Project Engineering Director

Reporting to the Senior Project Director, Technical and as part of the Owner’s team, the incumbent directs the engineering and design/engineering/procurement interface and engineering/construction interface activities within Vicuña. S/he provides technical and management advice and guidance throughout the project including large and complex engineering related tasks, associated programs and contracts, ensuring a successful project conclusion through all phases.

This position provides strategic direction, governance, and assurance over the engineering program to ensure the project achieves its safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives. The incumbent will play a pivotal role in stewarding design maturity, value improvement, and technical risk management across all phases of the mega project.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the Owner’s engineering function to ensure safe, cost-effective, and technically sound project outcomes
• Establish and oversee engineering governance frameworks, standards, and assurance processes.
• Direct and integrate work across EPCM and OEM contractors, ensuring compliance, constructability, operability, and maintainability.
• Manage the engineering-procurement-construction interfaces and ensure timely deliverables, effective change control, and technical risk management.
• Champion value engineering and design optimization initiatives to drive schedule and cost improvements.
• Manage, monitor and report on the work performance of the Project Engineering team for the Josemaria Project. Assist in implementing and maintaining cost and schedule controls for the project.
• Review and/or develop engineering scopes of work for engineering contractors, subcontractors and related entities within the Project.
• Support Owner’s team directors in all engineering related activities in procurement, construction, environmental, permitting, etc.
• Evaluate technical portions of bid submittals, oversee administration of technical portions of contracts with vendors for the provision of equipment, vendor engineering and technical support.
• Provides guidance and counsel to the Project and site management teams on applicable processes, practices, and existing/proposed local, state and federal regulations.
• Collaborate across disciplines (construction, procurement, environmental, permitting) to ensure integrated planning and delivery.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team, fostering technical excellence and a strong safety culture.
• Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including regulators and local partners in South America.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, or a related field preferred; postgraduate degree (MBA or MSc) advantageous but not essential.
• Minimum 15 years of related professional engineering industry experience, with 10 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of delivering large-scale projects ($4 billion +) , ideally in challenging international or remote environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple EPCM or JV interfaces.
• Strong understanding of mining regulations, environmental compliance, and safety standards.
• Proven ability to lead through complexity, ambiguity, and cross-cultural environments.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills and is able to motivate, lead and drive high performance and execution.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including verbal and written presentations ranging from technical team members to executives and boards.
• Can effectively influence and manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to achieve required outcomes.
• Ability to work in a diverse and multicultural environment.
• Fluency in English; Spanish language proficiency (intermediate or higher) strongly preferred.
• Ability to pass high altitude medical in order to travel to site.

Core Competencies:

• Action Oriented
• Ensures Accountability
• Decision Quality
• Engage
• Communicates Effectively
• Manages Ambiguity
• Collaborates

Leader Competencies:

• Drives Engagement
• Plans and Aligns
• Strategic Mindset
• Builds Effective Teams
• Drives Vision and Purpose