VP of Strategic Business Development - France & Southern...

About Submer and the role

At Submer, we are redefining how data centers are built, integrated, and operated—with sustainability, efficiency, and innovation at the core. We are now looking for a candidate to join our team and take a leading role in driving large-scale, transformative projects across Europe.

You will drive Submer’s strategic vision and position the company at the forefront of sustainable digital infrastructure . You’ll lead strategic partnerships , market expansion , and growth initiatives , working closely with executive leadership to shape and execute high-impact commercial and strategic deals.

Bringing a consultative mindset, you’ll guide customers and partners toward optimal strategies for building and operating high-performance, sustainable data centers — from optimizing existing assets to co-designing greenfield deployments such as those powered by the EU’s AI gigafactory initiatives. This role blends strategic insight with practical execution, ideal for a leader who bridges boardroom vision and real-world results.

What impact you will have

As a VP of Strategic Business Development at Submer, you will be instrumental in transforming how Europe builds and powers its digital future. You’ll partner closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to shape and execute high-impact initiatives, especially those related to commercial growth, market entry, and strategic deals.

This role requires a combination of strategic acumen, consulting discipline, and practical deal-making experience, ideal for someone who can bring both boardroom thinking and real-world execution to the table. 

What y ou’ll do

• Regional strategy development: Lead long-term strategic planning, market expansion analysis, and competitive positioning initiatives in France and the South of Europe. 

• Act as a trusted advisor: Engage deeply with enterprise customers and public/private organizations to understand their strategic needs, challenges, and ambitions.

• Expand Submer’s market presence: Lead strategic sales initiatives across France and other European markets, focusing on large-scale, high-impact projects.

• Translate complex requirements into tailored solution roadmaps, leveraging our expertise and specialists - (may include AI advisory, design validation, full-stack integration, or infrastructure optimization).

• Strategic partnerships & deal leadership: Identify, structure, and lead high-impact strategic partnerships, alliances, and joint ventures. 

• Market intelligence: Monitor emerging trends in the data center, cooling, cleantech, and digital infrastructure spaces to inform Submer’s strategic positioning. 

• Cross-functional collaboration: partner closely with the Solution Architects (Pre-Sales), other commercial roles and cross-functional teams (Design & Build, R&D, Marketing, AI Cloud, Customer Support) to co-develop proposals that deliver business value, not just technology.

What y ou bring

• 8+ years at a top-tier management consulting firm with additional strategic leadership experience in the technology, digital infrastructure, or clean energy sectors. 

• Proven ability to craft and execute high-impact strategies in fast-paced, growth-stage environments. 

• Demonstrated experience leading complex commercial partnerships or strategic transactions.

• Strong communication and influence skills with the ability to engage and align stakeholders at all levels. 

• Data-driven, with expertise in business case development, market analysis, and financial modeling. 

• Comfortable operating in international markets and diverse cultural contexts. 

• Native French speaker with fluent English.

Preferred:

• Experience in data center, cleantech, energy-efficient technologies, or enterprise IT infrastructure.

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree experience with M&A, investment partnerships, or corporate development.

What we offer

• Attractive compensation package reflecting your expertise and experience.

• The opportunity to shape the future of sustainable digital infrastructure in Europe.

• A dynamic, diverse, and mission-driven work environment with flexibility and hybrid options.

• You'll be part of a fast-growing scale-up with a mission to make a positive impact, offering an exciting career evolution.

Our job titles may span more than one job level. The actual base pay is dependent on a number of factors, such as transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands.

Our commitment to inclusion

Submer is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.