Regulatory & Compliance Lead

The Regulatory & Compliance Lead is responsible for the development, implementation, and coordination of the Project Regulatory & Compliance (R&C) framework, ensuring compliance with Mozambican regulatory requirements, permit conditions, and applicable international standards. This is a Lead/ Principal-level role, providing technical and coordination leadership within the R&C team. The role supports the Project Director and Interface Manager by contributing to regulatory strategy, project execution decisions, and stakeholder alignment across the project lifecycle. The position operates within a multi-location, multi-disciplinary EPC environment, requiring effective collaboration across project offices, site operations, and global execution centers.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain the Regulatory & Compliance Plan; Provide regulatory input to project leadership on strategy, risk, and decisions; Provide technical leadership and coordination within the R&C team; Coordinate the full permitting lifecycle (identification to approval); Maintain the Permit Register and compliance trackers; Ensure compliance with permit conditions; Coordinate regulatory reporting and renewals; Define and manage third-party support as required while retaining accountability for regulatory compliance outcomes; Manage interactions with authorities, Government entities, and stakeholders, ensuring alignment and issue resolution; Support engagement with Client and JV partners; Coordinate permitting-related reviews, inspections, and audits; Ensure consistent application of regulatory requirements across engineering, procurement, and construction, including site execution; Coordinate alignment across project teams and locations; Maintain compliance data, tracking, and reporting systems; Monitor changes in regulatory frameworks and assess potential impacts on project execution; Provide compliance status updates to project governance and leadership forums; Support audits, inspections, and compliance reviews, including follow-up of actions; Identify, assess, and escalate regulatory risks and compliance issues; Initiate escalation and support intervention, including suspension of activities where regulatory non-compliance is identified, in line with project governance; When acting as Lead Engineer: direct medium or large Engineering team; lead Discipline engineering design; plan, organize, and direct all aspects of Discipline execution; ensure interfaces and deliverables are clearly identified; maintain responsibility for progress and productivity; act as project representative for the Discipline during meetings; interpret contractual requirements; identify changes to scope and raise change notifications; prepare estimates for bid proposals; prepare, review, and approve Discipline engineering design basis, philosophies, and technical specifications; participate in finalizing deliverables lists; review project schedule and fabrication schedule; attend project kickoff and review meetings; assist procurement personnel in procuring Discipline equipment, materials, and services; review and approve vendor and subcontractor submittals; provide technical support to fabrication queries; keep Discipline Manager and Project Management Team apprised of activities and concerns; provide inputs for progress reports; present issues to Customers; perform Technical Quality Audit reviews; capture lessons learned; guide less experienced engineers; develop communication and presentation skills; provide information on employee performance; prepare, review, and approve safety-related documents; coordinate safety workshops; participate in 3D model reviews; act as Discipline point of contact; prepare bids and project Discipline engineering budget; identify project staff needs; plan, organize, and assign tasks; plan Discipline Level 4 deliverable schedule; prepare working forecasts; alert project team of deviations; lead Discipline team during audits; review comments from Customers and agencies

Requirements

Relevant academic qualification or equivalent professional experience in regulatory compliance, permitting, or related disciplines; Typically 15–20 years’ experience in regulatory compliance, permitting, or certification within EPC/EPCM projects in the energy sector; Demonstrated experience working with regulatory authorities and approval processes; Certification bodies and compliance frameworks; Multi-discipline engineering and project execution; Demonstrated experience or working knowledge of Mozambican regulatory frameworks, including petroleum legislation, environmental and social compliance, and permitting regimes; Proven ability to provide technical leadership and coordination across multi-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teams; Strong organisational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills; Experience coordinating and managing third-party service providers in support of regulatory or compliance activities; Ability to operate effectively in an international project environment with flexibility to travel as required; Detailed knowledge of design techniques and analysis methods, and detailed knowledge of the theory, content, and application of standards, codes, and guidelines as applicable; Knowledgeable in project coordination and execution skills

Nice to have

Registered Professional Engineer or member of professional engineering society as applicable

Benefits

Direct cost of employment (medical examinations, employment visas, mobilization to country of work, and related fees) paid by McDermott