Project Lead - Civil

Geotech; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Geotech is seeking a Project Lead - Civil to manage the full lifecycle of engineering engagements from initiation through delivery in Cape Town. You will bridge technical execution with strategic direction, deliver on time and within budget, and guide a team to achieve high-quality outcomes.

The role requires a registered civil engineer or technologist with at least 6 years of consulting experience, strong communication, planning skills, and proficiency in MS Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or B-Tech in Civil Engineering
• Registered Professional Engineer or Technologist (Pr Eng / Pr Tech Eng) with ECSA
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Valid Driver’s license
• Minimum 6 years of consulting engineering project delivery experience
• Experience in technical coordination and stakeholder management
• Strong communication and planning skills
• Familiarity with engineering design tools and project admin systems

Responsibilities

• Manage project execution from handover to closeout, ensuring scope, schedule and quality objectives are met
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders across all project phases to ensure alignment and effective communication
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, schedules and resource loading charts, reporting progress to Directors regularly
• Manage project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts and invoicing milestones, and approve timesheets and expenses for the project team where applicable
• Produce and/or facilitate design reviews, ensuring technical input is integrated across disciplines and complies with relevant codes and regulations
• Act as technical lead/design authority, providing sign-off on engineering deliverables where required
• Conduct regular site inspections and technical site visits, and produce site reports as required
• Escalate risks and decisions in line with the RACI framework
• Assist in preparing tender documents, bills of quantities, project specifications, reports and meeting minutes
• Ensure proper documentation management and version control, and quality-assure compliance across all projects
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures
• Implement Quality Assurance (QA) in line with ISO project management protocols
• Maintain a structured file hierarchy and documentation flow for efficient access and traceability
• Support ISO practices and safe engineering standards, reinforcing compliance and operational excellence
• Review and approve technical drawings, specifications and calculation packs for compliance with South African codes and industry standards
• Maintain and evidence peer-review logs, QA checklists, and non-conformance and corrective action records
• Ensure an H&S file and environmental risk assessments are in place for each project
• Ensure deliverables satisfy contractual and statutory requirements
• Maintain proactive communication with clients and Directors, ensuring alignment and transparency throughout the project
• Lead client technical meetings, design reviews and formal project milestones
• Prepare and present regular client reports and feedback, keeping stakeholders informed of progress, risks and outcomes
• Allocate and approve technical workloads, ensuring balanced distribution and efficient delivery
• Mentor and develop junior staff, contributing to team capability and succession planning
• Support staff development initiatives in line with the organisation’s development strategy and policy, including on-the-job coaching, technical training sessions and one-on-one development reviews
• Manage workforce planning, allocation and leave to ensure optimal resourcing and policy compliance
• Define and update job profiles, and participate in recruitment by conducting competency-based and technical interviews and providing input into appointment decisions
• Oversee performance management processes, including probation reviews and formal performance appraisals
• Identify training needs, succession candidates and development opportunities to build future capability
• Support employee relations by fostering a fair, consistent and constructive work environment

Skills

Strong communication

Planning skills

Stakeholder management

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s or B-Tech in Civil Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Title: Project Lead - Civil

Job Purpose

Our client is seeking a project leader to manage the full lifecycle of engineering engagements, ensuring high-quality delivery that is on time, within budget, and aligned with client expectations. The role also provides day-to-day leadership support, bridging technical execution with strategic direction while helping the Director build team capability and foster a strong, collaborative culture.

Responsibilities

• Manage project execution from handover to closeout, ensuring scope, schedule and quality objectives are met.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders across all project phases to ensure alignment and effective communication.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans, schedules (baseline and updates) and resource loading charts, reporting progress to Directors regularly.
• Manage project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts and invoicing milestones, and approve timesheets and expenses for the project team where applicable.
• Produce and/or facilitate design reviews, ensuring technical input is integrated across disciplines and complies with relevant codes and regulations.
• Act as technical lead/design authority, providing sign-off on engineering deliverables where required.
• Conduct regular site inspections and technical site visits, and produce site reports as required.
• Escalate risks and decisions in line with the RACI framework.
• Assist in preparing tender documents, bills of quantities, project specifications, reports and meeting minutes.
• Ensure proper documentation management and version control, and quality-assure compliance across all projects.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and procedures.
• Implement Quality Assurance (QA) in line with ISO project management protocols.
• Maintain a structured file hierarchy and documentation flow for efficient access and traceability.
• Support ISO practices and safe engineering standards, reinforcing compliance and operational excellence.
• Review and approve technical drawings, specifications and calculation packs for compliance with South African codes and industry standards.
• Maintain and evidence peer-review logs, QA checklists, and non-conformance and corrective action records.
• Ensure an H&S file and environmental risk assessments are in place for each project.
• Ensure deliverables satisfy contractual and statutory requirements.
• Maintain proactive communication with clients and Directors, ensuring alignment and transparency throughout the project.
• Lead client technical meetings, design reviews and formal project milestones.
• Prepare and present regular client reports and feedback, keeping stakeholders informed of progress, risks and outcomes.
• Allocate and approve technical workloads, ensuring balanced distribution and efficient delivery.
• Mentor and develop junior staff, contributing to team capability and succession planning.
• Support staff development initiatives in line with the organisation’s development strategy and policy, including on-the-job coaching, technical training sessions and one-on-one development reviews.
• Manage workforce planning, allocation and leave to ensure optimal resourcing and policy compliance.
• Define and update job profiles, and participate in recruitment by conducting competency-based and technical interviews and providing input into appointment decisions.
• Oversee performance management processes, including probation reviews and formal performance appraisals.
• Identify training needs, succession candidates and development opportunities to build future capability.
• Support employee relations by fostering a fair, consistent and constructive work environment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or B-Tech in Engineering (Civil)
• Registered Professional Engineer or Technologist (Pr Eng / Pr Tech Eng) with ECSA.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid Driver’s license.
• Minimum 6 years of consulting engineering project delivery experience.
• Experience in technical coordination and stakeholder management.
• Strong communication and planning skills.
• Familiarity with engineering design tools and project admin systems.