TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – MECHANICAL

Black & White Engineering (B&W) is a leading MEP design consultancy. Launched in the UAE in 2007, we became an independent company in 2014 and are now a true global consultancy with offices in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia.

Our engineering expertise reaches across all sectors of the construction industry, providing pragmatic and practical design solutions to ensure our projects are spatially and operationally efficient. Our design process fully considers the installation and maintenance practicalities on site.

The Technical Director assists on developing and communicating the vision, values, and direction of the business to achieve sustainability, growth, efficiency, and profit. This role is responsible for managing the development, design, and coordination of engineering project services for mechanical and/or mechanical installations, systems, equipment, facilities, etc. Experience in data centre design is critical for this role. The Technical Director also ensures projects are successfully delivered, adhering to budgetary constraints and timelines, whilst managing resources efficiently.

The Technical Director role requires an ongoing commitment to the philosophy of the business and its implementation through his/her leadership. Specifically, this role will require applying a high level of initiative and judgement to prioritise tasks, workload, and projects, and will require professionalism, courtesy, and tact with clients and colleagues to promote the culture of the company.

• Manages, advises, and mentors multi-disciplinary project engineering design team, focusing on achievement of objectives
• Keeps abreast of latest engineering developments, recommends investigation and adoption of new methods, systems, software, etc.
• Maintains close communication with other Black & White offices, keeping up to date with global company direction, projects, internal systems and processes, and availability of resources
• Provides technical support and leadership to the engineering team and assists on developing the technical vision for the business
• Active member of, or provides support to, the company’s technical committee which is tasked with the ongoing pursuit of design excellence, understanding of new products, technologies, software, analysis tools, and legislation
• Actively involved in the training, mentoring, coaching, and development of engineering staff
• Travels locally and internationally as required to meet project and company needs
• Responsible for winning work
• Responsible for project commercial dashboards and invoicing
• Carries out cost and profit diagnosis on projects including feasibility studies and preparation of fee bids
• Reviews status advised by project personnel and external parties and modifies schedules or plans as required, and prepares project reports for management, client, or others
• Develops and specifies applications of controls, instruments, and operating systems for all building engineering services purposes
• Surveys tests and reports on existing mechanical/mechanical installations
• Specifies activities to ensure that manufacturing, construction, installation, and operational testing conform to functional specifications and customer requirements
• Represents the company at technical meetings with customers, professional teams, and contractor teams
• Carries out engineering calculations to ensure drawings meet required robust industry and legal standards
• Provides power systems and MV and HV network design along with associated engineering services design for substations and associated infrastructure
• Prepares MV and HV equipment specifications and data sheets using proforma documents along with controls and overall project specifications
• Selects protection schemes for MV and HV networks, prepares protection strategy documents and report
• Undertakes power systems network analysis including:
  • Protection studies
  • Load flows
  • Fault studies
  • Arc flash studies
  • Earthing studies
  • Harmonic studies
• Reviews and critics work undertaken by others for technical content, making sure they are in compliance with B&W format, together with the accuracy of grammar and spelling
• Leads on the coordination of engineering services
• Ensures risk and performance monitoring analysis takes place through effective systems of internal control and delegation
• Takes a holistic view in the selection and application of engineering concepts and solutions
• Takes an active role in the sales and marketing of the company’s services, ensuring key client relationships are developed and maintained
• Promotes company through exposure in trade press / conferences
• Accepts responsibility for the management of additional tasks as and when required

The Technical Director position suits a highly experienced and qualified mechanical or mechanical engineering design professional. He/she possesses the technical knowledge, design experience, people management skills, and project delivery background necessary to lead design teams in the successful delivery of a broad range of building types. He/she has a keen interest in new developments and technical advancements within the MEP engineering design field.

• BSc/BEng in Mechanical (with power options) or Power Systems Engineering, or have sufficient equivalent experience
• Experience in data centre design is critical for this role
• Member of the IET or an equivalent overseas institution
• Chartered Engineer status
• Significant experience of specification and design for power systems for a range of applications
• Experience in managing international projects (desirable)
• Sound knowledge and working application of key health and safety issues and legislation
• Appreciation and working knowledge in contract and business law
• Excellent people management and networking skills
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• High level of technical understanding with the ability to communicate this knowledge clearly, verbally and in writing
• Technical knowledge in primary discipline and a thorough understanding of power systems and network design
• Technical knowledge in MV generation using a variety of prime movers (diesel, HVO, gas, etc)
• Technical knowledge in resilient control engineering relating to power systems
• Proficient at using IT-based calculation and spreadsheet software
• Good understanding of BS and IEC standards, UK regulations and codes, as well as applicable local codes or overseas equivalent
• Knowledge of National Grid, networks operators (DNOs and IDNOs), and Energy Network Association specifications and practices, or equivalent overseas organisations
• Computer literacy including AutoCAD, ETAP (or an equivalent system modelling software), Amtech, and Microsoft Office
• Presentation skills
• Leadership and mentoring skills
• Chairing and facilitation of meeting skills
• Experience and understanding of invoicing and credit control
• Ability to prioritise own workload
• Ability to work on deadlines
• Willingness to develop further skills and knowledge through ongoing personal development and training

Leadership Qualities:

• Proven ability to deal successfully with difficult situations
• Success with clients
• Business awareness and sound financial management of projects
• Demonstrable interest in the development of appropriate training activities
• Ability to represent Black & White externally
• Innovative skills
• Commitment to the philosophy of the firm
• Excellent team and leadership skills, having earned the respect of his or her peers
• Effective contribution to firm-wide activities
• Proven success with clients and in business generally, earning respect for the firm and generating work
• Demonstrable commitment to the development of all staff and particularly of future leaders
• Ability to represent Black & White at a high level
• Ability to think and act on behalf of the firm rather than self or unit
• Commitment to the philosophy of the firm and its implementation through his or her leadership
• Proven record of project success over a period of years: measured technically and financially

• Accountability: Everyone is accountable.
• Integrity: We are straight-talking, respectful, and fair.
• Simplicity: Both in our approach and solutions.
• Supportive: We are approachable, inclusive, and we recognise success.
• Quality: We strive to get it right first time, every time.

• Client first
• One Global Team
• Employer of Choice
• Growth
• Innovation