Head of Engineering - Agribusiness Infrastructure

About the role

A leading agribusiness organization, represented by its client, is looking for a Head of Engineering to lead the planning, execution and maintenance of large-scale agricultural infrastructure and farm development projects. The role covers construction, irrigation, utilities, farm facilities, automation systems and asset management, with projects delivered safely, on time, within budget and in line with regulatory and ESG standards.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, execution and delivery of agricultural infrastructure and farm development projects.
• Oversee construction of farm infrastructure, internal roads, bridges, irrigation systems, drainage networks, utilities, operational facilities, housing and support infrastructure.
• Manage civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, automation, instrumentation and architectural works.
• Develop project execution plans, designs, schedules, budgets and resource allocation strategies, and monitor progress against milestones.
• Work with procurement, finance, HR and legal teams on sourcing, budgets, cost controls, payments, contractor engagement and permits.
• Manage contractors, consultants, suppliers and service providers; set and enforce engineering standards, QA procedures and technical specifications.
• Ensure compliance with Tanzanian construction regulations, environmental requirements, safety standards and statutory approvals, and liaise with government authorities and regulators.
• Set up preventive and corrective maintenance programs, and drive automation, mechanization, instrumentation and precision agriculture initiatives.
• Establish risk management frameworks and promote health, safety, environmental compliance and sustainability.
• Mentor engineering and project management teams, and prepare regular project, risk, quality, budget and performance reports.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Agricultural or a related engineering discipline; postgraduate qualification in Engineering Management, Project Management or Business Administration highly preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2 or Six Sigma are an added advantage.
• Minimum 15-20 years of experience managing large-scale infrastructure, agricultural, industrial, construction or engineering projects.
• Proven track record leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex capital projects from planning to commissioning.
• Experience in large-scale agribusiness, plantation, infrastructure, construction or industrial environments is highly desirable.
• Willingness to travel extensively across project locations.

Required skills

• Irrigation systems, drainage networks, utilities and agricultural engineering projects.
• CAPEX budget management, project scheduling, contractor performance and cost control.
• Automation systems, instrumentation, mechanization technologies and digital transformation.
• Quality assurance, quality control, engineering standards and regulatory compliance.
• Asset management, preventive maintenance and operational reliability improvement.
• Familiarity with engineering design software, project management systems and reporting tools.