HV Substation Construction Manager - Madrid
1 day ago
Madrid
As Apto continues to deliver hyperscale data centre campuses across Europe, I'm looking for an experienced HV Substation Construction Manager to join the team and take ownership of one of the most critical packages within a major development in Madrid. Anyone who has delivered large-scale infrastructure projects knows that power availability drives everything. This role will be responsible for leading the delivery of the high-voltage grid connection infrastructure that enables the campus to come online, coordinating contractors, utilities, consultants and internal teams from construction through commissioning and energisation. This is a highly visible role with significant responsibility and direct impact on programme success.The HV Substation Construction Manager will lead the delivery of the grid connection infrastructure for a key Project in Madrid, including the on-site HV substation and associated transmission interface. This role is critical to achieving key DC milestones and requires the delivery of the substation ahead of data centre energisation requirements, with a disciplined and proactive approach to programme certainty, contractor performance, and measurable schedule optimisation against baseline assumptions. Key Responsibilities EHS Leadership & Compliance • Take ownership of EHS performance across all substation activities, promoting a zero-harm environment, • Ensure all contractors operate in accordance with:, • Local Spanish regulations, • Apto EHS standards, • Industry best practice for HV works, • Ensure implementation of:, • Comprehensive method statements and risk assessments for high-risk activities (energisation, lifting, WAH, temporary works, etc.), • Robust permit-to-work and isolation procedures, • Compliance with LOTO and HV switching protocols, • Drive:, • Proactive hazard identification and mitigation, • Regular site inspections, audits, and safety interventions, • Timely escalation and close-out of EHS non-conformances, • Hold contractors accountable for:, • Leading a strong safety culture on site, • Reporting incidents, near misses, and corrective actions, • Maintaining trained and competent personnel, • Ensure appropriate action is taken where standards are not met Project Delivery & Programme Ownership • Lead end-to-end delivery of the HV Substation (design, procurement, construction, commissioning, energisation), • Establish and maintain a robust Level III–IV programme, aligned with:, • Data centre build sequence (CSA + MEP), • Utility milestones (REE and relevant DSO, e.g. Iberdrola i‑DE ), • Long-lead equipment strategy (manufacture, FAT, delivery, installation, handover), • Drive schedule optimisation, including review and challenge of baseline assumptions where required, • Ensure programme reflects realistic and validated durations, • Deliver substation works in advance of key DC energisation milestones, minimising dependency-driven risks, • Lead:, • Weekly progress meetings, • Monthly programme and performance reviews, • Manage and coordinate Apto-appointed Owner’s Engineers Construction & Contractor Management • Manage EPC / HV contractors through tender, award, execution, commissioning, and close-out phases, • Monitor contractor performance across:, • Programme adherence and recovery, • Quality and commissioning readiness, • EHS standards, • Challenge areas of underperformance and support programme improvement where necessary, • Ensure construction activities are:, • Properly sequenced, • Managed against the critical path, • Supported by clearly defined deliverables Grid & Utility Interface Management • Act as the primary point of contact for construction-related grid and utility interfaces, coordinating with Apto HV design specialists, • Engage with:, • REE and relevant DSO, e.g. Iberdrola i‑DE, • Engineering consultants and connection specialists, • Support:, • Grid compliance and approvals, • Energisation readiness and outage planning, • Ensure alignment between substation readiness and grid availability Technical Leadership (HV + MEP Integration) • Provide oversight across:, • HV systems (transformers, GIS/AIS), • Protection & control, SCADA, communications, • Earthing, cabling, and balance of plant, • Ensure coordination between:, • Substation scope and data centre MEP systems, • Commissioning strategy and energisation sequence, • Coordinate review and approval of:, • Design deliverables (SLDs, layouts, specifications), • Construction methodologies, • Commissioning and energisation plans, • Support technically informed decision-making aligned to programme and delivery objectives Commercial & Cost Control • Support management of the commercial position of the substation package:, • Budget, forecasting, and cost reporting, • Variations, claims, and change management, • Contribute to value engineering initiatives by:, • Supporting identification and development of CSA and MEP opportunities, • Encouraging quantification of cost and schedule benefits, • Assisting in integration of VE into programme and cost position Programme Optimisation & Reporting • Support structured programme reviews and recovery planning, • Ensure schedule updates reflect:, • Defined improvements, • Quantified impacts (time and cost where available), • Provide clear and structured reporting on:, • Schedule performance, • Key risks and mitigation actions, • Contractor progress, • Promote a transparent and predictable reporting approach Risk & Delivery Assurance • Support identification and management of key risks, including:, • Grid connection constraints, • Long-lead equipment procurement, • CSA / MEP / utility interfaces, • Ensure risks are:, • Clearly understood and assessed, • Supported by mitigation actions and ownership, • Promote disciplined planning with reduced reliance on unvalidated assumptions Qualifications & Experience • Degree in Electrical Engineering / Power Systems or equivalent, • 10+ years’ experience delivering HV substation or grid infrastructure (45Kv, 132kV–400kV+), • Experience supporting delivery of EPC or owner-side substation projects through energisation, • Strong working knowledge of:, • Spanish grid requirements (REE and relevant DSO, e.g. Iberdrola i‑DE), • IEC standards and European codes, • EHS requirements for HV construction, • Experience in data centre or mission-critical environments preferred Key Competencies • Strong delivery focus with clear ownership of programme outcomes, • Commitment to EHS leadership and culture, • Ability to engage constructively with contractors and drive performance improvement, • Solid commercial awareness across contracts and cost control, • Ability to coordinate CSA, MEP, and grid interfaces, • Structured and organised approach to reporting and risk management Additional Requirements • Fluent in English and Spanish, • Site-based in Spain with travel as required, • Experience with utility energisation and commissioning processes Success Criteria • Substation delivered in line with or ahead of DC energisation milestones, • Strong EHS performance aligned with a zero-harm objective, • Demonstrable improvement in programme performance versus initial baseline, • Contribution to VE initiatives with measurable outcomes where possible, • Effective alignment between substation, grid, and DC programme, • Clear, accurate, and timely reporting to leadership
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