From roads, drainage and water infrastructure through to buildings, parks and major capital works, councils and government agencies rely on technically capable professionals who can operate in complex, highly scrutinised environments.

Osborne Richardson’s Engineering & Construction division specialises in recruiting engineering, construction and project delivery professionals for local and state government across Australia. We understand the realities of public-sector delivery — tight timeframes, budget accountability, community expectations and political oversight — and we recruit people who can perform under those conditions.

Led by experienced industry specialists

Nigel Irwin – Head of Engineering & Construction

Nigel Irwin

Our Engineering & Construction division is headed by Nigel Irwin, a senior recruitment specialist with over 30 years’ experience recruiting within engineering, construction and infrastructure environments.

Nigel holds a degree in Behavioural Psychology, giving him a rare combination of technical recruitment experience and deep insight into leadership, team dynamics and performance under pressure. This allows him to assess candidates not only on qualifications and experience, but on how they will operate within project teams, stakeholder environments and organisational cultures.

He works closely with Directors of Engineering, Infrastructure Managers and Project Leaders to deliver recruitment outcomes that support safe, timely and compliant project delivery.

What we recruit

We support councils and government agencies across the full Engineering & Construction lifecycle, including:

• Civil Engineers (Graduate to Senior)

• Project Engineers

• Construction & Works Supervisors

• Project Managers & Program Managers

• Asset & Infrastructure Managers

• Development Engineers

• Engineering Technicians & Officers

• Contract Administrators

• Design, Planning & Delivery Specialists

From operational field-based roles to senior leadership appointments, our recruitment approach is tailored to your project scale, governance framework and risk profile.

Permanent, contract and project-based solutions

Osborne Richardson delivers flexible recruitment solutions to support both day-to-day operations and major infrastructure programs.

We regularly assist clients with:

• Contract and interim resources during peak delivery periods

• Specialist hires for capital works and upgrade programs

• Backfilling critical roles during long-term leave or vacancies

• Building sustainable permanent engineering teams

Our candidate networks include professionals experienced in:

• Local government and state government frameworks

• Capital works and infrastructure delivery

• Contractor management and site supervision

• Safety, quality and compliance environments

• Community-facing and politically sensitive projects

Why government clients choose Osborne Richardson

• Specialist Engineering & Construction recruiters

• Deep understanding of government infrastructure delivery

• Technically informed candidate assessment

• Strong national candidate networks

• Flexible permanent and contract solutions

• Trusted long-term partnerships with councils and agencies

We understand that engineering decisions directly impact communities — and we recruit accordingly.

A trusted partner for public-sector infrastructure

Osborne Richardson has supported government clients across Australia with engineering and construction recruitment for decades. Our clients value our ability to understand technical requirements, delivery pressures and governance obligations — and to deliver people who can perform in real-world conditions.

If you are seeking an Engineering & Construction recruitment partner who understands both the technical and human side of infrastructure delivery, we’re ready to assist.