Civil Engineer (Hydropower Plant Project)

Job Description: Project Manager – Civil Construction Works (Hydropower Plant Project)

Location: Remote Project Site, Zambia Department: Project Delivery / Construction Reports To: Project Director / Construction Director Employment Type: Fixed-Term Contract / Full-Time Residential Site Role

Please note that this role is based in Zambia and is a 2-year project on a remote site

Job Purpose

The Project Manager – Civil Construction Works is responsible for the planning, coordination, execution, and control of all civil construction activities for a hydropower plant project located in a very remote area of Zambia. The role is accountable for delivering the civil works safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards, while managing contractors, site resources, logistics, stakeholder interfaces, and compliance with environmental, social, and statutory requirements. The position requires strong leadership in a challenging remote-site environment, including oversight of camp-based operations, workforce welfare, and critical supply-chain constraints.

Key Responsibilities

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Lead and manage all civil construction works for the hydropower plant, including access roads, earthworks, river diversion works, intake structures, canals, penstocks foundations and supports, powerhouse civil works, tailrace structures, drainage systems, retaining structures, concrete works, and associated temporary works.

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Develop and maintain the detailed construction execution plan, site mobilisation plan, look-ahead schedules, and resource plans aligned with the overall project programme.

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Manage contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and site supervision teams to achieve project milestones and maintain productivity in a remote-site environment.

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Monitor project progress against approved baseline schedule and budget; identify delays, risks, and cost overruns early and implement corrective actions.

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Ensure all civil works are executed in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, method statements, quality plans, and contract requirements.

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Coordinate closely with design, geotechnical, hydrology, electromechanical, environmental, social, and commissioning teams to manage interfaces and avoid disruption to the project programme.

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Chair daily, weekly, and monthly construction meetings; issue action trackers and ensure timely close-out of agreed actions.

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Oversee site logistics for a remote location, including transport planning, materials delivery, fuel management, equipment availability, camp facilities coordination, and contingency planning for weather, road access, and supply-chain interruptions.

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Establish and enforce robust health, safety, environmental, and community protection standards across all civil work fronts.

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Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with project HSE plans, permit-to-work requirements, incident reporting, emergency preparedness, and statutory obligations.

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Lead quality assurance and quality control activities, including inspections, testing, non-conformance management, punch lists, and handover documentation.

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Review and approve contractor work programmes, method statements, inspection and test plans, progress claims, and change requests in line with delegated authority.

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Manage commercial and contractual matters related to the civil works, including measurement, variations, claims support, progress certification inputs, and records management.

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Prepare accurate weekly and monthly progress reports covering safety, schedule, cost, quality, risks, labour, plant, materials, and key decisions required.

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Engage with clients, consultants, local authorities, regulators, and surrounding communities in a professional manner that supports project delivery and good stakeholder relationships.

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Ensure compliance with Zambian legal and regulatory requirements, permit conditions, labour obligations, and environmental and social commitments applicable to the project.

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Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and development of site engineering and supervisory personnel.

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Drive continuous improvement in productivity, construction methodology, cost control, and field coordination.

Qualifications and Experience

•Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related engineering discipline.

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Professional registration with the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) or eligibility to obtain registration will be an advantage.

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Minimum of 10–15 years of relevant experience in heavy civil construction, with at least 5 years in a senior project management role.

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Proven experience on hydropower, dam, water infrastructure, tunnelling, or similarly complex civil infrastructure projects.

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Demonstrated experience managing construction works in remote or logistically challenging locations.

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Strong knowledge of contract administration, construction planning, budgeting, cost control, and risk management.

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Practical experience with concrete works, geotechnical conditions, temporary works, earthworks, foundations, and water-retaining structures.

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Good understanding of HSE management, quality systems, and environmental and social compliance requirements on infrastructure projects.

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Proficiency in project planning and reporting tools such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, and standard Microsoft Office applications.

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Valid driver's licence and willingness to work on a full-time residential basis at a remote site.

Key Competencies

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Strong leadership and team-management capability in multicultural, camp-based, and high-pressure environments.

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Excellent planning, coordination, and organisational skills.

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Strong commercial awareness and decision-making ability.

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Ability to manage multiple contractors and interfaces simultaneously.

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Clear communication and reporting skills.

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High level of resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving in isolated locations.

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Strong commitment to safety, quality, ethics, and compliance.

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Ability to build productive relationships with clients, consultants, authorities, community representatives, and internal teams.

Working Conditions

•Full-time residential role based at a remote project site in Zambia.

•Work is performed in a challenging construction environment with exposure to weather, rugged terrain, limited local services, and variable access conditions.

•The role may require roster-based work cycles, extended site presence, and irregular hours during critical construction phases.

•Frequent interaction with contractors, plant operators, camp services, local communities, and regulatory stakeholders is expected.

•The position holder must be physically fit for regular movement across active construction areas and remote work fronts.

Key Performance Indicators

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Achievement of construction milestones in line with the approved baseline programme.

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Performance against approved project budget and cost forecasts.

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Safety performance, including proactive risk management and incident reduction.

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Quality performance, including inspection pass rates, reduced rework, and timely close-out of non-conformances.

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Effective contractor performance and productivity management.

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Timeliness and accuracy of project reporting and decision support.

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Compliance with legal, contractual, environmental, and social obligations.

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Successful management of remote-site logistics and continuity of operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a hands-on civil construction leader with deep infrastructure delivery experience, strong remote-site management capability, and a proven record of safely delivering complex hydro or heavy civil projects under challenging logistical conditions. The person should be disciplined, practical, commercially aware, and capable of leading diverse teams while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, stakeholder management, and execution certainty.