Oceania Ports Practice Director: Strategy & Growth

Moffatt & Nichol; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Moffatt & Nichol is seeking a Ports Practice Director to lead our Ports & Maritime business across Oceania, with influence across Southeast Asia. The role is based in Sydney or Brisbane, driving strategy, market development and project excellence to deliver client satisfaction and market leadership.

The ideal candidate has 20+ years in ports and waterfront engineering, Chartered Engineer status, and a proven track record in business development and major project delivery.

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer (CPEng or equivalent); Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ)
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (or equivalent)
• Minimum of 20 years’ experience in ports, coastal, and waterfront engineering
• Demonstrated leadership in the delivery of complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects
• Proven success in business development and client relationship management
• Experience in container terminals, general/bulk cargo terminals, naval/defence infrastructure, and/or offshore wind
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Australian citizenship or permanent residency preferred
• All new hires will be required to successfully complete and pass a pre-employment (post offer) background check in compliance with NIST 800-171

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic expansion of the Ports practice across Oceania and the broader region.
• Develop and execute growth strategies aligned with regional and global priorities.
• Represent Moffatt & Nichol as the principal authority for ports in the region, providing thought leadership and insights on market trends and opportunities.
• Collaborate across borders to align regional strategies with global business objectives.
• Act as the senior point of contact for key clients, serving as Project Director on complex, high-profile engagements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with public and private sector stakeholders.
• Drive business development, proposal leadership, and bid strategy for strategic pursuits.
• Manage the sales pipeline and ensure revenue and margin targets are achieved.
• Guide technical direction and oversee implementation of engineering methodologies and standards.
• Ensure excellence in technical delivery, contract compliance, and client satisfaction.
• Participate in major project reviews, contributing strategic input and innovation.
• Uphold quality assurance standards and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead and grow the regional Ports team, providing direction, mentorship, and performance leadership.
• Support recruitment, workforce planning, and succession strategies.
• Promote a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with company values.
• Foster engagement, career development, and retention within the team.
• Manage the business unit’s financial performance—including revenue, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor key performance indicators and oversee delivery of commercial targets.
• Ensure compliance with corporate procedures, governance, and reporting requirements.
• Optimise project resources, budgets, and working capital.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Business development

Client relationship management

Strategic thinking

Education

Chartered Engineer (CPEng) / RPEQ

Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Job description

Moffatt & Nichol specializes in large complex waterfront infrastructure projects and is recognized as one of the worldwide leaders in this field. We are actively looking for a Ports Practice Director to join our Brisbane or Sydney office. As part of the Ports Group, the Ports Practice Director will lead our Ports & Maritime business across Oceania, influencing operations in Southeast Asia and the broader Asia Pacific. Drive strategy, business development, and project excellence, ensuring client satisfaction and market leadership.

About Moffatt & Nichol

Moffatt & Nichol is a leading infrastructure advisor specialising in the planning and design of facilities that shape and serve our coastlines. Reflecting Moffatt & Nichol’s commitment to design innovation since 1945, Engineering News-Record (ENR) has ranked the company No. 1 design firm for Marine and Port Facilities in the United States and No. 7 internationally.

Moffatt & Nichol's professional staff includes engineers, planners, scientists, and architects who serve our global client base from offices in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The firm provides clients worldwide with customised service and a level of excellence that have become the firm’s hallmark in three primary practise areas—coastal, environmental, and water resources; ports and harbours; and transportation, bridges, and rail.

Duties And Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Strategic Leadership & Market Development

• Lead the strategic expansion of the Ports practice across Oceania and the broader region.
• Develop and execute growth strategies aligned with regional and global priorities.
• Represent Moffatt & Nichol as the principal authority for ports in the region, providing thought leadership and insights on market trends and opportunities.
• Collaborate across borders to align regional strategies with global business objectives.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Act as the senior point of contact for key clients, serving as Project Director on complex, high-profile engagements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with public and private sector stakeholders.
• Drive business development, proposal leadership, and bid strategy for strategic pursuits.
• Manage the sales pipeline and ensure revenue and margin targets are achieved.

Technical & Project Delivery

• Guide technical direction and oversee implementation of engineering methodologies and standards.
• Ensure excellence in technical delivery, contract compliance, and client satisfaction.
• Participate in major project reviews, contributing strategic input and innovation.
• Uphold quality assurance standards and drive continuous improvement.

Team & People Leadership

• Lead and grow the regional Ports team, providing direction, mentorship, and performance leadership.
• Support recruitment, workforce planning, and succession strategies.
• Promote a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with company values.
• Foster engagement, career development, and retention within the team.

Financial & Operational Oversight

• Manage the business unit’s financial performance—including revenue, profitability, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor key performance indicators and oversee delivery of commercial targets.
• Ensure compliance with corporate procedures, governance, and reporting requirements.
• Optimise project resources, budgets, and working capital.

Other Duties

Please note this job posting is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer (CPEng or equivalent); Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ)
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering (or equivalent)
• Minimum of 20 years’ experience in ports, coastal, and waterfront engineering
• Demonstrated leadership in the delivery of complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects
• Proven success in business development and client relationship management
• Experience in container terminals, general/bulk cargo terminals, naval/defence infrastructure, and/or offshore wind
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Australian citizenship or permanent residency preferred
• All new hires will be required to successfully complete and pass a pre-employment (post offer) background check in compliance with NIST 800-171

Working Conditions

Sedentary for prolonged period of time, interact with clients, and travel occasionally.

Moffatt & Nichol’s EEO Statement

As a global business, Moffatt & Nichol relies on diversity of culture and thought to deliver on our goal of Creative People, Practical Solutions® serving our client needs, and ensures nondiscrimination in all activities. We draw from the world’s best and brightest, regardless of geographic, cultural, or institutional background. This approach enables us to better understand and serve our clients, foster innovation, and create a rich, collaborative work environment. Moffatt & Nichol is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Federal Contractor desiring priority referrals of all protected veterans for job openings.

If you need more information or require special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or TTY/TDD users please call 711.