Head of Design - Complex Buildings, Civil Works and Marine Infrastructure Projects at cabonorte

We are looking for a Head of Design - Complex Buildings, Civil Works and Marine Infrastructure Projects to lead and coordinate structural engineering activities across a diverse portfolio of complex marine and iconic building projects. You will lead a dedicated in-house team, managing the full project lifecycle — from tender and Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to temporary works and Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings. This is a high-level technical leadership role that requires a bridge-builder: someone who can translate complex structural theory into practical, constructible solutions for on-site teams. Your Contribution • Department Leadership: Lead and mentor a specialized internal structural design team of 5, overseeing workload allocation and professional development. • End-to-End Design Management: Oversee the complete in-house design lifecycle, including Tender Design, Temporary Works, and IFC. • Strategic Optimization: Define structural strategies that prioritize safety and cost-efficiency, ensuring all designs are optimized for specific construction methods. • Technical Governance: Review complex structural calculations and models to ensure strict compliance with international standards and project-specific constraints. • Cross-Functional Synergy: Act as the technical link between Methods, Tender, and Site teams, ensuring that construction sequencing and temporary works are integrated into the permanent design. • Value Engineering: Proactively identify and report value engineering opportunities to optimize quantities and schedules without compromising safety. • Risk & Budget: Manage the structural engineering budget and identify technical risks early in the tender phase to implement robust mitigation measures. Your Profile • Technical Background: Master’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering. • Deep Expertise: 20+ years of experience in structural engineering, with a proven track record in both Complex Concrete and Steel structures. • Hybrid Project Portfolio: Extensive experience across both Marine Infrastructure (LNG jetties, breakwaters, quay walls) and Iconic Buildings (stadiums, museums, or landmark high-rises). • Regional Knowledge: Significant work experience within the Middle East is essential. • D&B Specialist: Proven success in Design & Build (D&B) environments, managing the friction and coordination between design and rapid site execution. • Code Proficiency: Expert-level knowledge of international design codes (Eurocodes, ACI, BS). • Leadership Style: A natural mentor and communicator who can build strong relationships with external consultants and internal stakeholders alike. What the Client Offers You will join a premier engineering environment delivering some of the most technically challenging projects in the region. This role offers the autonomy to lead a complete in-house design function, influencing the project from the very first tender sketch to the final site inspection. In addition to a competitive executive package, you will have the opportunity to shape the technical standards of the department and lead the delivery of global landmarks. About Cabo Norte Professionals Cabo Norte Professionals is a team of highly driven recruitment experts based in Belgium with 20 years of in-house recruitment expertise in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.   It’s our talent to find yours! We recruit candidates for our clients’ companies as if they were our own. We share our passion for their business with you. We get you inspired. Tell you all about their story and vision, and your possible future role herein. We make it personal, tailored to your ambition and expectations. After all, you are not looking for a job, but a career offering possibilities, perspective and growth. We are here to pave your way to success.   Our clients are important players in their industry and niche, operating in the BENELUX area, France or internationally, active in Architecture, Construction & Civil Engineering, Digital Engineering & Virtual Reality, Real Estate & Development, Digital Engineering & Virtual Reality, Energy, Health, Safety & Environment, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Industry We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.