Head of Department (Structures)

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to a specialist engineering department within a consulting context
• Translate complex technical challenges and client objectives into structured, deliverable-driven project plans
• Oversee multiple concurrent assignments, ensuring resources are allocated effectively across projects and deadlines are met
• Lead delivery excellence by maintaining high technical standards while managing time, cost, and scope constraints
• Collaborate closely with other technical leaders, project managers, and commercial teams to ensure integrated project delivery
• Act as a technical authority and escalation point on complex engineering matters across client engagements
• Support business objectives by contributing to project planning, fee management, forecasting, and reporting
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to provide senior-level technical input, manage expectations, and build long-term relationships
• Mentor and develop engineering professionals, strengthening both technical capability and consulting skills within the team
• Drive continuous improvement in delivery methods, quality assurance, and internal processes

Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience in a senior engineering role within a consulting or professional services environment
• Proven ability to lead and manage technical teams across multiple client projects
• Strong project and resource management capability, including prioritisation in deadline-driven environments
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex engineering solutions to external clients
• Sound commercial awareness, with the ability to balance technical rigor against project budgets and timelines
• Confident communicator with experience engaging clients, consultants, and internal stakeholders at senior levels
• Decisive leadership style with the ability to guide teams through ambiguity and competing priorities
• Strong mentoring and people leadership capability within a professional services context

Qualification

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, preferably with a focus on structural or materials engineering
• Professional registration with a recognised engineering body is advantageous
• A doctorate will be considered beneficial but is not a prerequisite

Only South African Residents or individuals with a relevant South African work permit will be considered.

Contact MALIEKA DAWOOD on 021 418 1750, quoting the Ref: CTE027993.

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