K

Kao Data

Hyperscale data centers for AI, HPC

Technical Operations and Lifecycle Replacement Programme Manager

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's
London, UK
In PersonTravel between company locations and supplier or project sites is required as needed.
Project & Program ManagementProject Management

About the job

Requirements
  • Extensive experience in technical operations, engineering asset management, lifecycle replacement or capital project delivery within data centres or another mission-critical environment.
  • Demonstrable experience delivering complex mechanical and electrical infrastructure replacement or upgrade projects in live operational facilities.
  • Strong understanding of critical electrical and mechanical systems, resilience principles, maintainability, commissioning and operational risk.
  • Experience developing asset replacement plans, condition-based investment priorities, business cases, capital budgets and multi-year delivery programmes.
  • Commercial and procurement experience, including consultant and contractor scopes, tender evaluation, contract administration, cost forecasting and change control.
  • Ability to translate technical risk and engineering detail into concise recommendations for senior stakeholders and investment decision-makers.
  • Ability and willingness to travel between company locations and supplier or project sites as required.
  • Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent professional qualification in mechanical, electrical, building services or another relevant engineering discipline.
  • Recognised project or programme management qualification, such as APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience with data centre infrastructure, including high-voltage/low-voltage distribution, standby generation, uninterruptible power supplies, cooling, controls, fire systems and associated monitoring platforms.
  • Experience managing specialist consultancy services, original equipment manufacturer engagement and long-lead critical equipment procurement.
  • Knowledge of energy-efficiency assessment, whole-life costing and sustainability considerations for infrastructure replacement.
Responsibilities
  • Maintain the site-wide Lifecycle Replacement Programme (LCRP), including priorities, dependencies, budget forecasts, delivery milestones and multi-year investment requirements.
  • Develop a risk-based methodology for prioritising asset replacement, considering condition, criticality, resilience, maintainability, obsolescence, statutory compliance, energy performance, failure history and availability of spares or technical support.
  • Maintain a clear link between the asset register, planned maintenance findings, condition surveys, incident and defect records, operational risk registers, engineering studies and the capital replacement plan.
  • Prepare business cases defining the operational need, options considered, risk of deferral, recommended solution, cost, programme, benefits and implementation constraints.
  • Lead technical improvement projects from definition and feasibility through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover and post-implementation review.
  • Plan replacement works for live data centre environments, ensuring resilience, capacity, maintainability, customer commitments and operational controls are protected throughout the works.
  • Coordinate switching, isolation, contingency, temporary plant, rollback and operational readiness strategies with authorised site teams and subject matter experts.
  • Ensure designs and technical solutions are reviewed by relevant stakeholders, are fit for purpose and maintainable, are standardised where appropriate, and align with long-term site and portfolio strategy.
  • Manage consultants, contractors, original equipment manufacturers and specialist vendors, including scope development, tender support, technical evaluation, appointment, performance monitoring and commercial challenge.
  • Control project budgets, commitments, forecasts, cash flow, cost-to-complete, change and risk allowances; provide accurate monthly reporting and early escalation of variance.
  • Establish and maintain integrated programmes identifying critical paths, operational constraints, procurement lead times, outages, dependencies and key stakeholder decisions.
  • Lead project governance reviews and provide executive-level reporting on LCRP status, delivery confidence, key risks, decisions required and forward investment requirements.
  • Ensure testing, commissioning and integrated systems testing are planned and executed to demonstrate that new or modified systems achieve approved design intent and operational requirements.
  • Coordinate handover into Operations, ensuring asset data, drawings, operation and maintenance information, warranties, training, spares, maintenance requirements, procedures and compliance evidence are complete and accepted.
  • Monitor environmental, energy-efficiency and sustainability opportunities within replacement decisions, including whole-life cost, efficiency improvement and reduction of operational carbon where technically and commercially appropriate.
  • Promote lessons learned, standardisation and continuous improvement across lifecycle planning, project delivery and operational engineering governance.
Desired Qualifications
  • Asset management or facilities management qualification, with knowledge of ISO 55001 principles.

About the company

K

Kao Data

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Website

Kao Data builds and runs large-scale data centers in the UK designed for AI and advanced computing. Its hyperscale-inspired facilities provide secure, scalable colocated space with power, cooling, networking, and other infrastructure for customers running AI, HPC, cloud connectivity, and other demanding workloads. The data centers are NVIDIA DGX-Ready, enabling customers to deploy AI systems easily, and the company serves financial institutions, tech firms, AI startups, and life sciences groups across sites near London and Manchester. With about 160 MW of IT load across its portfolio, Kao Data guarantees 100% uptime and focuses on reliability, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Founded in 2014 and backed by international investors, its goal is to offer enterprise-grade infrastructure that supports high-performance computing and AI workloads at scale.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Debt Financing

Total Funding

$436.9M

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

2019

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Nebius's £1.7 billion UK expansion anchors 22MW for 10 years at Harlow.
  • Siemens Financial Services bought an undisclosed stake in 2026, validating the platform.
  • Bruce Claassen joined October 1, 2026, strengthening financing for Stockport and Park Royal.

What critics are saying

  • Matthew Harris left June 30, 2026; Bruce Claassen replaced him October 1, 2026.
  • Park Royal's 2029 delivery schedule delays revenue while permitting and grid constraints persist.
  • Without massive financing, Kao Data stalls against Equinix, Vantage, and hyperscaler self-builds.

What makes Kao Data unique

  • NVIDIA DGX-Ready Harlow campus hosts Nebius's 22MW AI deployment signed June 8, 2026.
  • Spencer Lamb became CEO on May 28, 2026, preserving deep operator continuity.
  • Park Royal, Greater Manchester, and Harlow create a multi-site UK AI platform.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Mental Health Support
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

18%

1 year growth

18%

2 year growth

18%
Data Centre Magazine
Oct 7th, 2026
Meet Bruce Claassen, Kao Data's new Chief Financial Officer.

Meet Bruce Claassen, Kao Data's new Chief Financial Officer. October 07, 2026 Bruce Claassen, formerly of Global Switch, has joined Kao Data as Chief Financial Officer to scale the company's ambitious data centre builds across the UK Specialist developer and operator of AI and advanced compute data centres Kao Data has announced the appointment of Bruce Claassen as its Chief Financial Officer. With more than 20 years of experience leading financial operations across multinational businesses such as Global Switch and Adenza, Bruce offers a strong track record in capital investment, refinancing and building high-performing finance teams. He will work directly with Kao Data's CEO Spencer Lamb and the senior leadership team to scale the business in support of its plans. Bruce tells Data Centre Magazine: "What drew me to Kao Data was the vision and ambition of the management team, and the energy and commitment they bring to delivering it. "That is backed by the strength of the platform and the clarity over its current pipeline." Harlow: an AI-ready campus. Bruce joins the company at a time of buoyant growth across the UK, partnering closely with the Kao Data Board and investors while developments progress in Stockport, Greater Manchester and Park Royal alongside the company's award-winning AI-ready campus in Harlow, Essex. The Harlow campus, a multi-megawatt data centre development in the UK Innovation Corridor, is engineered specifically for high-density AI and HPC workloads. With Kao Data's ambition to expand the campus to potentially 150MW, significant upfront capital and financial strategy are required. With Bruce's experience in securing and structuring large-scale capital investments, Kao Data aims to successfully fund its extensive development pipeline and solidify its position as a premier provider of AI-ready infrastructure. My priority is making sure its financial strategy helps enable that ambition, creating the capacity and flexibility to deliver the current plan Bruce Claassen, CFO of Kao Data Commenting on this ambition, Spencer Lamb, CEO of Kao Data, says: "Data Centre Magazine is delighted to welcome him to Kao Data as CFO. "His combination of digital infrastructure expertise, financial leadership and private equity experience makes him an excellent fit as we continue to accelerate our growth ambitions and meet increasing customer demand." "What particularly interested me [about Kao Data] was Harlow and how it has already demonstrated what an AI-ready campus can deliver," Bruce adds. "With Park Royal and Stockport progressing, the business has a real opportunity to build on that foundation and scale across two of the UK's most important regions. "My priority is making sure our financial strategy helps enable that ambition, creating the capacity and flexibility to deliver the current plan while also giving the business the opportunity to pursue further growth." Passing the baton at Kao Data. Bruce succeeds Matthew Harris, who passed on his role to Bruce after taking on the position of CFO at nLighten after 12 years of tenure at Kao Data, including being a founding board member and an Investor Director. In a LinkedIn post, Matthew says: "Building a data centre platform from scratch is never a sprint, sometimes a marathon, but if you're lucky enough to build something lasting it is always a relay. "[I am] so pleased to be able to hand over the baton knowing there is plenty more to come at Kao." Strategic partners for Kao Data: NVIDIA: As a preferred partner, Kao Data's facilities are NVIDIA DGX-Ready certified. This means they are fully equipped to support high-density, GPU-accelerated hardware for AI and advanced computing. Furthermore, Kao Data's award-winning Harlow campus is part of NVIDIA's DGX Cloud offering, previously known as the Cambridge-1 Supercomputer, showcasing a shared commitment to pioneering AI development across the UK. Zayo: Zayo provides tailored edge solutions, partnering with Kao Data to expand lit and dark fibre connectivity. The collaboration introduces new connectivity solutions at the Harlow campus. Two points-of-presence offer financial services, cloud and enterprise customers low-latency fibre connectivity from the US to Europe, enhancing customer options, reducing third-party dependency and streamlining the delivery of high-speed digital services. Megaport: As Kao Data's primary software-defined networking (SDN) provider, Megaport enhances the Harlow campus with robust hyperscale cloud capabilities. Through this strategic partnership, Kao Data offers enterprise customers seamless, low-latency connectivity to major global cloud environments, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, ensuring highly secure and scalable access to support complex, distributed computing demands. Executives. * Bruce Claassen Chief Financial Officer * Matthew Harris Chief Financial Officer * Spencer Lamb CEO Company Portals

Total Telecom
Oct 6th, 2026
Data centres: From misunderstood infrastructure to economic enabler.

Data centres: From misunderstood infrastructure to economic enabler. Contributed article. by iqbal bedi, managing partner of intelligens consulting. The UK wants to lead in AI, cloud and digital services. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently reinforced that ambition at the UN, committing to put AI at the heart of the UK's 2027 G20 Presidency. But delivering that ambition depends on physical infrastructure. AI, cloud and digital services all rely on the compute capacity, connectivity and data centres that underpin the digital economy. At Connected Britain 2026, I chaired a panel with representatives from Deep Green, Ark Data Centres, Kao Data and Telehouse. The discussion highlighted an important tension: data centres are becoming more important to the economy just as public and political scrutiny of them is increasing. The first point is perhaps the simplest: almost everyone uses a data centre every day, usually without realising it. Data centres underpin email, social media, banking transactions, access to NHS records, video and music streaming, and many cloud-based business applications. Tom Powlay of Telehouse provided a useful analogy: "Data centres are like vehicles. A bicycle and a cargo truck are both vehicles, but they serve very different purposes. Hyperscale, AI, connectivity-led and edge data centres similarly have very different requirements for power, cooling, connectivity and location." And critically, AI is not yet the dominant driver of UK data-centre demand. The panel highlighted that much of today's demand still comes from cloud computing and the everyday digital applications Totaltele already use. AI is an important growth driver, but it should not become shorthand for the entire sector. Stop judging the building; understand what it enables. One of the strongest themes was that data centres respond to demand rather than create it. Banking, healthcare, logistics, retail, communications and cloud services increasingly depend on this infrastructure. Judging a data centre simply by the number of people working inside it therefore misses its wider economic role. Another panelist compared data centres to motorways: the value of a motorway is not the number of people working at a toll booth or service station; it is the economic activity travelling across it. The takeaway was simple: judge data centres by what they enable, not just by the buildings themselves. Myth or material concern? Power, water, jobs and local impact dominate much of the current debate. Some concerns are legitimate. Data centres can consume significant amounts of electricity, while major developments need to demonstrate clear local benefits. But context matters. The panel highlighted how UK cooling models can differ substantially from the water-intensive US examples frequently cited in media coverage. One example discussed by Mark Lee of Deep Green was a UK facility using closed-loop cooling and reusing waste heat through a district heating network. There was also broad agreement that the industry itself needs to do more. Public concerns are real, even where some of the assumptions behind them are wrong. The industry's response therefore cannot simply be to rebut criticism. Greater transparency, stronger community engagement and clearer local benefits are needed. Capital exists. Certainty is harder to find. Investment appetite remains strong. One panelist cited a recent £1.7 billion investment as evidence that international interest in UK capacity remains significant. The bigger constraints are high power costs, long grid-connection times, planning risks and wider uncertainty. Developers compete globally for capital. Long grid-connection times, planning risk and inconsistent understanding between authorities all increase the risk attached to UK projects. One idea raised by Mark Lee of Deep Green was for something akin to a "home buyer's report" for data centres: a common framework covering power, water, efficiency, community impact and other key characteristics, helping planners and communities understand what is actually being proposed. From AI ambition to infrastructure strategy. AI Growth Zones have helped focus attention on infrastructure, but the discussion questioned whether concentrating on a small number of very large sites adequately reflects the breadth of the UK market. Existing clusters and city regions may offer a different route, combining brownfield land, power, connectivity, skills and supportive local leadership. The policy question is therefore not simply whether Britain needs more data centres, but what types are needed, where they should be located and under what conditions they should be developed. Five key takeaways for policymakers. * Plan for data centres as economic infrastructure, not simply as another property use. * Differentiate between data centre types, because their power, water, connectivity and location needs vary significantly. * Give planners clearer guidance and evidence, so applications can be assessed consistently and with greater confidence. * Identify investable locations proactively, bringing together land, power, connectivity, planning and skills rather than waiting for proposals to arrive. * Quantify local and regional benefit properly, including supply chains, skills, business rates, innovation, digital services and the wider economic activity enabled by compute. If Britain is serious about AI-led growth and the wider digital economy, data centres cannot be considered separately from energy, planning, connectivity, and regional economic development. How intelligens can help. For local authorities, combined authorities and regions, the challenge is increasingly practical: where should data centre investment go, what kind of capacity is appropriate, and how can economic benefits be maximised while infrastructure and community concerns are addressed? If you are considering how to attract data-centre investment, identify suitable locations, strengthen your planning approach or quantify the economic case, Totaltele can help. More on this topic:

PR Newswire
Sep 30th, 2026
Bruce Claassen joins Kao Data as CFO to scale AI-ready data centre expansion

Kao Data has appointed Bruce Claassen as Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 October 2026. Claassen brings over 20 years of international financial leadership experience, including more than a decade in digital infrastructure and private equity-backed businesses. He joins from Global Switch, where he served as Group Finance Director and Acting CFO for four years, leading finance operations across Europe and APAC. At Kao Data, Claassen will support the company's expansion plans, which include developments in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and Park Royal, West London, alongside its existing campus in Harlow, Essex. The company operates data centres engineered for AI and advanced computing workloads. Claassen is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

The Londoner
Sep 23rd, 2026
Grand Union Canal towpath closure for data centre work sparks resident criticism.

Grand Union Canal towpath closure for data centre work sparks resident criticism. Residents have criticised a canal towpath closure linked to data centre works in west London, saying it has disrupted journeys and left some unclear about the purpose of the project. The section of the Grand Union Canale towpath between Old Oak Lane and Barretts Green Road closed on Monday 14 September and is expected to reopen on 5 October while new equipment and cables are installed. Several towpath users said the closure was adding time to their journeys, while some said they had not been aware of the purpose of the works. Canal boat resident Jonny Grady said he was "not surprised" when told the works were being carried out to provide a connection for a data centre. He said: "Residents and commuters have had to navigate months of construction and closures, only to find out that the work is providing power for a commercial data centre in Park Royal. If public spaces are going to be disrupted on this scale, residents deserve clear and upfront information about why." Image: Canal boats moored next to Old Oak Common Elizebeth Line Depot. Credit: Alexander James National Grid's Willesden and Kensal Green Connection Project involves replacing around three kilometres of cable along the Grand Union Canal between its Willesden and Kensal Green substations. The company said the project followed a request for a new electricity connection for a data centre in Park Royal. It added that it has a legal obligation to connect customers to the transmission network when requested. National Grid said it could not comment on the identity of the company behind the individual connection request or on commercial arrangements with the customer. Image: Map of route of works. Credit: National Grid The first phase of the project, which ran from May 2024 to May 2025, involved removing existing high-voltage cables. The second phase involves installing replacement cables and associated equipment. It began in July 2025 before being paused ahead of the winter mooring period. The works come amid wider concerns about the growth of data centres in Park Royal. Further data centres are planned in the local area, including the SEGRO/Pure Data Centres development at Premier Park and Kao Data's planned site at Frogmore Industrial Estate. Both are expected to become operational in 2029. In July, Park Royal residents protested outside the planned Kao Data development and demolition during a heatwave, raising concerns about construction dust, noise, heat and air quality. Image: Protest outside the Kao data centre. Credit: Amandine Alexandre Green Party councillor Amandine Alexandre, who represents Harlesden and Kensal Green and attended the July protest, said the towpath closure should be seen in the context of wider concerns about the growth of data centres in Park Royal. She said: "The temporary closure of the towpath wouldn't be an issue if data centres were a critical piece of infrastructure that benefited residents, but this inconvenience is only the tip of the iceberg. "The construction of the data centres causes a lot of dust, noise and vibrations." She added that she believed the towpath closure should be viewed as part of the wider impact of data-centre development on surrounding communities. A National Grid spokesperson said: "North West Londoner recognise that the temporary towpath closures have affected some local residents and canal users, and North West Londoner has worked hard to minimise disruption where possible. "We'd like to thank residents and towpath users for their patience while this essential work is carried out, and we look forward to reopening the towpath for the community to enjoy once the project is complete." A spokesperson from the Canal & River Trust, which manages the waterway, said: "All third party works must be agreed with the Trust and comply with our charity's Code of Practice. Our Code of Practice includes conditions which ensure environmental protections, as well as guaranteeing that any towpath affected is reinstated to meet our standards." Feature image: Signs for towpath closure at Scrubs lane bridge. Credit: Alexander James

Chadkirk Transport
Sep 7th, 2026
Data centre logistics: deliveries done right.

Data centre logistics: deliveries done right. 7th September 2026 Last week OpenAI released GPT-6 Astra. Within days it was rolling out to millions of ChatGPT users. Every leap like that runs on the same thing: data centres, and a lot more of them. That is why data centre logistics has quietly become one of the most demanding jobs in UK haulage. The AI boom isn't just a software story. It's a construction and delivery story. Every new facility needs switchgear, busway, racks, cooling plant and power equipment moved in - on time, intact, and through a gate that turns most hauliers away. This guide explains what data centre logistics actually involves, why standard haulage struggles with it, and what to look for in a haulier that's genuinely set up for the work. The demand behind data centre logistics. The numbers are hard to ignore. The UK is building more data centre capacity right now than at any point in its history. Almost 100 new facilities sit in the pipeline. Investment is measured in tens of billions. And it's not just a London story. Here in the North West, Kao Data is building a £350 million data centre in Stockport - Northern England's largest when it opens, with room for more than 4,000 racks. In August, Latos submitted plans for an AI-ready data centre in Newton Heath, Manchester. Greater Manchester now sits inside an AI Growth Zone. Every one of those sites needs equipment delivered. Every delivery needs a haulier who understands the environment. That's where most transport providers fall short. What makes data centre logistics different. A data centre is not a normal delivery address. Four things set it apart. 1. Site access is strictly controlled. Most data centre and major construction sites now require FORS Silver accreditation as a condition of entry. This isn't a preference. It's a gate requirement. A vehicle without current FORS Silver accreditation gets turned away - no exceptions, no conversations at the barrier. The consequences are immediate. The installation team stands idle. The programme slips. Someone has to explain why a non-compliant vehicle was sent to a site where the rule was clearly stated. 2. Height restrictions catch people out. Many data centre sites - and the urban areas around them - impose vehicle height restrictions. A growing number specify 4 metres or under. Send a standard high-roof trailer and it may not get on site at all. Height needs checking at the point of booking, not on arrival. That means a haulier who asks the question before the vehicle leaves the yard. 3. The equipment is high-value and sensitive. Switchgear, busway, UPS units and racks are precision-engineered and expensive. They are often bespoke to the project. Damage in transit doesn't just cost a replacement - it delays commissioning by weeks. That rules out pallet networks. Multiple handling points, multiple depots, multiple drivers who don't know what they're carrying. For data centre equipment, dedicated haulage - one vehicle, one driver, door to site - is the only sensible model. 4. Offloading needs the right kit. Data centre sites frequently have no forklift available at the moment your vehicle arrives. The equipment is heavy and awkward. A standard tail-lift can't handle it. This is where Moffett capability matters. A Moffett is a forklift carried on the back of the vehicle. Its driver dismounts it, offloads the equipment, positions it exactly where the site team needs it, and leaves. The site provides nothing. For heavier lifts, a HIAB crane vehicle does the same job from above. Without self-offload capability, a delivery to a site with no forklift simply fails. What good data centre logistics looks like. Done properly, the delivery should be invisible. The vehicle arrives on time. It clears the gate first time. The equipment comes off without incident. The installation team gets on with the job. That takes a specific set of capabilities working together: * FORS Silver accreditation, current and maintained. Ask to see the certificate and check the date. It needs annual renewal. * Vehicles that fit the site. Height and access checked before booking, every time. * Moffett and HIAB self-offload. So the delivery doesn't depend on site equipment being available. * Dedicated haulage. No networks, no transhipment, no unknown hands on your equipment. * Drivers who know the environment. Data centres have security protocols, induction requirements and strict conduct standards. The driver represents you on site. * Forward planning. Data centre deliveries into London and other major cities need routes, restrictions and timings mapped in advance. Data centre logistics in Manchester and the North West. Chadkirk Transport Ltd is based in Hazel Grove, Stockport - ten minutes from the M60, and a short drive from the region's biggest data centre builds. Chadkirk Transport Ltd run FORS Silver deliveries into data centres and construction sites across the North West and the full UK mainland, including regular movements into London. Chadkirk Transport Ltd has held FORS Silver accreditation for over eight years. Its Moffett-equipped fleet self-offloads where sites have nothing of their own. And because Chadkirk Transport Ltd run dedicated vehicles, your equipment travels with one driver from collection to site. For North West businesses supplying the data centre build-out - electrical manufacturers, M&E contractors, equipment suppliers - a haulier on your doorstep who already understands data centre logistics removes a lot of risk from the programme. The question to ask any haulier. Before you book a data centre delivery, ask one question: "Can you show me your current FORS Silver certificate, and does the vehicle fit the site's height limit?" If the answer to either isn't immediate and confident, you have your answer. The AI boom is moving fast. The infrastructure behind it can't afford a delivery that fails at the gate. Find out more about its data centre deliveries or call Chadkirk Transport Ltd on 0161 449 7323 to talk through your next data centre project.