Civil engineering is everything you see that's been built around us. It's about roads and railways, schools, bridges, offices, hospitals, water, power supply and much more, including an increasingly important role in dealing with climate change.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is a registered charity and is incorporated by Royal Charter. It supports the profession by offering professional qualifications, promoting education, maintaining professional ethics, and liaising with industry, academia, and government. Established in 1818, the ICE has over 95,000 members, with over a quarter living outside the United Kingdom. The diversity of this membership is improving year-on-year and is a major focus of the Institution.

The ICE is a substantial organisation in its own right, with income in excess of £35m and a staff team of nearly 300. Through this, the ICE leads the infrastructure debate to create a more sustainable future by providing impartial, authoritative and respected advice, working with all parts of the profession to ensure that civil engineering remains a major contributor to economic and social wellbeing.

The current Direct General will retire in 2023 and their replacement is sought to continue the strong and supportive role that the ICE plays for its membership, as well as support the trustees’ vision that ‘the ICE will transform lives by helping build a sustainable world’.

The appointee will:

• Develop and implement the ICE’s global vision and strategy alongside the Trustee Board
• Lead the staff of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Thomas Telford Ltd (trading subsidiary) to achieve their respective visions, through the successful implementation of annual business plans, budgets, and/or profitability targets
• Engage Councils and members in thought leadership in the evolving infrastructure arena
• Be alert to the priorities of the wider membership and engage with them to harness their skills and knowledge
• Work collaboratively with the staff and trustees, ensuring that they are appropriately involved in ICE and TTL developments

Required experience and personal qualities include:

• Substantial experience in leadership and strategic management is essential. It is highly desirable that this has been at a national level
• Previous knowledge of the workings of government, and experience of engaging with government and the public sector is highly desirable
• Experience of commercial management, public affairs, and policymaking is essential
• Demonstrable ability to think commercially, identify and exploit opportunities, and ensure the delivery of innovative solutions is highly desirable
• Substantial experience in engineering or built environment would be desirable
• Some experience of working on an international basis, with the required cultural appreciation and language skills is highly desirable

A candidate brief can be downloaded from www.odgers.com/86205   

Closing date on Monday 18 July 2022.

The ICE is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. The ICE will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.