Structural Conservation Senior Specialist

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi); Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi is seeking a Structural Conservation Senior Specialist to lead independent technical reviews and governance of structural assessments for modern heritage buildings across the Emirate. You will monitor interventions and ensure alignment with conservation principles.

The role requires extensive experience in structural engineering, heritage conservation, and collaboration with consultants, contractors, and regulatory authorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil/structural engineering or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in structural engineering.
• Professional certifications (e.g., PE) are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical review, validation, and QA of structural assessments and conservation studies for modern heritage buildings.
• Assess structural behaviour considering material degradation and historic fabric.
• Review consultant methodologies and site findings for reliability and conservation alignment.
• Evaluate repair, strengthening, retrofitting, and restoration options with minimal intervention.
• Promote evidence-based design approaches including performance-based methods.
• Provide technical recommendations on submissions, reports, and drawings.
• Support portfolio management of modern heritage assets and risk assessments.
• Supervise site works related to structural improvements and conservation interventions.

Skills

Structural assessment

Material testing

Analytical modelling

Concrete durability

Repair strategy review

Technical reporting

Stakeholder coordination

Conservation principles

Minimal intervention

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering

Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering

PE certification (preferred)

Tools

ETABS

SAFE

SAP2000

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

We are currently looking for a Structural Conservation Senior Specialist to join the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. Through its work in cultural heritage, museums, historic environments, creative industries, and destination development, DCT Abu Dhabi plays a central role in preserving the emirate’s cultural identity while positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading global destination for culture and tourism.

Role Purpose

Lead the independent technical review, validation, and governance of structural assessments, material investigations, analytical models, and intervention strategies for modern heritage buildings across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Monitor and supervise structural interventions as required.

Key Responsibilities

Operations

• Lead the technical review, validation, and quality assurance of structural assessments, material testing programmes, analytical models, conservation studies, and intervention strategies for modern heritage buildings, sites, districts, and urban heritage landscapes.
• Assess and interpret the structural behaviour of existing modern heritage buildings, considering material degradation, historical construction practices, incomplete documentation, condition assessments, building pathology investigations, and historic fabric analysis.
• Review and challenge consultant methodologies, assumptions, site inspection findings, testing results, analytical outputs, and recommendations to ensure conclusions are reliable, proportionate, technically sound, and aligned with conservation principles.
• Evaluate and validate repair, strengthening, retrofitting, restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and other conservation intervention strategies, ensuring minimal intervention, compatibility with existing materials, long-term durability, and preservation of heritage value.
• Promote evidence-based and performance-based assessment and design approaches, including ASCE 41 where appropriate, particularly where prescriptive code compliance may lead to unnecessary interventions.
• Ensure proposed interventions balance structural safety requirements with the preservation of authenticity, integrity, architectural character, character-defining features, historic urban character, scale, streetscapes, cultural values, and original material fabric.
• Review and provide formal technical recommendations on structural submissions, including technical reports, review notes, presentations, specifications, method statements, restoration drawings, intervention guidelines, material treatments, and repair approaches.
• Support the management of a portfolio of modern heritage assets under assessment by identifying priorities, risks, inconsistencies, feasibility requirements, viability considerations, cost implications, procurement needs, and adaptation or intervention proposals.
• Supervise and provide technical input on site works related to structural improvements and conservation interventions, including monitoring structural status, site activities, logistics, mobilisation, and compliance with approved methodologies and DCT requirements.
• Plan, advise, direct, and implement preventive and curative conservation interventions on registered modern architectural heritage, in coordination with relevant DCT functions, external consultants, and contractors.

Monitoring, Maintenance and Risk Management

• Plan, manage, implement, monitor, maintain, and report on modern heritage sites in accordance with approved cyclical maintenance plans.
• Coordinate condition monitoring, compliance monitoring, risk identification, enforcement recommendations, emergency planning, and corrective actions for deteriorated, abandoned, or at-risk modern heritage assets.

Policies, Processes and Procedures

• Lead and contribute to the development of technical review frameworks, guidelines, procedures, quality standards, templates, and documentation standards for structural assessment and conservation engineering of modern heritage assets.
• Provide technical expertise in defining acceptable approaches to code application for existing and heritage structures, including performance-based alternatives aligned with DCT objectives and international best practice.
• Ensure technical reviews, outputs, and activities comply with relevant DCT policies, HED processes and procedures, international standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to strengthen internal processes, review mechanisms, and operational efficiency.

Collaboration and Day-to-Day Operations

• Collaborate with internal teams, external consultants, contractors, municipalities, regulatory authorities, academic institutions, and external partners on technical matters related to structural assessments, conservation interventions, policy implementation, and urban heritage revitalisation.
• Support technical discussions with stakeholders and provide clear, defensible engineering positions for decision-making and project delivery.
• Coordinate logistical operations related to permissions and site access for planned studies with site owners and stakeholders.
• Maintain structured records of technical reviews, decisions, and supporting documentation in line with DCT requirements.

Research, Awareness and Capacity Building

• Lead or contribute to research, innovation, publications, training materials, educational programmes, awareness initiatives, and supporting collateral related to modern heritage conservation, modern building materials, technologies, and capacity building.
• Build internal and external awareness of appropriate structural engineering and conservation approaches for modern heritage buildings.
• Respond to ad hoc requests related to modern heritage, conservation advice, reporting, stakeholder support, cross-functional initiatives, and any other duties assigned by the direct manager.
• Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge within DCT and with relevant external partners, including workshops, technical forums, professional conferences, and academic events, as directed.

EHS (Environment, Health and Safety)

• Comply with all relevant EHS policies, procedures, guidelines, and controls; report incidents and hazards in a timely manner; support employee safety and legislative compliance; and reduce consumption of natural resources to protect the environment and ensure a healthy and safe work environment.

Shared Activity

• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions.
• Demonstrate compliance with organisational values, ethics, and EHS requirements.
• Support a culture of change management through a hands‑on and can‑do approach to DCT’s business opportunities, initiatives, planned targets, and high‑performance behaviours.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering.
• Professional certifications or memberships, such as PE, are an advantage.
• 6-8 years of experience in concrete repair and durability engineering, including corrosion mitigation and cathodic protection systems.
• Experience in structural condition assessment of existing and ageing structures, structural modelling, and advanced analysis.
• Knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including ADIBC/UAE regulations, ACI 318, ACI 562, ASCE 7, IEBC, and ASCE 41.
• Proficiency with the following: ETABS, SAFE, SAP2000, AutoCAD, Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
• Language competency in English is required; Arabic proficiency is preferred.

Skills

• Technical expertise in structural assessment, material testing, analytical modelling, concrete durability, and repair strategy review.
• Ability to interpret testing results and correlate findings with structural performance.
• Strong judgment in reviewing consultant submissions and producing clear, defensible technical recommendations.
• Knowledge of conservation principles, minimal intervention, material compatibility, and long‑term durability for modern heritage structures.
• Proficiency in technical reporting, documentation, stakeholder coordination, and structured record management.
• Strong communication, collaboration, analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and project coordination skills.