rahil nazir

Project Manager , RMS Engineering and construction

Dili, East Timor

Rahil Nazir is a civil engineer and disaster resilience specialist with 13+ years of experience across public infrastructure, UN projects, and private construction management. A Chevening Scholar, he integrates technical execution, risk analysis, and strategic planning to deliver sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure and heritage preservation in sensitive landscapes globally.

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Area of Expertise:
  • Disaster, Aid, Emergencies, Relief
  • Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
Professional Experience:

I bring over thirteen years of experience in civil engineering, infrastructure project management, disaster risk reduction, and strategic advisory roles across government, private construction, and international development contexts. My career reflects a steady progression from hands-on supervision of public works to multi-sectoral planning and resilience-focused strategies that bridge engineering with governance, sustainability, and community well-being.
I began with the Public Works Department (Roads & Buildings), Government of Jammu & Kashmir, India, serving as Junior Engineer and later Assistant Engineer. Over more than a decade, I managed the design, supervision, and execution of a wide range of public infrastructure projects including highways, bridges, schools, healthcare facilities, and staff housing. These projects were frequently situated in difficult Himalayan terrain and socially sensitive landscapes, demanding robust planning, stakeholder coordination, and technical adaptability. Notable assignments included contributions to the Mughal Road, a strategic highway linking Kashmir with the Pir Panjal region, and several gender-responsive and accessibility-focused facilities. This period developed my strengths in construction supervision, procurement, quality control, and compliance with engineering standards.
To broaden my scope, I joined the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KTRCL) where I engaged in large-scale transportation projects, further enhancing my expertise in contract management, technical execution, and alignment with broader development goals. This role helped refine my ability to integrate engineering practice with international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
In recent years, I transitioned into international development and advisory functions. As a consultant with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Timor-Leste, I contributed to the Strategic Development Plan for Atauro Island, an integrated master plan focusing on blue economy growth, water and sanitation infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and sustainable tourism. I prepared stakeholder maps, soft infrastructure specifications, and risk-informed planning tools that supported the newly established Atauro Administrative Authority in aligning community needs with national development priorities. This role demanded cross-sectoral collaboration and highlighted my capacity to link engineering expertise with governance and policy.
Concurrently, I have worked as a Project Manager with RMS, an Australian construction company, where I delivered diverse projects in Timor-Leste. Key works include the Salao Memorial for the DCP (constructed and handed over in early 2025), retrofitting design for a medical clinic in Metinaro, and the refurbishment of the Pacific Labour Mobility Support Programme (Palladium) office in Dili. I have overseen procurement, execution, quality control, and occupational health and safety compliance while preparing technical documentation such as method statements for controlled demolition of RCC overhead tanks, emergency evacuation plans, and workplace OHS materials. These assignments reinforced my ability to manage construction at scale while embedding risk reduction and operational safety into every phase.
In parallel, I remain engaged with heritage risk management. I co-authored a Prince Claus Fund-supported study assessing risks to Sultanate-period cemeteries in Srinagar, integrating environmental risk modeling with values-based cultural heritage frameworks. This work linked climate adaptation, cultural preservation, and community resilience, underscoring my capacity to navigate both technical and socio-cultural dimensions of risk governance.

Education:

I began my higher education at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, India, where I completed a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering. This program provided rigorous technical training across core civil engineering disciplines, including structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, construction materials, and project management. In addition to classroom learning, I gained practical experience through site-based assignments, laboratory research, and design projects. This degree built my capacity to plan, design, and supervise infrastructure projects in challenging terrains, while introducing me to engineering software tools such as AutoCAD, STAAD, and GIS. These tools became central to my later professional and academic applications in infrastructure planning and risk-informed design.
Driven by the need to understand the broader social and environmental context of engineering, I pursued postgraduate study as a Chevening Scholar in the United Kingdom, where I earned an MSc in Risk, Disaster, and Resilience from University College London (UCL). This program marked a decisive academic shift, allowing me to explore how disasters intersect with infrastructure systems, governance structures, and community vulnerability. The interdisciplinary curriculum integrated environmental sciences, policy frameworks, and risk modeling with engineering principles, preparing me to work across disciplines and cultural contexts.
At UCL, I developed a strong interest in values-based approaches to heritage and disaster resilience. My academic research focused on risk assessment of medieval Islamic cemeteries in Srinagar, where I applied a combination of quantitative hazard modeling and cultural authenticity frameworks (drawing from the Nara Document). This work helped me to merge technical assessment with socio-cultural values, producing recommendations that linked climate adaptation, community engagement, and heritage conservation. The project culminated in co-authored publications supported by the Prince Claus Fund, bridging academic knowledge with applied conservation practice.
Beyond my formal degrees, I have actively pursued professional development and certifications. I completed recognized courses in Foundations of Project Management and Project Initiation (Coursera), strengthening my skills in planning, stakeholder management, and monitoring frameworks. I am currently preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which builds upon both my academic training and my substantial field experience. Alongside, I continue to explore advanced study opportunities, including Erasmus Mundus programs such as MESPOM (Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management), to deepen my expertise at the intersection of sustainability, climate resilience, and policy.
My education has never been confined to the classroom; it has evolved alongside my professional responsibilities. From applying engineering principles to Himalayan road construction, to developing resilience strategies for island economies in Timor-Leste, my academic background has consistently informed and shaped my practice. It has provided me with frameworks to analyze risk, tools to design climate-resilient infrastructure, and perspectives to align technical solutions with social inclusion and long-term sustainability.
Today, my educational profile represents more than degrees earned. It reflects a continuum of lifelong learning and interdisciplinary growth, combining civil engineering, disaster resilience, cultural heritage stu

Available for:

  • Job opportunities

Years of Experience:

10-15 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

Spanish, Urdu

Nationality:

India

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