Clear Executive Search supports organisations building world-class leadership teams from VP through to C-Suite. Working with established market leaders and high-growth businesses alike, our partners are trusted advisors to the board — bringing absolute discretion, deep market knowledge, and the insight to challenge thinking, not just fill a seat. We deliver globally across data centers, power & energy, and cooling.
At VP, Director and C-suite level the wrong appointment does not just cost a salary, it sets the direction of a business or a build for years. The leaders who can take on these mandates are almost never active candidates, and they will not engage with a contingent process or an unnamed brief. Reaching them takes market knowledge, discretion and the standing to open a genuine conversation, which is why senior data center appointments are handled through retained executive search rather than advertised roles.
Confidentiality raises the stakes further. Many senior searches replace an incumbent who is still in post, or sit inside a transaction that cannot yet be public, so any signal that leaks into the market carries real commercial risk. A search partner who cannot protect that confidentiality is a liability, however strong their network.
Clear Executive Search supports organisations building leadership teams from VP through to C-suite across data centers, power and energy, and cooling. Each mandate begins with a structured leadership briefing that defines remit, scope and success measures, followed by full market mapping of the relevant segment rather than only the leaders who happen to be visible. We present a shortlist with written commentary and support the client through interview, referencing and offer, and the engagement is exclusive and confidential throughout.
We work with established market leaders, high-growth businesses and private equity portfolio companies alike, acting as trusted advisors to the board rather than a seat-filling service. Searches run under non-disclosure where required, with the client identity withheld until appropriate and internal references coordinated to avoid signalling, so leaders can be moved without the market knowing before it should.
Design & BuildDiscover how we support the world's most critical infrastructure through specialist recruitment for data center operators and contractors. With over 160 combined placements for partners including NTT, VIRTUS, Winthrop and Dornan, we deliver high-calibre talent across construction, design and technical operations.
Power & CoolingExplore our proven track record in the power and cooling infrastructure sectors, featuring 62 placements for Anord Mardix and 21 placements for Airedale. We specialise in sourcing expert talent for critical roles including electrical, service and commissioning engineers.
We offer retained search and recruitment process outsourcing to support both targeted critical hires and large-scale delivery programmes. Each model is structured to reduce risk, improve visibility and deliver technically aligned talent.
Retained search is designed for roles where accuracy, discretion and depth of search are essential. This model provides a structured, end-to-end recruitment process supported by targeted headhunting, market mapping and proactive candidate engagement.
Our RPO model supports clients managing multiple hires, accelerated expansion or ongoing recruitment demand. It provides a dedicated Clear team embedded into your hiring process, delivering predictable outcomes, transparency and consistent candidate quality.
Included with every engagement
VP, Director and Head-of level positions placed via our executive search practice.
Director of Construction Management – Data Centers - $250k + 20%-30% Bonus 📍 Frederick County, Maryland ✈️ Travel up to 25% My client is seeking an experienced Director of Construction Management to…
View roleWe are working with a leading international general contractor delivering some of the region's most significant data centre projects. Due to continued growth and a strong pipeline of hyperscale and mi…
View rolePlanning Director - Hyperscale Data Center United Arab Emirates- Dubai (Relocation required) Fantastic opportunity for Planning Manager to oversee a number of projects with one of the leading global d…
View rolePrincipal Recruitment Consultant Dubai Competitive Salary + Commission + Health Care + Visa Clear Recruitment is a specialised talent consultancy focused on Data Centers and Energy Infrastructure, ope…
View roleMechanical Project Manager Downers Grove, IL Up to $140,000 Base Salary + Bonus + ESOP + Excellent Benefits Are you an experienced Mechanical Project Manager looking to join a company that genuinely v…
View roleVP of Commissioning Norway based - Covering Europe Salary open for discussion The Role: A Nordic data centre developer is building out its commissioning function from the top — and needs a VP to own i…
View roleEach search begins with a structured leadership briefing that defines remit, scope and success measures. Clear then maps the relevant market segment, longlists qualified leaders, screens against the brief, presents a shortlist with written commentary and supports the client through interview, referencing and offer. Throughout, the engagement is exclusive and confidential.
Retained executive search is the standard model for VP, director and C-suite mandates. Fees are staged against delivery milestones, the search is exclusive and the assignment includes full market mapping rather than only candidates who happen to be active. Contingent recruitment is rarely appropriate at this level because passive leaders will not be approached without retained commitment.
A typical retained search runs eight to twelve weeks from kickoff to signed offer, with the longlist delivered around week three and the shortlist around week five. Discreet succession or replacement searches can run longer where confidentiality limits how widely the brief can be discussed.
Searches are run under non-disclosure where required. Briefs are shared with candidates only after written confidentiality is in place, the client identity is withheld until appropriate and internal references are coordinated to avoid signalling. Clients often use Clear specifically where an internal post cannot yet be widely known.
Coverage runs from director-level appointments through to C-suite, including CEO, COO, CTO, MD, VP and head-of mandates across data center operators, developers, OEMs, contractors and investors. Clear works with established market leaders, scale-ups and private equity portfolio businesses alike.
However you need to hire, Clear has a delivery model to match the brief.
Clear recruits across every discipline that keeps data centers and critical infrastructure running.
The Data Center sector is navigating a £3 trillion investment cycle, accelerating power constraints, tightening regulatory pressure, and a technology transition from air to liquid cooling, from training to inference,…
Read Full ArticleGoogle is talking to SpaceX about orbital Data Centers. The AI infrastructure race has left the atmosphere. The talent shortage has been off-grid for years.
Read Full ArticleMicrosoft runs an 11-week Military Data center Pathway that takes transitioning service members and turns them into critical environment technicians. Nearly 750,000 veterans already work in the US energy workforce….
Read Full ArticlePrivate equity funds and executive teams retain us because we challenge their thinking, protect their reputation throughout the process, and deliver leaders who have real impact from the first week.
Head of Site Services EMEA | Anord Mardix
Matthew Johnson
I partner with Max for all our engineering recruitment. His service is second to none and always delivers within a couple of weeks from the first call.
Visit WebsiteDatacenter Manager | VIRTUS Data Centers
Ben Kay
I have and do use James for my recruitment needs. He is professional throughout and will go the extra mile to get the right candidate in place.
Visit WebsiteDesign Director | Equinix
Wayne Aston
Tom was one of the only recruitment specialists I dealt with that took the time to meet me in person and understand what I was looking for. A very professional service from a personable recruitment company.
UK Service Manager | SEW Eurodrive
Karl Rigg
Clear Engineering Recruitment have placed a couple of quality engineers with us recently, they take time to understand our needs and make sure the right people are put forward.
Divisional Director | Hurley Palmer Flatt
Grant Penfold
Having known Tom for many years, he has always acted diligently and professionally in all aspects of recruitment. I have no hesitation in recommending him as the go-to person.
Visit WebsiteVP of Operations | DataCore Infrastructure
Sarah Williams
Clear Recruitment has been instrumental in helping us build our data center team. Their understanding of the industry and ability to find top talent quickly has made them our go-to recruitment partner.
Visit WebsiteDirector of Engineering | Nexus Power Solutions
James Mitchell
The team at Clear truly understands the nuances of recruiting for critical infrastructure roles. They consistently deliver high-caliber candidates who fit both the technical requirements and company culture.
Visit WebsiteHR Director | GreenGrid Energy
Emma Thompson
Working with Clear has transformed our hiring process. Their expertise in the energy sector means we spend less time searching and more time building our team with the right people.
Visit WebsiteClear works exclusively in data centers, power, and cooling which means we know your roles, your timelines, and your market better than generalists ever could. If you have a hiring challenge, we're ready to help.
