Senior Construction Manager – Earthworks; Dam Construction

Senior Construction Manager – Earthworks (Dam Construction)

Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of all earthworks activities for large‑scale dam, hydropower, and water‑retaining infrastructure projects. Ensure safe, high‑quality, and cost‑effective implementation aligned with international engineering, environmental, and safety standards. Provide deep technical expertise in project planning, site supervision, stakeholder coordination, and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.

• Plan, manage, and control all earthworks operations typical of dam, hydropower, and water infrastructure projects, including excavation, filling, compaction, foundation preparation, cutoff and core wall trenches, embankment construction, drainage, and slope protection.
• Develop detailed execution plans, construction methodologies, method statements, ITPs, resource schedules, and sequencing plans in line with international guidelines, geotechnical recommendations, and project specifications.
• Establish and monitor project schedules using Primavera P6 or equivalent tools, ensuring alignment with overall project milestones.
• Coordinate daily activities with site engineers, supervisors, planners, and subcontractors to maintain productivity and minimize delays.
• Ensure availability and timely deployment of suitable plant, equipment, manpower, and materials, optimizing their utilization to maximize productivity and control costs.

• Review engineering drawings, specifications, method statements, and geotechnical reports; provide technical input and propose value‑engineering solutions.
• Ensure strict compliance with QA/QC standards, laboratory testing requirements, and compaction criteria in accordance with ASTM, BS, ISO, or project‑specific standards.
• Oversee material selection, borrow‑area management, and quality documentation (ITPs, NCRs, MARs).
• Coordinate with design teams and consultants to proactively resolve technical queries and site‑related issues using a solution‑oriented approach.

• Enforce full compliance with international HSE frameworks and project‑specific safety requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments, implement mitigation plans, and ensure safe operation of heavy machinery.
• Promote a safety‑first culture through regular risk assessments, toolbox talks, safety audits, and incident reporting in collaboration with the HSE department.
• Ensure environmental controls—including dust suppression, erosion control, waste management, and water protection—are effectively implemented.

• Monitor and control project costs, productivity, and resource utilization, reporting deviations to Project Management.
• Prepare and verify subcontractor progress payments, variations, claims, and change orders in accordance with contract conditions.
• Provide accurate weekly and monthly progress reports to internal management.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, and regulatory authorities to ensure smooth communication and compliance.

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in heavy civil engineering, including at least 7 years managing dam earthworks, large embankments, or major earthworks projects.
• Strong working knowledge of embankment dam construction (excavation and embankment), geotechnical engineering principles, heavy plant operations and logistics, earthworks QA/QC and testing standards (e.g., ASTM, BS).
• Proficiency in Primavera P6, MS Project, AutoCAD, and common project control systems.

• Experience on international hydropower or dam construction projects.
• Familiarity with ICOLD, FIDIC, and major donor agency standards (ADB, World Bank).
• Training or certification in ISO 9001/14001/45001 systems.

• Strong leadership and team‑management capabilities.
• Excellent planning, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Technical expertise in earthworks engineering and heavy equipment operations.
• Strong understanding of contractual and commercial principles.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage complex interfaces across technical, environmental, and safety domains.