Datacenter Delivery, Director

About Mistral

Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector, co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

Role Summary

We’re seeking a Datacenter Delivery Director to drive the acquisition and operationalization of new compute capacity for Mistral Compute. This role is critical to securing the infrastructure needed to meet our ambitious compute targets. You will own the end-to-end delivery of data center capacity, from procurement and site acquisition to construction, compliance, and operational readiness. 

 

This position requires a blend of strategic vision, operational excellence, and stakeholder management to navigate complex challenges in real estate, construction, legal compliance, and supply chain oversight. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage third-party relationships, and ensure the timely delivery of high-performance computing infrastructure.

 

🧢 Reporting Line: SVP, Compute
📍 Location: Paris (France) or London (UK) — with regular office attendance and willingness to travel/commute frequently.

  

What you will do

Define and Execute Capacity Strategy

• Set the vision: Develop and execute a strategy to acquire and optimize GPU capacity, aligning with Mistral’s compute targets and budget constraints.

• Drive procurement: Lead the sourcing and acquisition of colocation sites, existing data centers, and greenfield developments.

• Own the P&L: Manage budget allocation, cost optimization, and financial accountability for data center projects.

End-to-End Delivery Ownership

• Real estate acquisition: Identify, negotiate, and secure sites for data center expansion.

• Construction management: Oversee the build-out of new facilities, ensuring timelines, quality, and compliance with technical specifications.

• Legal and political navigation: Manage compliance, permits, and stakeholder relationships (local authorities, communities, etc.).

• Supply chain security: Vet and monitor third-party suppliers to guarantee supply reliability and mitigate risks.

Stakeholder and Team Leadership

• Cross-functional alignment: Collaborate with engineering, legal, finance, and operations teams to align priorities and resolve blockers.

• Third-party management: Build and maintain relationships with vendors, contractors, and partners.

• Team supervision: Lead direct reports (Site and Operations, Technical Program Management, Hardware Engineering) and scale the team as needed.

• Operational handoff: Ensure seamless transition of delivered datacenters to operational teams once fully functional.

 

About you

• Experience: 20+ years in data center development, procurement, or delivery, with a focus on HPC/AI infrastructure (preferred) or traditional data centers (acceptable).

• Industry background: Prior roles in cloud providers, datacenter owners/operators, HPC consulting, chip makers, or EPC companies

• Operational excellence: Proven ability to manage complex, fast-paced projects with high stakes and tight deadlines.

• Budget and P&L ownership: Direct experience managing large-scale budgets and financial accountability for infrastructure projects.

• Supply chain oversight: Hands-on experience in supplier vetting, risk assessment, and supply security.

• Stakeholder management: Experience navigating legal, political, and community landscapes to secure approvals and support.

• Leadership: Strong ownership mentality, decision-making skills, and ability to motivate teams in a high-energy environment.

• Ownership: Take end-to-end responsibility for outcomes.

• Grit & Drive: Persist through challenges and maintain momentum in a dynamic environment.

• Cross-functional communication: Fluent in English; ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leadership. 

• Influence: Bridge gaps between technical, legal, financial, and operational teams, and drive alignment and decision-making without direct authority.

Now it would be ideal if you have:

• HPC/AI-specific experience: Familiarity with the unique demands of high-performance computing or AI workloads.

• Greenfield development: Experience in building datacenters from the ground up.

What We Offer

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.

For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page.

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