Western & Central Europe Technical Director

ABOUT COLAS

COLAS, a subsidiary of the BOUYGUES Group, specializes in the design, construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure, delivered in a responsible manner. Present in more than 50 countries across five continents, through a network of 2,000 construction units and 3,500 materials production units, Colas employs 64,000 people committed to connecting people and facilitating exchanges in the world of today and tomorrow.

COLAS’ ambition is to become the world leader in innovative and responsible mobility solutions. In 2025, COLAS generated €16 billion in revenue, 59% of which came from international operations.

The EMEA Division (Europe–Middle East & Africa) currently employs 13,000 people across 26 countries.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

As Western and Central Europe Technical Director , you will lead and drive the implementation of the Group and EMEA Technical Policy across the region.

You will provide strategic technical leadership to Regional Directors, Business Units and local technical teams, ensuring high standards of quality, technical excellence and operational performance across projects and activities.

You will also play a key role in developing technical capabilities, driving innovation and supporting COLAS’ low-carbon and sustainability ambitions, particularly through the development of recycled materials, bitumen decarbonisation and emulsion-based techniques.

The role combines technical expertise, regional leadership, operational support and innovation , working across multiple countries and multicultural environments.

Location: Paris Head Office, with regular travel across COLAS entities in Western and Central Europe.

The role will report to the Regional Directors of Western & Central Europe.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical leadership and strategic support to Regional Directors and the EMEA Technical Director, providing insights on operational performance, technical risks, quality and key technical issues.
• Lead and coordinate the Technical Network across Western and Central Europe, ensuring the quality, consistency and efficiency of technical departments and laboratories, while developing technical capabilities, training and succession plans.
• Support Business Units and operational teams on complex projects, bids and business opportunities by providing technical expertise, risk assessments, alternative solutions and guidance on materials, products and project execution.
• Drive technical excellence and continuous improvement by sharing best practices, lessons learned, technical standards and innovative solutions across countries and Business Units.
• Lead and develop technical teams , including recruitment, performance management, capability development and succession planning, while fostering collaboration and a strong team spirit.
• Monitor technical performance and KPIs , ensuring that quality, safety, productivity, customer satisfaction and resource efficiency objectives are achieved.
• Collaborate with COLAS Group technical teams , research centres and external experts, supporting product development, innovation programmes and the dissemination of technical knowledge across the region.
• Contribute to COLAS’ sustainability and low-carbon strategy by promoting recycled and innovative materials, low-carbon techniques, Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and other initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
• Represent COLAS externally within industry associations, technical committees, universities and professional organisations, promoting COLAS’ technical expertise and contributing to industry standards and innovation.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Strong expertise in several of the following areas:

• Pavement engineering, design and assessment
• Hot Mix Asphalt technologies
• Bitumen emulsion products and techniques
• Sustainability and carbon reduction
• Recycling and circular economy solutions
• Asset management and pavement preservation
• Industrial production processes
• Digitalisation and data-driven engineering
• Quality management and technical assurance

EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Construction Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in infrastructure, road construction and/or road materials.
• Significant experience in a senior technical leadership position .
• Proven experience working across multiple countries and multicultural environments .
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels , with a strong business and customer-focused mindset.
• Fluent English