Executive search for a tier one contractor: senior leaders sourced from around the world
A global tier one engineering and construction contractor needed senior leaders for its rail, design, renewables and delivery teams. Infrastructure People placed fifteen roles across major road projects and headhunted executives internationally, including a Project Director sourced from Turkiye.
Overview
The client was a global tier one engineering and construction contractor delivering major transport, rail and renewables work in Australia. Infrastructure People was engaged to provide executive search and headhunting services for senior roles across rail, design, renewables and delivery, on a six-month assignment valued at $111,000.
Our process
The search followed a structured method: an in-depth consultation to understand the requirements for each senior role, a comprehensive market analysis to identify top talent and sector trends, and a strategic candidate mapping exercise focused on the key players in each discipline. A tailored headhunting strategy engaged top-tier executives with discretion, and a rigorous screening process assessed each person against skills, experience and cultural fit before offer negotiation, interview coordination and onboarding support.
Global reach
Because the roles were senior and scarce, the search was international from the outset. We identified competitor tier one organisations with the relevant capability worldwide, used talent insights to pinpoint locations with a high density of the right people, and mapped candidates with specialist search tools. Weekly catch-ups with our United Kingdom-based consultants kept momentum across time zones. A Project Director on a $500,000 package was sourced from Turkiye, and a Senior Design Manager on a package above $300,000 was sourced from the United Kingdom.
The results
Over the six-month engagement, fifteen delivery roles were placed locally across two major road projects, spanning site engineers, project engineers, project managers and supervisors, alongside the two international executive appointments. Onboarding support and post-placement follow-ups ensured a smooth transition for each senior leader and gave the client confidence the appointments would hold.
The Infrastructure People approach
Executive roles reward patience and reach rather than volume. Mapping the global market, approaching leaders discreetly and drawing on consultants who can work a search around the clock is what makes it possible to place a Project Director from one side of the world onto a project on the other.
“For the most senior roles, the right person is rarely on the local market. The task is to find them wherever they are and bring them to the project. ”
– Director, Infrastructure People
