Managing Director: Ex

Zutari; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm seeks a Managing Director to lead the strategic development of their engineering services. This role requires exceptional leadership to drive international market expansion and establish the firm as a preferred technical partner. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's in Engineering, significant international experience, and a track record of effectively leading multi-disciplinary teams in complex projects. The position is based in Pretoria, South Africa, and offers a dynamic environment focused on innovation, collaboration, and impact.

Benefits

Diverse workforce

Equal opportunity in employment

Qualifications

• Approximately 10 years of proven experience in senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated international experience across multiple markets.
• Published thought leadership in international journals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategy for the business.
• Lead establishment of design services that integrate into value chains.
• Drive integration of design thinking across all business units.
• Establish frameworks for technical excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Professional engineering registration

MBA or equivalent

Membership in international professional bodies

Job description

At Zutari EX, we bring engineering excellence to a global stage. Rooted in Zutari's 90‑year legacy, EX delivers high‑calibre, scalable engineering and design teams tailor‑built for clients worldwide. With 12+ high‑impact teams, numerous expert engineers and modelers, and thousands of hours of engineering delivery, we become an embedded extension of your business. Zutari EX spans energy, water, transport, built environment, resources and digital, offering future‑proof scalability and fully managed operations so your team can stay focused on growth.

About the role

The Managing Director EX assumes a pivotal strategic leadership role at Zutari, tasked with driving the strategic development and execution of Zutari EX as a purpose‑built business delivering high‑calibre engineering and design services for global projects. This role combines visionary design leadership with international market expansion, positioning Zutari EX to integrate seamlessly into the value chains of Consultants, EPCMs, OEMs, and contractors worldwide. The Managing Director EX will craft and execute comprehensive strategies that establish Zutari EX as a long‑term technical partner, leveraging technical eminence to deliver scalable, outcomes‑driven solutions across international markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive strategy for Zutari EX as a purpose‑built business delivering high‑calibre engineering services.
• Lead establishment of design services that integrate seamlessly into value chains of Consultants, EPCMs, OEMs, and contractors.
• Position Zutari EX as a long‑term technical partner delivering scalable, outcomes‑driven solutions globally.
• Drive integration of design thinking and technical eminence across all business units and geographic regions.
• Champion development of Zutari's technical brand and reputation in international markets.
• Oversee conceptualization and delivery of projects for strategic international clients and partners.
• Establish frameworks for technical excellence that position Zutari EX as preferred technical partner for sophisticated engineering challenges.
• Lead thought leadership development on industry challenges and innovative solutions that support partner value chains.
• Foster culture of continuous innovation and technical advancement across the organization.
• Leverage extensive international networks to identify and pursue strategic market opportunities.
• Establish strategic partnerships with international clients, technology providers, and industry experts.
• Serve as a magnet for high‑value international work through personal brand and technical reputation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with C‑level executives and decision‑makers globally.
• Articulate the value proposition of Zutari's design excellence to international markets.
• Build and lead high‑performing international teams across multiple design centers.
• Establish mentorship and development programs for emerging technical leaders.
• Drive organizational change to support international growth and design excellence.
• Foster cross‑cultural collaboration and knowledge sharing across global operations.
• Position Zutari and personal brand through international conferences, publications, and industry engagement.
• Lead external storytelling of innovative designs and their global impact.
• Represent Zutari at international industry bodies and professional organizations.
• Drive content creation and thought leadership that enhances Zutari's international reputation.
• Foster a collaborative, high‑performance work culture aligned with Zutari's values of impact, innovation, and excellence.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, and local capacity building initiatives.
• Ensure localisation ambitions are met and realised.
• Implement talent attraction, retention, and succession planning strategies for critical roles.
• Create and maintain a working environment that promotes employee engagement, development, and well‑being.
• Lead and guide senior personnel regarding the implementation and monitoring of talent management, performance management, career guidance, and professional development for all employees.
• Enhance and promote initiatives such as youth empowerment, professional development and registration, advance technical and commercial development of staff.
• Participate in well‑known industry conferences, initiatives and proactively contribute to the growth of the next generation of engineers.

Qualifications

Education / Certification / Membership Required

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Architecture, or related technical field.
• Professional engineering registration or equivalent international certification.
• Approximately 10 years of proven experience in senior leadership roles within the engineering/design industry.
• Approximately 10 years of demonstrated international experience across multiple markets.
• Advanced degree (Masters/PhD) in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• MBA or equivalent international business qualification.
• Membership in international professional bodies (ICE, ASCE, IStructE, etc.).
• Published thought leadership in international journals or conferences.

Other requirements

• International Experience – Proven track record of working and establishing new operations across multiple international markets (Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia‑Pacific, Americas).
• Track record of successfully establishing and scaling design‑centred organizations internationally.
• Must have Technical & Design Leadership excellence leading complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects with experience in technical innovation and emerging technology adoption.
• Business Acumen – Demonstrated ability to drive revenue growth and market expansion internationally.
• Leadership & Communication – Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills with ability to inspire international teams, C‑level audiences, with experience in change management and organizational transformation.

Skills

• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire, influence and motivate diverse teams across cultures and geographies.
• Outstanding commercial acumen with proven ability to identify, pursue and close business opportunities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and credibility with C‑suite executives and international stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to operate effectively in dynamic, ambiguous environments.
• Strong financial literacy and business management capabilities.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory and cultural environments.
• Results‑oriented with demonstrated ability to deliver on ambitious growth targets.
• Visionary thinking with international perspective.
• Ethical leadership and integrity.
• Inspire multicultural teams.
• Cultural adaptability across markets.
• Global business with local understanding.
• International regulatory experience.
• Technical excellence commitment.
• Entrepreneurial risk‑taking mindset.
• Forward‑thinking technology approach.
• Cross‑cultural relationship building.
• Empowering leadership style.
• Able to build strong client relationships and manage senior team execution to deliver tailored solutions.

We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa.