Senior Site Engineer

About the company

Utopia is an ultra-luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand creating a global ecosystem of properties and experiences.

We develop private villa retreats in beautiful locations around the world, each with high-end service. Utopia also offers a wider ecosystem of leisure experiences and services available both to those staying on property and to external visitors.

Utopia designs and builds its properties in-house. Our projects span the full journey: from concept and architecture to construction, interiors, landscape, guest experience, and long-term operation. For architects and designers, this means contributing on properties from the ground up, with the ability to influence how each place is planned, built, and experienced. For hospitality professionals, it means collaborating with a brand where service is personal, attentive, and built around each guest’s stay.

We’re a young, ambitious team with high standards and a hands-on approach. We value strong ideas, practical thinking, attention to detail, and people who are ready to take ownership of their part of each project. If you’re interested in architecture, design, hospitality, or guest experience, we invite you to explore opportunities with Utopia.

About the role

We’re looking for a capable and hands-on Senior Site Manager to take the lead on the ground for the construction of a high-end luxury villa in Cape Town. If you're not already based there, relocation will be necessary.

In this role, you’ll be the key link between our remote design and project teams and the day-to-day progress on site. You’ll be responsible for ensuring that construction meets our high standards of quality, follows agreed plans and specifications, and stays within time and budget constraints.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, detail-oriented, and confident in managing teams and site activity independently — someone who can take ownership and ensure the delivery reflects the level of excellence expected by our clients.

What you will do

• Oversee all on-site activities, ensuring full compliance with local building codes, safety regulations, and environmental standards.
• Conducting regular site inspections and proactively addressing any safety or quality concerns
• Ensuring that construction on site follows approved project plans, drawings, and specifications
• Collaborate closely with the Project Manager and Head of Construction to execute the construction plan, manage schedules, allocate resources, and oversee material procurement.
• Maintain high standards of quality control, ensuring that all work reflects the level of detail and craftsmanship defined in the design.
• Monitor construction expenses at site level to ensure alignment with the approved budget, identifying cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.
• Coordinate subcontractors, skilled labor, and on-site teams to maintain steady workflow, proactively address challenges, and foster a collaborative environment.
• Stepping in for the Head of Construction when needed, including attending meetings and contributing to key decisions
• Acting as the main point of contact between the construction site and the wider project team, including the Head of Construction

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Architecture
• Post-graduate studies in Construction Management or related fields

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years in construction site roles (e.g. Inspector, Site Engineer, Site Agent, Field Engineer, Site Supervisor, Construction Manager, Superintendent).
• Completed at least 3 full-cycle projects in South Africa, ideally in tourist regions
• Proven track record in luxury villa or high-end residential construction
• Ability to provide clear examples of resolving technical or logistical challenges during past construction projects
• Proficiency in construction software and tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, MS Project, and other relevant applications.
• Strong knowledge of local building codes, regulations, and construction practices essential to successful delivery
• Proficiency in English is required for communication with our international-based management team and some site teams.

What we can offer you

• Full-time, on-site role in Cape Town, South Africa
• Competitive compensation
• Relocation support available (partial)
• Be part of building landmark hospitality properties: contribute to high-end projects designed for long-term global recognition.
• Work closely with in-house design teams: collaborate directly with architecture and interiors teams to maintain design integrity through execution.
• Exposure to international construction environments: work across diverse locations, standards, suppliers, and project conditions.
• High standards of execution: join projects where craftsmanship, quality, and attention to detail are central priorities.
• End-to-end development involvement: participate in projects from pre-construction planning through delivery and operational readiness.

By submitting this application, I agree that my personal data will be collected, processed, and retained by the company solely for the purposes of managing and assessing my candidacy.

Notice: This is a remote position based in South Africa.