Head of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

Private Advertiser; Metro Manila; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Private Advertiser in the Philippines is seeking a Head of HDD to oversee planning, execution, and management of horizontal directional drilling operations. You will lead HDD teams, coordinate with clients, engineers, subcontractors, and authorities to deliver safe, on-time projects within budget and specs.

The role requires extensive HDD field experience, strong leadership, and the ability to optimize productivity, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering or related field preferred.
• 8–10 years HDD operations experience with 3–5 years in supervision.
• Hands-on HDD operations: pilot hole, reaming, pullback, bore planning, mud management.
• Proven HDD project management from planning to completion.
• Strong knowledge of HDD equipment, drawings, and safety/regulatory practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all HDD operations and projects.
• Develop HDD execution plans, schedules and resources.
• Review drawings, bore profiles, soil conditions, and specs.
• Oversee drilling activities and installation of pipelines, conduits, or cables.
• Ensure compliance with designs, risk assessments, and project specs.
• Manage crews, supervisors, engineers, and field personnel.
• Plan manpower, equipment, tooling, materials, and logistics.
• Monitor progress, productivity, costs, and equipment utilization.
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, and regulatory authorities.
• Train HDD personnel and maintain competency standards.

Skills

HDD leadership

Project management

Safety & risk management

Team management

Technical troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Tools

Bore-planning software

Locating/navigation systems

Drilling rigs & mud systems

Job description

Job Summary

The Head of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and overall management of horizontal directional drilling operations. The role ensures that HDD projects are completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with engineering specifications, client requirements, and applicable industry standards.

The position provides technical and operational leadership to HDD teams, manages equipment and resources, coordinates with clients, engineers, subcontractors, and authorities, and drives continuous improvement across HDD operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all Horizontal Directional Drilling operations and projects.

• Develop and implement HDD execution plans, methodologies, schedules, and resource requirements.

• Review project drawings, bore profiles, soil/ground conditions, utility information, and technical specifications.

• Oversee drilling activities including pilot hole drilling, reaming, pullback, drilling fluid management, and installation of pipelines, conduits, or cables.

• Ensure HDD operations are performed in accordance with approved designs, method statements, risk assessments, and project specifications.

• Manage drilling crews, supervisors, operators, engineers, and other field personnel.

• Plan manpower, drilling equipment, tooling, materials, and logistics for each project.

• Monitor project progress, productivity, costs, equipment utilization, and overall performance.

• Coordinate with project managers, civil/utility contractors, engineers, surveyors, clients, and regulatory authorities.

• Identify and resolve technical and operational challenges, including difficult ground conditions, drilling-fluid issues, bore deviation, inadvertent returns, and equipment breakdowns.

• Ensure proper use, maintenance, inspection, and mobilization of HDD rigs, mud systems, locating equipment, pumps, tooling, and support equipment.

• Establish and monitor HDD quality-control procedures and ensure accurate drilling and alignment records are maintained.

• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead risk assessments, toolbox meetings, safety inspections, and incident investigations related to HDD operations.

• Monitor drilling fluid properties and ensure proper handling, recycling, containment, and disposal.

• Review daily reports, production records, drilling logs, as-built information, and project documentation.

• Manage subcontractors and specialist HDD service providers where applicable.

• Assist in tendering and bidding activities by providing technical input, methodology, production rates, equipment requirements, and cost estimates.

• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and industry partners.

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce operational costs, minimize downtime, and increase project profitability.

• Train, mentor, and develop HDD personnel and establish competency standards for operators and supervisors.

• Ensure lessons learned from completed projects are documented and incorporated into future HDD operations.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field is preferred.

• Minimum8–10 years of experiencein Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) operations, with at least3–5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.

• Extensive hands-on experience in HDD operations, including pilot hole drilling, reaming, pullback, bore planning, and drilling fluid management.

• Proven experience managing HDD projects from planning and mobilization through completion.

• Strong knowledge of HDD equipment, drilling rigs, mud systems, locating/navigation systems, tooling, and maintenance requirements.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, bore profiles, utility plans, and geological/soil investigation reports.

• Experience in managing HDD crews, subcontractors, equipment, materials, and project resources.

• Strong understanding of construction safety, environmental regulations, and risk-management practices.

• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve HDD challenges such as difficult ground conditions, bore deviation, drilling-fluid loss, inadvertent returns, and equipment breakdowns.

• Strong leadership, communication, coordination, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to manage project schedules, costs, productivity, and overall operational performance.

• Proficient in preparing and reviewing HDD method statements, risk assessments, drilling plans, daily reports, and project documentation.

• Willingness to travel and work at project sites as required.

• Must be physically and mentally capable of working in construction-site environments and under varying weather conditions.

• Professional driver's licenseis an advantage.

• Relevant HDD, construction safety, or project management certifications are an advantage.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with large-diameter or long-distance HDD projects.

• Experience in pipeline, water, sewer, telecommunications, electrical, or utility infrastructure projects.

• Experience with HDD design and bore-planning software.

• Experience with drill locating/navigation systems and electronic tracking equipment.

• Knowledge of international HDD standards and industry best practices.

• Experience with tender preparation, estimating, and commercial management.

• Relevant professional certifications in HDD, construction safety, or project management.

Key Competencies

• HDD Technical Expertise

• Operations & Project Management

• Leadership & Team Management

• Safety & Risk Management

• Cost and Resource Management

• Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Quality Management

• Client & Stakeholder Management

• Equipment and Maintenance Management

• Planning and Scheduling

• Communication and Negotiation