Energy Marshal – Data Centres

Cumming Group is an international project and cost management consultancy delivering innovative solutions in construction, real estate, and infrastructure. With a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and performance excellence, we support some of the world's most respected clients across diverse range of sectors. The Energy Marshal is responsible for the oversight, coordination, and assurance of hazardous energy control and isolation activities across data centre construction and commissioning projects. The role ensures that all energy isolation, lock‑out/tag‑out (LOTO), and switching activities are planned, executed, and audited in compliance with applicable legislation, recognised industry standards, and approved project procedures. The Energy Marshal operates as an independent assurance and control function, supporting the Authorising Energy Marshals, Principal Contractor, commissioning teams, and operations representatives to ensure hazardous energy is effectively managed without introducing risk to people, assets, or live operations. Position in the Project Organisation

• The Energy Marshal sits within the campus project organisational structure and works across multiple concurrent construction and commissioning activities.
• The role interfaces closely with:
• Authorising Energy Marshals
• Principal Contractor and subcontractors
• Commissioning Managers
• Data Centre Operations and Safety representatives

Key Responsibilities Hazardous Energy Governance & Assurance

• Provide independent oversight and assurance that the Energy Isolation Programme is effectively implemented by the Principal Contractor and all subcontractors.
• Verify that energy isolation activities comply with:
• Applicable local legislation and codes of practice
• Recognised industry standards (e.g. NFPA 70E, relevant IEC/EN standards)
• Project‑specific isolation, permit‑to‑work, and high‑risk activity procedures
• Actively support and challenge unsafe practices, ensuring a zero‑tolerance approach to uncontrolled hazardous energy.

Construction & Commissioning Phase Responsibilities Energy Isolation Planning & Coordination

• Support and assure the planning and coordination of energy isolation activities associated with construction and commissioning works across the campus.
• Assist in the development and review of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 High‑Risk Activity (HRA) plans related to hazardous energy.
• Ensure isolation strategies consider:
• System redundancy and resiliency
• Phased construction and commissioning activities
• Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS)
• Coordinate multiple isolation activities across parallel projects to avoid conflicts or unsafe conditions.

Interface with Operations

• Liaise closely with Data Centre Operations where energy isolation activities may impact live or operationally sensitive systems.
• Ensure commissioning and construction isolations are:
• Fully coordinated and approved
• Aligned with operational requirements and risk tolerances
• Planned to minimise service interruptions or operational risk
• Provide subject‑matter expertise to operations teams as required.

Contractor & AP Support

• Assist Principal Contractors and Authorised Persons (APs) in:
• Implementing approved energy isolation procedures
• Developing safe switching plans
• Coordinating permits, isolations, and re‑energisation activities
• Support complex or non‑routine isolation scenarios.

Auditing, Compliance & Risk Management Assurance & Auditing

• Review and audit contractor compliance with energy isolation procedures, including:
• Permit‑to‑work systems
• LOTO processes and physical practices
• Switching authorisations and approvals
• Conduct on‑site audits comparing written procedures versus actual practices to confirm compliance and effectiveness.
• Verify that isolation points, locks, tags, and verification processes eliminate all potential sources of hazardous energy.

Incident & Abnormal Event Support

• Support the management and investigation of non‑standard or abnormal situations, including:
• Removal or breach of LOTO devices
• Electrical incidents or cable strikes
• Near‑misses and hazardous condition reports
• Contribute technical input to incident investigations and corrective action planning.

Collaboration & Communication

• Coordinate with Commissioning Managers to ensure commissioning activities involving energisation, testing, and load transfer are fully compliant with isolation standards.
• Liaise with project safety representatives before and during isolation activities to ensure agreed standards and controls are in place.
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders regarding energy risks, isolation strategies, and control measures.
• Promote consistent best practice across contractors and projects through coaching, mentoring, and formal feedback.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Multiple years of experience in medium‑voltage (MV) and low‑voltage (LV) switching within data centre construction and commissioning environments.
• Proven experience as a Senior Authorised Person, managing electrical distribution systems and complex switching operations.
• Strong understanding of hazardous energy control across multiple energy sources, including:
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Stored energy systems

Professional Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to manage, influence, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong auditing capability with the ability to assess site practices against written standards.
• Excellent ability to interpret single‑line diagrams, schematics, and system redundancies to ensure isolation strategies are fully effective.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to safety assurance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, contractors, and project stakeholders.

Cumming Group is committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All job applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, “race” (includes nationality, national / ethnic origins, colour) marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, gender reassignment, religion and belief. Note for Recruitment Agencies: We prefer to hire directly, and we will be in touch with our PSL Agencies if this role is eligible for release.