CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY LTD. (CHEC) is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a Global Fortune 500 enterprise. Founded in 1980, CHEC operates in over 100 countries with more than 90 overseas branches, managing a global project portfolio valued at $30 billion. The company specializes in large-scale EPC, BOT, and PPP projects across marine engineering, infrastructure, transportation, and energy sectors. CHEC ARABIA is the Saudi Arabian arm of this global giant, delivering landmark projects and contributing to the Kingdom’s transformative infrastructure vision.
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Job Title: Head of Engineering Department (Saudi Arabia)
Full Time, Permanent
📍 Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
Company: CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING ARABIA COMPANY LTD. (CHEC)
Salary: $6,000 – $7,000
Apply nowPosition Overview: Head of Engineering Department
CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING ARABIA COMPANY LTD. is seeking a highly experienced and qualified Head of Engineering Department to lead its design and technical operations in Riyadh. This is a senior leadership role for a chartered structural/civil engineer with 10+ years of experience and proven department management expertise. You will have overall responsibility for the technical management of both bidding and live projects, including design strategy, team leadership, stakeholder coordination, and ensuring compliance with international standards across a diverse portfolio of building, road, bridge, and marine works.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be entrusted with the following comprehensive leadership duties:
- Department & Team Management: Lead, manage, and develop the engineering design team, fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
- Technical Strategy & Risk Management: Take overall responsibility for technical strategy, scope definition, design deliverables planning, and technical risk identification/mitigation for both bids and active projects.
- Systems & Process Improvement: Establish and continuously improve internal management systems, standards, templates, and workflows (design review, drawing control, approvals, change management) to ensure consistent quality and efficiency.
- Structural Design & Optimization: Take direct responsibility for structural design, design review, and value engineering/design optimization across all projects.
- Stakeholder & Consultant Management: Serve as the primary technical interface with clients, consultants, government authorities, joint venture partners, and project teams. Manage external consultants and third-party resources to ensure aligned expectations, timely decisions, and compliant, high-quality deliverables.
- Strategic Support: Complete other tasks assigned by leadership and be willing to accept short-term business travel as required.
Candidate Requirements (Mandatory)
| Requirement Category | Specific Qualification |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Civil / Structural Engineering. A Master’s Degree or PhD is preferred but not required. |
| Professional Certification | Chartered Member of a recognized professional body in Civil/Structural Discipline (e.g., ICE, IStructE, PEB). |
| Experience | Minimum 10 years of professional engineering design or construction experience, with proven department/team management experience within a design organization or EPC contractor. |
| Technical Expertise | Wide-ranging structural experience covering buildings, roads & bridges, and marine works. Familiarity with international design standards, especially those adopted in Middle East projects. |
| Software & Language | Proficient in professional engineering software. Fluent in spoken and written English. Knowledge of Arabic is advantageous. |
| Gender & Age | Male, under 45 years old. |
| Coordination Skills | Strong coordination capability with both internal partners and external stakeholders (clients, consultants, authorities). |
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal leader for this role will be:
- A strategic and technically authoritative leader with a proven track record of managing multidisciplinary design teams on complex, large-scale infrastructure projects.
- An effective communicator and negotiator, capable of representing CHEC at the highest levels with clients, consultants, and government entities.
- A systems thinker and process improver, dedicated to establishing and enforcing rigorous standards for design quality and efficiency.
- Internationally minded and adaptable, with deep experience in Middle East project environments and standards.
What CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING ARABIA Offers
- Global Platform: A senior leadership role within a Global Fortune 500 subsidiary and a leader in international infrastructure.
- Impactful Projects: The opportunity to shape the engineering direction of landmark projects contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
- Competitive Package: A salary of $6,000 – $7,000 commensurate with the seniority and responsibility of the role.
- Professional Environment: Work within a globally connected, professionally rigorous, and growth-oriented organization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is chartered status mandatory?
Yes. Being a Chartered Member of a recognized professional body (e.g., ICE, IStructE) is a listed requirement, confirming your professional standing and expertise.
2. What does “wide range of Structure experience” mean in practice?
It means you must have demonstrable, hands-on experience designing and managing projects across three distinct domains: building structures, transportation infrastructure (roads/bridges), and marine/civil works (ports, jetties, coastal protection). This versatility is critical for CHEC’s diverse project portfolio.
3. What are the main challenges of this role?
Key challenges include managing the technical quality and risk across multiple, simultaneous complex projects, coordinating between diverse international and local stakeholders, and leading a team to deliver high-quality designs under tight tender and project deadlines.
4. Is this role office-based or site-based?
As Head of Engineering Department, the role is primarily office-based in Riyadh for design management and coordination. However, site visits and short-term business trips will be required to support project execution and stakeholder meetings.
How to Apply
If you are a chartered structural engineer with over a decade of experience and the leadership skills to head a major engineering department for a global infrastructure leader, CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING ARABIA COMPANY LTD. encourages you to apply.
Submit your application via the official listing:
👉 Apply for Head of Engineering Department Position