The Workforce Development Lead is accountable for the strategic leadership, execution, and performance of indirect Mozambican workforce development related Local Content initiatives. This role has end-to-end responsibility for ensuring that National workforce development commitments are effectively translated into well-designed initiatives with measurable outcomes and aligned with internal and external stakeholder expectations.

The position provides senior-level leadership in shaping National workforce strategy, driving Contractor performance in hiring and training, and coordinating with key stakeholders, including government entities, Project partners, and Contractors. The Workforce Development Lead acts as the primary authority on technical workforce development within Local Content and is responsible for governance, compliance, performance assurance, and continuous improvement.

This is a Maputo-based role with regular travel to project sites (Pemba, Palma, Afungi) and other locations across Mozambique.

The role is:

·Focused on the national workforce and Contractor workforce obligations

·Responsible for ensuring the Project uses and develops national (Mozambican) workforce

·Driven by legal, contractual, and stakeholder commitments, and Company standards

This role is not a Human Resources or Industrial Relations role but is distinct to Local Content workforce development and utilization. The functions overlap but have different objectives, accountability, and success metrics. The successful candidate will understand this distinction and comparison.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership & Ownership

• Own and drive the Project’s workforce development Local Content strategy, ensuring full alignment with Business priorities and external commitments
• Provide strategic direction and expert leadership on workforce development across all Project phases
• Establish and enforce frameworks, standards, and governance mechanisms for workforce-related Local Content
• Continuously assess the national and project Local Content landscape and proactively adapt strategies to optimize outcomes
• Ensure compliance with lender requirements, government commitments, and internal standards, including defining and implementing corrective actions

Contractor Performance & Workforce Delivery

• Proactively monitor performance and hold contractors accountable for delivery of workforce development commitments, including execution of Contractor workforce programs, ensuring quality, effectiveness, and measurable impact - training outcomes, employment rates, progression)
• Collaborate with other functions to develop, review and approve workforce and training plans, ensuring rigor, feasibility, and alignment with Project objectives
• Develop and direct intervention strategies and corrective actions where performance gaps are identified
• Approve Contractor Local Content reporting and validate underlying data integrity

· Ensure workforce development is embedded into contracting strategies, execution plans, and Company and Contractor processes

Stakeholder Leadership & Influence

• Act as a senior representative on workforce development matters in engagements with government, regulators, and industry stakeholders
• Lead high-level negotiations, workshops, and working groups related to national workforce utilization and development
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key government ministries, TVET institutions, and industry bodies
• Influence alignment and collaboration with other industry operators to ensure consistency in workforce development approaches
• Provide authoritative guidance on Local Content legislation and workforce development regulatory frameworks in Mozambique

· Act as a leader in coordination across Local Content, Industrial Relations, Community Relations, and Human Resources on cross-cutting issues

Governance, Reporting & Performance Management

• Own the design and implementation of workforce-related Local Content reporting frameworks, including dashboards, KPIs, and performance tracking tools
• Ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality reporting to senior leadership, government stakeholders, lenders, and partners
• Track and report on Plan of Development commitments and broader workforce metrics
• Lead development of executive-level presentations, reports, and communications
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and strategic alignment in all workforce-related messaging

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead and manage team of site- and office-based Workforce Development Advisors
• Provide coaching, direction, and performance oversight to ensure high standards of delivery
• Build internal capability in workforce development and Local Content practices to a level of international good practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Law, Business, Social Sciences, or a related discipline
• Minimum 15 years’ experience across business, government, or NGO sectors, with significant leadership responsibility in Local Content and workforce development
• Proven track record of leading large-scale workforce development and training programs within complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Extensive experience managing and influencing international contractors and large contractor workforces
• Deep knowledge of Mozambique Local Content legislation, labor law, Petroleum Law, and regulatory frameworks
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to integrate workforce requirements into contracting and execution strategies
• Experience in Industrial Relations and/or Supplier Development is advantageous
• Strategic leadership skills with strong ownership and accountability mindset
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing skills at senior levels
• Ability to lead complex, multi-party discussions and drive alignment
• Advanced analytical, reporting, and data interpretation capabilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentations
• Strong decision-making capability in ambiguous and high-pressure environments
• High adaptability and ability to manage competing priorities