About the Client
Our client is a marine services and offshore engineering company providing technical support to the oil and gas industry. Their core operations include vessel management, offshore logistics, marine engineering, and dry dock services. The company plays an important role in Nigeria’s energy value chain, delivering marine solutions that require high standards of safety, operational discipline, and technical expertise.
The Challenge
The client had been trying to fill the role of Head of Engineering for over 8 months. It was a key leadership position responsible for managing the technical operations of their entire fleet, including maintenance, dry docking, audits, and vessel repair planning.
Despite working with several agencies, they had been unable to find a suitable candidate who had the right experience, qualifications, and understanding of offshore operations.
They needed someone urgently. The ideal candidate had to be both a strategic leader and a hands-on technical expert—someone who could lead engineering staff, manage risk, and oversee the entire lifecycle of vessels across their operations.
The company made it clear: it was a highly skilled role, time-sensitive, and business-critical. They needed a partner who understood the brief and could deliver fast.
The Solution
To meet the urgency and technical depth of the brief, we activated our 5-D methodology to guide the recruitment process.
Diagnose
We began by meeting with the client’s leadership team to gain a clear understanding of the specific requirements. They needed someone with strong marine engineering experience, ideally with a background in ship maintenance, dry dock management, and regulatory compliance.
The person had to be comfortable making high-level decisions, managing multiple technical teams, liaising with external regulators, and ensuring that the fleet was operational, compliant, and cost-effective.
Design
Once we had a clear view of what the role demanded, we set up a dedicated team and mapped out the delivery timeline. This included weekly updates, structured reporting, and a shortlist deadline. We agreed with the client on the level of experience, expected qualifications, and key performance areas to guide our search.
Develop
We created a success profile that reflected both the technical expectations and leadership qualities required for the role. The ideal candidate needed to:
- Have over 10 years of relevant engineering experience
- Hold marine certifications such as Class 1 Engineering Competency
- Demonstrate knowledge of ISM codes, PMS systems, and dry dock standards
- Be able to lead engineering staff across various locations
- Manage operational risks, equipment sourcing, and technical audits
- Communicate effectively with leadership, regulators, and clients
We also added behavioural requirements such as problem-solving, initiative, attention to detail, and sound judgement.
Deliver
We reached out through our network of senior engineering professionals, engaged referrals, and screened candidates rigorously. Each person was assessed on their knowledge of offshore marine operations, ability to lead technical teams, and previous experience with vessel repair planning, audits, and equipment management.
Candidates were evaluated against the client’s criteria through interviews, document reviews, and reference checks. We focused only on those who could hit the ground running and manage complex operations with confidence.
The Outcome
Within the agreed timeframe, we submitted a shortlist of three highly qualified candidates.
Each person had a strong engineering background and had worked in similar offshore or marine environments. We included full reports outlining each candidate’s strengths, technical track record, leadership experience, and suitability for the role.
The client reviewed the shortlist and was pleased with the quality. One of the candidates stood out for their balance of technical skill, industry exposure, and leadership style.
A formal offer was made and accepted. The new Head of Engineering has since stepped into the role and is actively managing vessel inspections, audits, dry dock planning, and technical staff development across the business.
Client Feedback
“We had been searching for months and were under pressure to get someone competent into the role. The team understood what we needed and didn’t waste time. The profiles we received were spot on, and the person we hired has settled in quickly and is already making an impact.”
