People & Organization Director - Engineering & Industrial Equipment – Oil & Gas

Job description

For a highly specialised Italian engineering company operating internationally and characterised by a strongly project-based business model, we are looking for a

People & Organization Director

Reporting directly to the Owners, the successful candidate will support the organisation through a gradual management development journey, building an authoritative, pragmatic People & Organization function closely connected to the business.The role requires the ability to understand the organisation in depth before introducing change, building on existing strengths while progressively creating greater clarity around roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Build trust and establish strong organisational relationships
• Become a credible and trusted partner to the Owners, managers and employees, combining sound judgement, confidentiality and independence of thought.
• Build knowledge and trust progressively through a visible and consistent presence within the organisation.
• Support the Owners in managing key organisational and people-related matters.
• Operate with authority and pragmatism while respecting the company's culture and distinctive characteristics.

Understand and strengthen the organisation

• Map how the organisation actually operates, including processes, roles, responsibilities and key interdependencies.
• Identify areas where responsibilities or decisions are concentrated, overlapping or insufficiently clear.
• Assess the strengths, potential and development needs of key individuals.
• Provide the Owners with a progressive view of organisational priorities and recommended actions.

Strengthen managerial capabilities and accountability

• Support technical leaders in developing their managerial and people management capabilities.
• Encourage greater autonomy and accountability by clarifying expectations, roles and ways of working.
• Identify, together with the Owners, development, succession, coaching or capability-building needs.

Build the foundations of the People & Organization function

• Strengthen recruitment and onboarding processes in close partnership with technical managers.
• Introduce simple and proportionate tools for learning and development, performance management and compensation.
• Gradually establish shared HR practices and principles, avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy or overly complex structures.

Protect critical capabilities and attract talent

• Identify hard-to-replace roles and capabilities and contribute to appropriate continuity and development plans.
• Support the attraction of engineers, specialists and managers aligned with the needs of the business.
• Consider potential, interpersonal capabilities and managerial aptitude alongside technical expertise when assessing talent.

Support the organisation's future evolution

• Support the Owners in communicating key organisational developments clearly and consistently.
• Encourage employee understanding and engagement throughout the management development journey.
• Gradually recommend changes to structure, responsibilities and capabilities based on clear evidence.
• Contribute to defining future management reinforcement while protecting the company's technical heritage and culture.

Candidate ProfileWe are looking for a senior HR professional with:

• solid experience in broad HR leadership roles covering organisation, management development and change;
• experience preferably gained within entrepreneurial or family-owned businesses, with direct exposure to Owners;
• a preferred background in engineering, plant engineering, industrial equipment, EPC or other technical project-based businesses;
• proven experience in building, strengthening or transforming an HR function within organisations that are not yet fully structured;
• experience working in international and multicountry environments;
• credibility in dealing with technical managers and highly specialised professionals.

The ideal candidate will combine pragmatism, authority, listening skills, sound judgement and a hands-on approach, together with the energy and motivation to build and support the evolution of an organisation over time.

Education

• University degree appropriate to the role; postgraduate or specialist qualifications in HR or organisation are considered an advantage.
• Fully proficient professional English.

Location: Milan, Italy 

Gross Annual Salary starting from €80,000