Head of Department (HOD), Engineering

Breezy Digital Solutions is a dynamic recruitment and talent solutions firm strategically located in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria.

Driven by its motto, “Scaling Optimality,” the company is committed to connecting organizations with high-performing talent while empowering individuals to achieve their full professional potential.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Department (HOD), Engineering

Location: Ikeja, Lagos
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• The role is accountable for the successful planning, design review, installation, commissioning, maintenance, and lifecycle management of AGL systems while ensuring full compliance with ICAO, FAA, NCAA, FAAN, and other applicable aviation standards.
• As the leader of the Engineering Department, the incumbent serves as the Company's principal engineering representative and will, on behalf of the Managing Director when required, represent the organization in high-level meetings, technical negotiations, client engagements, regulatory discussions, and business development activities.
• The Head, Engineering/AGL is responsible for providing strategic leadership, technical oversight, and commercial direction for all engineering activities relating to Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL), navigational aids, and associated electrical infrastructure.
• The role requires an accomplished engineering leader with strong business acumen, exceptional stakeholder management skills, commercial awareness, executive presence, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams while delivering complex projects within scope, schedule, quality, and budget.

Key Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership & Strategy:

• Provide strategic leadership for all engineering and technical operations within the AGL Department.
• Lead engineering planning from project conception through commissioning and final handover.
• Establish engineering priorities aligned with the Company's strategic objectives.
• Develop departmental strategies, engineering standards, policies, and operational procedures.
• Drive engineering excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, and operational efficiency.

Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) Engineering:

• Review and approve engineering drawings, technical specifications, method statements, calculations, and project documentation.
• Provide technical leadership for the design, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of runway lighting systems, taxiway lighting systems, primary and secondary cable networks, LV/MV electrical distribution systems, and airfield electrical infrastructure.
• Ensure all engineering activities comply with ICAO Annex 14, FAA Advisory Circulars, NCAA requirements, and other applicable aviation regulations.

Project Management & Delivery:

• Oversee testing, inspection, commissioning, acceptance testing, and project handover.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, within budget, on schedule, and to the highest quality standards.
• Develop project execution plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocation strategies.
• Monitor project progress and proactively resolve technical, commercial, and operational challenges.
• Lead the successful execution of multiple engineering projects simultaneously.

Business Development & Executive Representation:

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with clients, government agencies, consultants, contractors, and key industry stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership during bid preparation, tender evaluations, proposal development, and contract negotiations.
• Identify emerging market opportunities within the aviation infrastructure sector.
• Contribute to contract acquisition strategies and commercial growth initiatives.
• Support the identification and pursuit of new business opportunities.
• Represent the Managing Director during technical meetings, client engagements, project negotiations, regulatory interactions, and industry forums.

Regulatory & Stakeholder Management:

• Ensure the Company maintains excellent professional relationships with all external stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary engineering liaison with aviation authorities and relevant stakeholders, including FAAN, state and federal government agencies, airport operators, consultants, equipment manufacturers, and international technical partners.

Team Leadership & People Management:

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop engineers, supervisors, technicians, and project teams.
• Provide technical oversight and approval of engineering work performed by subordinate staff.
• Build a high-performance engineering culture focused on accountability, professionalism, innovation, and safety.

Engineering Governance & Quality Assurance:

• Ensure accurate engineering documentation, drawings, commissioning records, and as-built documentation are maintained.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with approved standards, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead quality assurance inspections throughout project execution.

Commercial & Financial Management:

• Monitor engineering expenditure and optimize resource utilization.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets.
• Ensure engineering projects achieve financial performance objectives.
• Negotiate favourable commercial terms with contractors, suppliers, and vendors.

Operations & Maintenance:

• Forecast maintenance requirements and equipment replacement schedules.
• Drive initiatives that improve system reliability, availability, and maintainability.
• Lead emergency response during critical airfield electrical failures.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance programmes.

Health, Safety & Risk Management:

• Identify engineering risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Promote a strong safety culture across all engineering operations.
• Ensure compliance with HSE policies and statutory regulations.
• Ensure project sites maintain the highest standards of safety, security, and environmental compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Must reside in Lagos. Accommodation will not be provided.
• Minimum of 7 years in a senior engineering leadership or management role.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering experience.
• Demonstrable experience delivering major Airfield Ground Lighting or airport infrastructure projects.
• Must possess a valid COREN certification or active COREN membership.
• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or a related discipline.
• Preferred age range of 45–52 years at the point of application.
• Must be willing to travel extensively within Nigeria and internationally.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Master's Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field will be an added advantage.

Behavioural Competencies:

• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Exceptional leadership and executive presence.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build lasting stakeholder relationships.
• Must maintain the highest level of professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical conduct while representing the Company.
• Ability to read situations, adapt communication styles, and influence outcomes positively.
• Must be capable of serving as the Company's senior engineering representative whenever delegated by the Managing Director.
• Ability to command respect through technical competence, leadership, and character.
• High emotional intelligence and political awareness.
• Strong commercial and business acumen.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to represent the Company confidently before clients, regulators, and executive stakeholders.