Executive Search in Italy for EPC and Renewable Energies
Italy’s national grid operator had 9,204 open connection requests as of 31 May 2026, representing a combined 612 GW of
July 20, 2026
In engineering, procurement and construction, a decision made during tendering can shape a project years later. We identify the leaders who can see those consequences early and coordinate the teams that deliver.
Design assumptions affect procurement, equipment lead times drive construction schedules, and changes on site can alter cost, cash flow, contractual responsibility and the date an asset enters service.
Leadership in this environment requires a clear understanding of how those decisions fit together.
Zavala Civitas supports engineering consultancies, EPC and turnkey contractors and infrastructure delivery companies across transport and civil works, energy and industrial projects, and water and environmental infrastructure. Each search reflects the project portfolio, contracting model, technical context and delivery risks behind the role. With offices in Mexico, Spain, Canada and China, our research reaches executives across the international contractors and project markets in which these businesses compete.
Winning a contract creates commitments on scope, price, schedule and performance. Leaders must test those commitments against the company’s capabilities, resources and appetite for risk. Commercial and operational teams need to agree on delivery assumptions before a bid is submitted, not after award.
We examine how candidates have evaluated opportunities, challenged assumptions and decided which contracts to pursue, and whether their delivery assumptions held once the project was under way.
A design change can affect equipment specifications, purchasing decisions and work already planned on site. Effective leaders make these consequences visible early, establish clear interfaces between functions and resolve competing priorities before they reach the site.
Candidate assessment explores how they have managed design development, long-lead equipment, subcontractor mobilisation and changes during execution. The scale of a previous project matters, but so does the candidate’s actual authority and contribution.
Infrastructure delivery depends on equipment that is difficult to obtain at short notice. The IEA’s Building the Future Transmission Grid report found that it now takes two to three years to procure cables and up to four years to secure large power transformers, with lead times almost doubling since 2021. Although these findings relate to electricity transmission, they show why procurement must be aligned with delivery planning from the outset.
When supply slips, the effects reach the contract and cash flow. Variations, disputed milestones, payment delays and subcontractor claims can strain a project even while construction continues. We examine how candidates have identified critical dependencies, revised schedules, managed contractual notices and connected project controls with commercial management and finance while protecting the client relationship.
Environmental commitments must be reflected in design, material selection, procurement and site practice. Leaders need to know which requirements apply, who is responsible and what evidence will demonstrate compliance, while managing the trade-offs with cost and schedule.
We assess how candidates have compared design alternatives, introduced supplier requirements and turned commitments into delivery plans agreed with clients and technical teams.
A strong Project Director often holds substantial technical knowledge and client trust. As businesses grow and experienced executives retire, that knowledge must be transferred and future leaders prepared.
Companies need a clear view of which positions are critical, who could succeed into them and where external appointments are needed. This connects executive search with leadership assessment and development, so that immediate vacancies and long-term continuity are addressed together.
Each search reflects the project portfolio, the contracting model and the delivery risks behind the role.
Feasibility, design and technical advisory businesses, where discipline expertise, client relationships, project governance and commercial responsibility shape the role.
Contractors accountable for integrated engineering, procurement and construction, where contract structure, project complexity, delivery risk and commissioning responsibility define the mandate.
Roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, ports and other civil works, where construction methods, stakeholder interfaces and programme scale drive the requirements.
Generation facilities, substations, transmission infrastructure and industrial plants, including work within operating facilities.
Treatment facilities, pipelines and related infrastructure, where technical processes, environmental requirements and the transition from construction to operation are central.
A Project Director responsible for a single major contract requires different experience from an Operations Director overseeing several projects. We establish that scope before approaching candidates.
| Area | Relevant leadership roles |
|---|---|
| Executive leadership | CEO, Managing Director, Country Manager, Regional Director |
| Project delivery | Project Director, Programme Director, Construction Director, Operations Director |
| Engineering | Engineering Director, Design Director, Technical Director, Tunnel Director |
| Commercial and contracts | Commercial Director, Contracts Director, Tendering Director, Business Development Director |
| Procurement and controls | Procurement Director, Project Controls Director |
| Safety and environment | HSE Director, Environmental Director |
| Corporate functions | CFO, HR Director |
We begin with the business need behind the appointment: a new contract, a growing portfolio, international expansion or a succession requirement. The brief sets out the project types, contracting arrangements, team structure and expected outcomes, together with the executive’s authority over budgets, resources, subcontractors and client decisions.
Our research combines target-company mapping with direct approaches to executives who are not actively considering a move, including leaders within international contractors operating across several markets. We establish where experience with a specific asset, construction method or jurisdiction is essential, and consider candidates from adjacent sectors when their delivery responsibilities are comparable.
We personally interview candidates to understand what they led and which decisions they owned, from tendering and mobilisation to execution and handover. We examine how they managed changes, addressed underperformance and coordinated technical, commercial and site teams.
Structured assessments, references and, where appropriate, a role-specific business case provide further evidence. Specialist technical discussions can be developed with the client’s subject-matter experts.
Site presence, international travel, rotation arrangements and project duration can materially affect an appointment, so we discuss them early. Weekly progress reports cover market coverage, candidate feedback and any constraints affecting the brief. Where succession is the priority, the appointment is considered alongside internal leadership capability and development needs.
Whether you are preparing for a major contract, expanding into new markets or planning for leadership succession, contact Zavala Civitas for a confidential discussion about your next EPC or infrastructure leadership appointment.
Diagnosis of Situation
An infrastructure construction company with international projects faced the retirement of several key executives. Its internal leadership pipeline was insufficient, and it lacked a structured succession plan.
At the same time, the business needed to strengthen its ability to deliver sustainable infrastructure. Internal candidates had strong technical records but needed broader leadership preparation, while external leaders with sustainable delivery experience on comparable projects were scarce.
Implementation
The succession programme combined three elements:
Critical role analysis: identifying the strategic positions carrying the greatest delivery, commercial and client risk, and defining the capabilities each required.
Internal development: mentoring and leadership training for potential successors, including sustainable project management and environmental requirements.
External recruitment: attracting leaders with relevant infrastructure and sustainability experience where no internal candidate was ready or a capability was missing.
Result
The programme supported leadership continuity and strengthened the company’s ability to incorporate sustainable practices into its projects. By combining internal development with external recruitment, the company addressed its immediate succession needs and prepared for future leadership requirements.
Italy’s national grid operator had 9,204 open connection requests as of 31 May 2026, representing a combined 612 GW of
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