Technical Director Energy Transition (Italy)

Location/s: Genoa, Italy
Recruiter contact: David McFall

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including energy transition, hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

About the team

As part of the ETR Division, the Energy Transition business supports clients across the full spectrum of conventional thermal power generation, low-carbon gas-fired plant, hydrogen, carbon capture, energy-from-waste, etc.

The TGI team, based in Genoa, is a well-established, multi disciplinary practice with a strong track record in feasibility, FEED, detailed design, owner’s engineer and technical advisory services across Europe and international markets. Building on this foundation, the business is increasingly focused on expanding on these services, particularly for EPC-facing and delivery-led projects.

The Genoa office has an established and growing engineering and project management team already delivering complex energy infrastructure projects. The office is positioned as a core European delivery hub, enabling closer engagement with European clients, EPC contractors and OEMs, and supporting the scalable delivery of high-quality design and advisory services.

Overview of the role

As part of our growing generation business, you will play a key role in supporting our expanding portfolio of projects across Europe. From concept and advisory development to detailed engineering and through to construction and operational support, you will help deliver the infrastructure needed for a modern, sustainable energy system.

As Technical Director Energy Transition (Italy), you will hold strategic, operational and technical responsibility for the Genoa office, acting as the senior leader for the local business and its integration within the wider Energy Transition team.

The role combines office leadership, technical authority, project delivery oversight and business growth, ensuring the Genoa team operates as a high-performing European delivery hub. The position reports directly into the ETR Divisional General Manager. You will provide senior technical, operational and market leadership for energy transition projects delivered from Genoa and across Europe.

The role builds on an existing and capable team, with the objective of strengthening and scaling advisory, design and construction support capability for thermal and energy transition assets. You will help further position Mott MacDonald as a trusted partner, translating front end advisory strength into sustained delivery phase work.

In addition to project and technical leadership, you will play a visible role in business development, supporting the identification, shaping and winning of advisory and design commissions across the European market.

This is a key leadership position requiring a blend of operational and technical authority, client confidence, delivery credibility and commercial acumen.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Strategic Leadership & Office Responsibility
  • Lead the overall direction, performance, and growth of the Genoa office
  • Define and deliver the office strategy aligned with ETR and global Energy Transition priorities
  • Strengthen the office’s position as a core European hub for detailed design and execution-phase delivery
  • Drive sustainable growth, profitability and market positioning across energy transition sectors
• Operational & Delivery Leadership
  • Take full accountability for operational performance, including utilisation, delivery efficiency and financial outcomes
  • Oversee resource planning, capability development and team structure to support growth
  • Implement strong governance, project controls and delivery consistency across all projects
  • Oversee major project delivery to ensure programme certainty, cost control, and margin protection
• Genoa Office & European Capability Development
  • Grow and strengthen the Genoa engineering team as a leading European design centre
  • Provide visible technical leadership, mentoring senior engineers and developing future leaders
  • Align tools, processes, and capabilities with targeted European detailed design opportunities
  • Enhance integration between Genoa, the UK and global teams through effective collaboration and work sharing
• Business Development & Market Growth
  • Lead and support the winning of advisory, design, and execution stage energy transition work across Europe
  • Develop strong technical and delivery propositions for bids and early-stage engagements
  • Build and maintain relationships with key clients, EPC contractors, OEMs and developers
  • Identify, shape, and secure strategic opportunities, converting early-stage work into delivery commissions
  • Contribute to reference projects, case studies, and capability narratives reinforcing execution credibility
• Client & Stakeholder Leadership
  • Act as a senior technical and delivery interface across pre-contract and post-award phases
  • Build long term client relationships through consistent delivery and technical excellence
  • Represent Mott MacDonald in senior technical discussions, reviews and decision-making forums
• Technical & Design Authority
  • Act as technical authority for thermal and energy transition projects delivered from Genoa office
  • Ensure high-quality, risk managed engineering delivery aligned with international standards
  • Provide assurance on complex or high-risk engineering decisions and interfaces
• Project Delivery & Execution
  • Lead delivery of advisory and design projects, including programme certainty, cost control and margin protection
  • Strengthen execution-phase capability including EPC-facing delivery and construction and commissioning support
  • Promote best practice, innovation, and continuous improvement across teams
  • Drive consistent, scalable delivery approaches, best practice, innovation and continuous improvement
• People, Culture & Practice Leadership
  • Provide visible leadership within the Genoa office, fostering a high performance culture
  • Develop, mentor and retain high performing teams and future leaders
  • Promote accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and technical excellence aligned with Mott MacDonald’s values

Candidate specification

As an experienced business leader, you will drive growth, technical excellence and delivery performance of engineering services of the Genoa team. The position combines strategic leadership, client development and end-to-end energy transition project oversight.

Essential:

• Degree in a relevant engineering discipline
• Typically 20+ years relevant experience in the Energy/Power industry
• Chartered status with relevant professional body (or equivalent experience with progress toward chartered status)
• Proven experience of operational, commercial, contractual and leadership roles in the energy sector
• Proven experience of providing technical leadership across advisory, FEED and detailed design teams and projects
• Proven experience of gas-fired power generation, balance-of-plant and execution-phase delivery
• Track record working with EPC contractors and execution focused delivery models
• Strong client facing, communication and leadership capabilities
• Commercial awareness with experience supporting bids and winning work
• Capable of managing and prioritising multiple projects in a dynamic environment
• Experience of leading, managing and working with multi-disciplinary teams
• Committed to continuous professional development and staying abreast of industry advancements
• Fluent in English and Italian

Desirable:

• Experience leading or scaling advisory and design capability within Europe
• Involvement in converting front end roles into repeat or follow on delivery commissions
• Experience of working with OEMs and developers
• Experience in hydrogen ready, CCUS enabled or low carbon thermal projects
• Familiarity with European regulatory frameworks and design standards
• Willingness to travel across Europe to support projects and client relationships

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Competitive annual leave
• Private medical insurance 
• Continuous development opportunities – because we want you to thrive  
• Annual bonus scheme - subject to Company performance
• Wellbeing support including access to an independent Employer Assistance Scheme, wellbeing champions and access to learning and support resources 
• The opportunity to make a difference; learn more about our social outcomes

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.