Automation & Instrument Engineering Manager

NES Fircroft; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft in the Netherlands seeks a Discipline Manager to lead engineering operations on major capital/EPCM projects. You’ll act as the primary technical authority and drive alignment across client site representatives, EPCM and home-office teams.

You will champion safety, ensure design robustness, and oversee contractor performance while facilitating timely decisions and stakeholder communication to deliver project outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with leadership experience on large capital/EPCM projects.
• Deep expertise in discipline‑specific engineering, standards, and design reviews.
• Strong contractor and stakeholder management with cross‑site collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Directing and overseeing all discipline‑specific engineering operations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Acting as the primary point of contact to ensure seamless communication among EPCM Contractor, Client Site Representatives and Home‑Office teams.
• Monitoring and driving EPCM contractor performance, ensuring clarity on scope, quality, budget, and deliverables.
• Delivering expert technical advice and solutions for complex discipline‑specific engineering challenges.
• Approving and executing key design decisions in line with authorization procedures.
• Ensuring the discipline’s design incorporates input from operations, maintenance and site representatives.
• Conducting site inspections and verification with the EPCM contractor as needed.
• Supporting procurement activities and aligning site management with the project team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Owner’s Team Purpose

The best project systems establish strong owner’s teams that focus on excellent project definition to drive the best project outcomes. The owner’s team remains independent from the EPCm/EPC contractors to ensure the owner’s interests are always the priority, providing the right amount of oversight and assurance without duplicating work. As a critical leader within the technical team, the Discipline Manager acts as the primary technical authority for their respective engineering discipline, reporting to the project's Engineering Manager.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Responsible for:

• Directing and overseeing all discipline‑specific engineering operations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Acting as the primary point of contact to ensure seamless communication and alignment among the EPCM Contractor, Client Site Representatives and Home‑Office discipline teams.
• Monitoring and driving EPCM contractor performance, ensuring clarity on scope, quality, budget, and deliverables while proactively escalating identified risks.
• Delivering expert technical advice and prompt, effective solutions for complex discipline‑specific engineering challenges.
• Approving and executing key decisions regarding design and drawings in compliance with established authorization procedures.
• Ensuring the discipline's design is developed with sufficient input from operations, maintenance, and other site representatives.
• Conducting site inspections and performing data collection/verification alongside the EPCM contractor as needed.
• Supporting procurement activities and engaging in alignment discussions between site management and the project team.

Experience & Competencies

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline with proven leadership experience in large capital/EPCM projects, ideally from the owner/customer perspective (including commissioning of new assets).
• Deep expertise in discipline‑specific engineering, corporate Operational Excellence Standards, HSE Guidelines, and process design reviews.
• Strong contractor and stakeholder management skills, with a track record of holding EPCm/EPC contractors accountable and communicating effectively across diverse, multinational teams.
• Decisive, big‑picture problem solver who adapts to changing constraints, resolves technical issues promptly with site stakeholders, and champions a strong safety culture at all times.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining andManufacturingsectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market‑leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.