General Manager - Substations

Job purpose

Strategy and business leadership

• Develop and execute strategic and annual business plans with targets for revenue, margin, order intake, and backlog.
• Pursue growth across utilities, transmission and distribution, renewables, oil and gas, industrial, and infrastructure clients.
• Evaluate partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions, and subcontractor or vendor alliances.
• Report performance to the Board and shareholders and advise on risk, investment, and resourcing decisions.

Business development and tendering

• Build senior relationships with utilities, consultants, EPC main contractors, developers, and regulators.
• Lead prequalification, tender strategy, technical and commercial bid reviews, pricing, and contract negotiations.
• Make go/no-go bid decisions based on risk, margin, capacity, and strategic fit.
• Review FIDIC and bespoke utility contract terms and ensure risks are properly allocated.

Project delivery and operations

• Oversee substation projects from 11 kV to 400 kV, including AIS and GIS substations, switching stations, GIS buildings, and cable and OHL interfaces.
• Deliver projects on time, within budget, and to specification, with planning, progress control, and cost management.
• Oversee civil and structural works, steelwork, earthing, equipment installation, cabling, protection and control, SCADA integration, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Manage utility, design consultant, inspector, and authority interfaces, including approvals, energization, and statutory clearances.
• Review progress, variations, claims, delays, and risks and drive corrective action.

Financial and people leadership

• Own business P&L, cash flow, working capital, budgets, forecasting, and monthly management reporting.
• Improve margins, control costs, and manage billing, collection, retention, advance payments, and bank guarantees.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary project, engineering, planning, commercial, procurement, HSE, and finance teams.
• Build succession plans, performance management, and an accountable culture; oversee workforce and subcontractor labor planning.

Essential qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Civil, or Construction Engineering, or a related discipline; a Master’s degree or MBA is preferred.
• 15+ years in power or construction, including at least 8 years in senior leadership.
• Strong, proven business and technical knowledge of substation construction, including delivery of HV/EHV substation projects as contractor or EPC.
• Track record of owning a P&L and delivering profitable growth in a contracting business.
• Experience winning and negotiating major T&D contracts with utilities and large clients.
• Knowledge of substation components and standards, civil and electrical interfaces, and testing and commissioning.
• Experience with contract management, claims, and risk; FIDIC experience is preferred.
• Excellent commercial, financial, and negotiation skills and an established regional network of utilities, consultants, and EPC contractors.

Preferred experience

• GCC and Middle East utility market experience, including regional approvals or prequalifications such as DEWA, SEWA, TRANSCO, or SEC.
• Experience with GIS substations, 132 kV and above, and renewable or industrial grid connections.
• PMP, PE/CEng, or NEBOSH/IOSH certifications.
• Experience integrating acquisitions or scaling a contracting business.