consider if they also have direct power procurement, grid, utility or infrastructure delivery experience.
2. Facilities or Operations Only
Reject if they only manage existing facilities, maintenance, FM, critical environments or uptime operations without power strategy, grid access or development exposure.
Titles to be careful with:
• Facilities Director • Critical Facilities Manager • Data Centre Operations Manager • Engineering Operations Manager • FM Director
This is not a data centre ops role.
3. Pure Energy Procurement
Reject if they only buy electricity contracts for corporate estates and have no experience with grid access, interconnection, powered land, data centre campuses or large infrastructure development.
Energy procurement is useful, but not enough on its own.
4. Single Market Grid Connections Only
Reject or downgrade if the person only understands one narrow local market and has no evidence of broader strategic capability.
For this role, we need broader global experience, not only UK grid connections or only one European market.
5. Pure Renewables Development
Reject if the candidate only develops solar or wind projects and has no data centre, industrial load, grid connection or hyperscale customer exposure.
Renewables experience is useful only when paired with power delivery for large load customers.
6. Consultant Only
Be careful with candidates who have only advised on power strategy but never owned delivery, negotiations or execution.
Consulting experience is acceptable if followed by operating roles in data centres, utilities, infrastructure platforms or energy development.
7. Too Junior
Reject candidates below senior director level unless they have exceptional hyperscale power experience.
This is a VP level appointment. We need people who can operate with boards, investors, utilities, governments and senior customer stakeholders.
8. MEP Design Only
Reject if the candidate is mainly an electrical design engineer, MEP consultant or technical design lead without external power, utility, grid, commercial or strategic ownership.
This is not a design engineering role.
9. Policy Only
Reject candidates who are mainly policy, regulatory affairs or government relations unless they have strong power infrastructure execution experience.
10. No Data Centre, AI Infrastructure or Large Load Exposure
Reject if they have no obvious connection to data centres, hyperscale infrastructure, digital infrastructure, industrial power loads, grid infrastructure or large campus development.
Specific Guidance On Neal Type Profiles
A profile like Neal Kalita is relevant because it includes senior power and energy leadership at NTT and Vantage, 2GW of new power connections, power banking, powered site diligence, 4TWh energy procurement and global power work.
However, Alfa should not treat this as the full ceiling for the search.
We need to find candidates with broader global infrastructure experience where possible.
Neal type profiles are good if they show:
• Global or multi region remit • Data centre power strategy • Large MW/GW power connections • Utility and grid relationships • Energy procurement and PPA experience • Powered site diligence • Senior leadership exposure
But they should be downgraded if:
• Experience is mostly UK/EMEA only • They lack North America or global market exposure • They are too focused on procurement or sustainability • They have limited powered land or site development exposure • They lack hyperscale customer or board level infrastructure experience
Ideal Candidate Sources
Tier 1 Target Companies
Prioritise candidates from:
• Google • Microsoft • Meta • AWS • Oracle • Apple • NVIDIA ecosystem infrastructure partners • CoreWeave • Crusoe • Lambda • Nebius • CyrusOne • NTT Global Data Centers • Vantage Data Centers • QTS • Digital Realty • Equinix • Stack Infrastructure • Compass Datacenters • Switch • Aligned • EdgeCore • CloudHQ
Tier 2 Target Companies
Also consider:
• Major utilities • Transmission companies • Grid operators • IPPs • Energy developers • Infrastructure funds • Renewable energy developers • Industrial infrastructure platforms • Large real asset developers with power depth
Tier 3 Target Companies
Consider only if the candidate has exceptional relevant experience:
• Energy consultancies • MEP consultancies • Real estate advisory firms • Sustainability advisory firms • Government energy bodies • Engineering firms
Target Job Titles For LinkedIn Search
Alfa should search for these current and previous titles:
• VP Power & Energy • Vice President Power • Vice President Energy • VP Energy Infrastructure • VP Power Infrastructure • Head of Power • Head of Energy • Head of Global Power • Head of Global Energy • Senior Director Global Power & Energy • Director Global Power & Energy • Director Power Strategy • Director Energy Strategy • Director Data Center Energy • Director Data Centre Energy • Director Power Infrastructure • Director Grid Connections • Director Interconnection • Director Energy Procurement • Director Power Procurement • Global Energy Strategy Lead • Global Data Center Energy Strategy • Global Data Centre Energy Strategy • Global Location and Power Strategy • Infrastructure Energy Lead • Data Center Site Selection • Data Centre Site Selection • Powered Land Lead • Power Development Director • Energy Development Director • Grid Infrastructure Director
LinkedIn Boolean Search Strings
Search String 1: Hyperscale Power
("data center" OR "data centre" OR hyperscale OR "digital infrastructure") AND ("power strategy" OR "energy strategy" OR "global energy" OR "global power" OR "utility" OR "grid") AND ("MW" OR "GW" OR "interconnection" OR "site selection" OR "powered land")
Search String 2: Global Data Centre Energy Leaders
("global power" OR "global energy" OR "energy infrastructure" OR "power infrastructure") AND ("data center" OR "data centre" OR hyperscale) AND ("Google" OR "Microsoft" OR "Meta" OR "AWS" OR "Oracle" OR "CyrusOne" OR "NTT" OR "Vantage" OR "QTS" OR "Digital Realty")
Search String 3: Grid and Interconnection
("grid access" OR "grid connection" OR "interconnection" OR "transmission" OR "distribution") AND ("data center" OR "data centre" OR "industrial load" OR hyperscale OR "digital infrastructure") AND ("director" OR "VP" OR "head of" OR "senior director")
Search String 4: Powered Land and Site Selection
("powered land" OR "site selection" OR "land acquisition" OR "capacity planning") AND ("power" OR "energy" OR "utility" OR "grid") AND ("data center" OR "data centre" OR hyperscale)
Search String 5: Energy Procurement Plus Infrastructure
("energy procurement" OR "power procurement" OR "PPA" OR "power purchase agreement") AND ("data center" OR "data centre" OR hyperscale) AND ("grid" OR "utility" OR "interconnection" OR "MW" OR "GW")
Search String 6: Power Developers With Large Load Exposure
("power development" OR "energy development" OR "generation" OR "microgrid" OR "behind the meter") AND ("data center" OR "data centre" OR "large load" OR "industrial load" OR hyperscale)
Alfa Screening Questions
Use these questions to qualify candidates before sending to Blaine.
Power Scale
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What is the largest power capacity programme you have personally led or materially contributed to?
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Was this measured in MW or GW?
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Was your role strategic, commercial, technical, delivery focused or advisory?
Global Experience
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Which countries or regions have you worked across?
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Have you operated across both Europe and North America?
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Have you led a global or multi region power strategy?
Utility and Grid Experience
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Have you negotiated directly with utilities, grid operators, transmission owners or distribution companies?
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Have you worked on interconnection, grid access, queue position, connection charges or power delivery agreements?
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Can you give an example where you improved power timeline, cost or certainty?
Data Centre and Hyperscale Exposure
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Have you supported hyperscale data centre or digital infrastructure development?
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Have you worked with hyperscale customers or internal hyperscale infrastructure teams?
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Have you been involved in site selection or powered land diligence?
Commercial and Stakeholder Experience
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Have you worked with investors, lenders, boards or executive teams?
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Have you supported investment papers, project finance, infrastructure funding or site acquisition decisions?
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Have you represented a company externally with governments, regulators, utilities or strategic partners?
AI Infrastructure Fit
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What is your view on power as the constraint layer for AI infrastructure?
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Have you worked on high density compute, AI data centres or large industrial power loads?
-
How would you approach building a power strategy for a multi gigawatt AI infrastructure platform?
Alfa Scoring Matrix
Score each candidate out of 5 in each category.
1. Data Centre / Hyperscale Exposure
5 = Direct global hyperscale data centre power experience 4 = Senior data centre power experience across several markets 3 = Regional data centre power experience 2 = Adjacent digital infrastructure or industrial load experience 1 = No relevant data centre or large load exposure
2. Power and Grid Depth
5 = Deep utility, grid, interconnection and power delivery ownership 4 = Strong power strategy and grid experience 3 = Good energy procurement or PPA experience with some grid exposure 2 = General energy experience only 1 = Sustainability, ESG or facilities only
3. Scale
5 = Multi GW experience 4 = 500MW plus 3 = 100MW plus 2 = Below 100MW but relevant 1 = No clear MW scale
4. Global Breadth
5 = Global remit including Europe and North America 4 = Multi region experience 3 = Strong EMEA or North America only 2 = Single country 1 = Local or narrow market only
5. Strategic Seniority
5 = VP, SVP, C-suite, global head or board level exposure 4 = Senior Director with executive exposure 3 = Director with strong ownership 2 = Manager or technical lead 1 = Too junior
6. Commercial Infrastructure Capability
5 = Strong across power, land, customers, investors and finance 4 = Strong power plus commercial infrastructure exposure 3 = Some commercial or investment exposure 2 = Mainly technical 1 = No commercial evidence
Shortlist Rule
Only send candidates to Blaine if they score:
• 24 plus out of 30 overall, or • 5 out of 5 in both hyperscale exposure and power/grid depth, even if one other area is weaker
Do not send candidates below 20 unless they are clearly unusual or strategically interesting.
Candidate Summary Format For Alfa To Send Blaine
For every shortlisted candidate, send the summary in this format:
Name: Current company: Current title: Location: LinkedIn:
Overall fit: A / B / C
Why relevant: • • •
Power scale: Example: 2GW connections, 500MW campus, 4TWh procurement, etc.
Geographic exposure: Example: Global, EMEA, North America, Europe and Japan, etc.
Data centre / hyperscale exposure: Example: Google, Microsoft, NTT, Vantage, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, etc.
Utility / grid experience: Example: interconnection, transmission, utility agreements, queue position, grid access, etc.
Commercial / stakeholder exposure: Example: board, investors, customers, governments, regulators, lenders, etc.
Potential concerns: • •
Recommendation: Proceed / Hold / Reject
Confidential LinkedIn Advert For Alfa To Post
Confidential Search: VP Power & Energy
We are supporting a confidential AI infrastructure platform operating in stealth mode.
This is a senior leadership appointment for someone who has operated at the intersection of power, hyperscale infrastructure, grid access, powered land and global capacity deployment.
The company is building industrial scale AI infrastructure for the next generation of accelerated compute.
This is not a traditional data centre role.
Power is the foundation layer.
We are looking for someone who can lead power strategy across a multi gigawatt global pipeline, with the ability to operate across Europe, North America and future international markets.
The strongest profiles will likely have experience across:
• global power and energy strategy • hyperscale data centre infrastructure • utility and grid relationships • interconnection and transmission strategy • powered land and site selection • generation partnerships • energy procurement and PPAs • infrastructure development • government, regulator and utility engagement • large scale campus delivery
This is not a narrow energy procurement role.
It is not a single market grid connections role.
We need someone with broader global experience who can think strategically, operate commercially and engage credibly with utilities, governments, infrastructure investors, hyperscale customers and technical delivery teams.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
• hyperscale infrastructure teams • large scale data centre platforms • major utilities • grid operators • IPPs • power developers • energy infrastructure businesses • infrastructure backed platforms building at industrial scale
The role will suit someone who understands that the winners in AI infrastructure will be the companies that can secure power, land, capital and compute as one integrated system.
Location is flexible across the UK, Europe or North America, with international travel.
This is a confidential search.
For a discreet conversation, message directly.
LinkedIn InMail Message For Alfa
Hi [Name],
I am reaching out regarding a confidential VP Power & Energy search for a stealth AI infrastructure platform.
The business is building industrial scale AI infrastructure and power is at the centre of the strategy.
Your background in [specific power / grid / data centre / hyperscale experience] looks potentially relevant, particularly around [specific reason].
The role is focused on leading power strategy across a multi gigawatt infrastructure pipeline, working across utilities, grid access, interconnection, powered land, generation partnerships and large scale campus activation.
This is not a traditional data centre operations role or a narrow energy procurement role. It is a senior infrastructure leadership appointment for someone who can operate globally across power, land, capital and compute.
Would you be open to a discreet conversation?
Best, [Name]
Shorter InMail Version
Hi [Name],
I am working on a confidential VP Power & Energy search for a stealth AI infrastructure platform.
The role is focused on multi gigawatt power strategy across hyperscale AI infrastructure, including utilities, grid access, interconnection, powered land, generation partnerships and campus activation.
Your background in [specific reason] looks highly relevant.
Would you be open to a discreet conversation?
Best, [Name]
External Confidentiality Rules
Do not mention externally:
• Volta • NVIDIA Cloud Partner status • Named customers • Funding rounds • Investor names • Campus names • Specific pipeline details • Specific internal strategy • Compensation or equity • IPO timing • Any non-public commercial commitments
Use only:
• Confidential AI infrastructure platform • Stealth mode • Industrial scale AI infrastructure • Multi gigawatt pipeline • VP Power & Energy • Global power strategy • Europe and North America • Flexible location
Final Instruction To Alfa
The search should not optimise for generic energy leaders.
It should optimise for people who can turn power into a strategic advantage for AI infrastructure.
Prioritise candidates who combine:
• hyperscale infrastructure judgement • power and grid depth • global market experience • senior stakeholder credibility • commercial infrastructure thinking • delivery orientation
The best candidates will understand that power, land, capital and compute have to be solved together.