Lead Mechanical Assurance Consultant

Job Title – Lead Mechanical Assurance Consultant

Reports To - Project Director

Location – Nigeria

About the Role

Independent Project Monitoring Company FZE (“IPMC”) provides independent technical and construction audit services on major industrial, energy, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects. We are seeking an experienced, senior Lead Mechanical Assurance Consultant to head the mechanical assurance function on a landmark Industrial Oil & Gas Plant development in Nigeria.

This is a team-leading position. The successful candidate will take personal responsibility for the independent verification, assurance, and certification of mechanical works installed by contractors, while leading, mentoring, and directing a team of Mechanical Assurance Associates and consulting mechanical engineers. The role reports to the Project Director and works alongside the Lead Civil, Lead Electrical, Lead Instrumentation, and Lead Cost Engineer consultants as part of IPMC’s senior project leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

· Lead, organize, and supervise the mechanical assurance team, allocating engineers across contractor packages, equipment systems, and project areas to match site progress.

· Mentor and provide technical direction to Mechanical Assurance Associates and local site engineers, including onboarding and training as the team scales; review and quality-control their inspection findings and reports before issue.

· Coordinate day-to-day activities with the Lead Civil, Lead Electrical, Lead Instrumentation, and Lead Cost Engineer consultants, and report progress, risks, and resourcing needs to the Project Director.

· Represent IPMC’s mechanical assurance function in meetings with the Employer’s site management and project team, escalating and resolving conflicts or ambiguities in instructions.

Technical Assurance

· Review contractors’ mechanical engineering deliverables, equipment specifications, fabrication drawings, method statements, inspection and test plans (ITPs), and technical submissions for compliance with approved designs, specifications, and applicable codes.

· Verify mechanical installations—including static and rotating equipment, pressure vessels, tanks, pumps, compressors, piping systems, valves, supports, and associated utilities—against approved drawings, specifications, and, at completion, As-Built records.

· Conduct site inspections and technical audits, personally and through supervised staff, to confirm material traceability, welding and NDT records, pressure testing, alignment, installation quality, and compliance with project requirements.

· Witness or review critical mechanical tests and milestones, including hydrostatic/pneumatic tests, equipment installation and alignment checks, mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, and relevant performance tests, as a basis for contractor invoice certification.

· Validate project progress and provide technical input into contractor interim and final account certification, including evaluation of variation claims relating to the mechanical scope.

· Identify technical risks, non-conformities, defects, and quality concerns, and drive timely corrective action and close-out with contractors.

· Prepare and review assurance reports, audit findings, punch lists, and monthly progress reports for submission to the Employer’s representative.

· Support schedule, materials, equipment delivery, and procurement-compliance reviews within the mechanical discipline as part of IPMC’s wider audit mandate.

Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline; a Master’s degree is an advantage.

· Minimum 12 years of relevant post-qualification experience, including demonstrated time in a lead or supervisory capacity, on industrial, oil & gas, petrochemical, refinery, fertilizer, power, or major infrastructure projects.

· Professional registration such as COREN, PE, CEng, or an equivalent international body.

· Demonstrated experience leading or supervising multi-person technical teams, including mentoring junior and mid-level engineers.

· Strong working knowledge of piping and pressure systems, static and rotating equipment, welding, fabrication, mechanical installation, inspection, testing, and commissioning interfaces.

· Familiarity with applicable ASME, API, ASTM, AWS, ISO and related international codes and standards, together with a willingness to work within Nigerian regulatory and site requirements.

· Prior international or expatriate assignment experience preferred, ideally within West Africa or a comparable emerging-market industrial environment.

· Consulting, Owner’s Engineer, EPC/EPCM, Third-Party Inspection, Project Assurance, or Technical Audit experience is essential for this role.

· Willingness and ability to relocate to Nigeria for the duration of the assignment and to have a valid international passport and readiness to obtain the relevant Nigerian work authorization.

Preferred Certifications

PMP, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, NEBOSH, API 510/570/653, CSWIP, AWS CWI, or equivalent mechanical inspection and quality certifications.

Key Competencies

· Strong leadership and people-management skills, with a track record of developing and motivating a technical team.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, comfortable producing client-facing reports and presenting findings to senior stakeholders.

· Cultural adaptability and the interpersonal skills to work effectively within a Nigerian/West African project environment and multinational team.

· High personal integrity and impartiality, consistent with an independent assurance role that certifies payments on the Employer’s behalf.

What We Offer

· A senior, team-leading role on one of Africa’s largest integrated industrial development projects.

· A competitive remuneration package, including relocation and housing support in line with IPMC’s standard international assignment terms.

· The opportunity to build and lead a growing technical team over a multi-year assignment.

Candidates with a senior background in independent assurance, technical auditing, or owner’s engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.