Head of Civil Engineering Design | Enniskillen

Vickerstock are working exclusively with Waterways Ireland to recruit for the position of Head of Civil Engineering Design based in their headquarters in Enniskillen.

This is a senior leadership role within a highly respected public-sector body responsible for the management, maintenance, and development of Ireland's inland navigable waterways. The position would suit an experienced civil engineering professional currently working with a contractor or consultancy, who is looking for a senior, stable role close to home, with minimal travel and a strong work-life balance, while still operating at a high technical and strategic level.

Your new role as Head of Civil Engineering Design

As Head of Civil Engineering Design, you will lead the civil and structural engineering function within the Technical Services Directorate, with responsibility for both asset maintenance and new infrastructure projects across the inland waterway network in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

You will provide strategic and technical leadership while managing multidisciplinary teams, external consultants, and contractors, ensuring projects are delivered safely, sustainably, and in line with governance and budgetary requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the planning, design, procurement, and delivery of civil and structural engineering works across the waterways network.
• Managing a programme of capital and maintenance works, ensuring delivery to agreed programme, budget, and quality standards.
• Overseeing feasibility studies, design development, tendering, and construction-stage delivery.
• Acting as a senior technical adviser to the wider organisation and senior management team.
• Managing and commissioning consulting engineers, contractors, and specialist suppliers to ensure value for money.
• Ensuring compliance with governance, procurement, health & safety, and environmental regulations across both jurisdictions.
• Taking a proactive role in protecting sensitive natural and built heritage environments.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing professional, technical, and administrative staff.
• Contributing to strategic planning, corporate objectives, and long-term asset management strategies.

What you'll need to succeed

To be considered for this role, you should demonstrate:

• A degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status (Engineers Ireland, ICE, or equivalent).
• A minimum of 5 years' post-chartered experience, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership or management role.
• Strong experience delivering civil engineering projects, ideally within infrastructure, heavy civil, or public-sector environments.
• Solid understanding of construction delivery across both NI and ROI jurisdictions.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors, and engineering contracts.
• Good working knowledge of health & safety legislation, procurement processes, and governance frameworks.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working in water-based, environmentally sensitive, or heritage environments would be advantageous, but is not essential

Why this role?

This position offers a rare opportunity to step into a senior engineering leadership role that combines technical challenge with long-term stability and a genuinely balanced lifestyle:

• Salary: £61,673 - £64,469 per annum
• Public sector pension
• Senior, influential role with travel throughout Ireland
• Based in Enniskillen with hybrid working (2-days in office / site)
• High-profile infrastructure and asset management responsibility
• Long-term, secure public-sector appointment
• Opportunity to shape the future of civil engineering delivery across Ireland's waterways

For a confidential discussion about this exclusive opportunity, or to explore whether it could be the right move from contracting into a client-side leadership role, please contact Brian Mitchell at Vickerstock Recruitment.