Head of Department Infrastructure

The Head of Department (HOD) Infrastructure Roads and Highways is responsible for leading and scaling a high-performing design function delivering complex large-scale projects. The role combines technical excellence, commercial awareness and leadership capability to manage multidisciplinary teams, client expectations, and fast-paced project environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Department Management: lead and expand the infrastructure, Roads, and Highways department aligned with business growth strategy.
• Establish operational frameworks, design standards, and best practices across projects.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, delivery, and innovation.
• Manage resource planning, utilization, and hiring strategies across global offices.
• Lead concept to detailed design delivery for large mixed-use residential, commercial, and giga projects.
• Establish Infrastructure Roads and Highways design standards, governance frameworks and review protocols.
• Manage client engagement at senior level including presentations and design approvals.
• Coordinate with MEP, Infrastructure and Infrastructure Roads and Highways teams for integrated design delivery.
• Oversee design quality authority approvals and compliance with international standards.
• Drive BIM-led design using Autodesk Revit and coordination tools.
• Build and lead a multicultural Infrastructure Roads and Highways team across multiple locations.
• Provide technical leadership across all stages of design, concept to IFC.
• Ensure compliance with international standards.
• Review and approve complex design solutions ensuring quality, efficiency and innovation.
• Drive adoption of digital tools such as Autodesk Revit, Navisworks and advanced BIM workflows.
• Act as primary technical point of contact for key clients and stakeholders.
• Lead high-level meetings, presentations and design reviews.
• Build long-term relationships with international clients and partners.
• Manage client expectations, variations, and conflict resolution under pressure.
• Oversee multiple large-scale projects ensuring delivery within time, cost and quality targets.
• Monitor project KPIs, risks and performance metrics.
• Support commercial teams in proposals, bid strategies and technical submissions.
• Ensure profitability and efficient resource allocation.
• Lead, mentor and develop a multidisciplinary team across regions.
• Drive performance management, succession planning and leadership development.
• Foster collaboration across Architecture, MEP and Infrastructure teams.
• Manage teams in high-pressure deadline-driven environments.
• Champion BIM digital engineering and automation strategies.
• Introduce global best practices and innovative design solutions.
• Support sustainability and ESG initiatives across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor s / Master s degree in relevant discipline. 18 25+ years of experience in engineering consultancy/design firms.
• Proven experience managing multinational or global design offices.
• Strong exposure to mega/giga projects (mixed-use, infrastructure, urban development).
• Experience working with international clients (Middle East, Europe, Asia).
• Professional certifications (preferred): Project Management Institute (PMP) Institution of Civil Engineers / Institution of Engineering and Technology

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership and decision-making under pressure.
• Client-facing and stakeholder management excellence.
• Commercial and business acumen.
• Multicultural team management.
• Strategic thinking and execution.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation.