Meet the Team
Meet the people that connect talent to opportunities.
Sean
Cheek
Sean co-founded RIZE in 2005 and has guided the company’s growth as a specialist recruitment partner for the telecoms and energy sectors, with a strong focus on the German and Swiss markets. He remains closely involved in its strategic direction and in shaping the culture of integrity, accountability and clear commercial thinking that underpins the business.
His earlier career was spent at Glotel PLC, where he joined as its first employee and became CEO for EMEA, helping lead the company through major international expansion and its IPO. That experience - combined with the awareness that today’s recruitment landscape is very different from the one he entered - drives his emphasis on continual learning and adapting to change.
Half German and with an MBA from Warwick Business School, Sean brings long-term sector insight and international experience to RIZE’s clients and teams. Outside work, he spends time with his family and friends and keeps a measured eye on Arsenal’s fortunes.
Backed by market insight, compliance expertise, and a deep understanding of the sectors we serve, our consultants deliver permanent recruitment solutions that support sustainable success.
Construction Manager – HVDC Underground Cable Civil Works (Major Infrastructure Programme, Germany)
We are supporting a large, multi-year national energy infrastructure programme and are seeking an experienced Construction Manager (Civils / Tiefbau) to oversee the delivery of underground civil works for a new high-voltage transmission corridor in Germany. The role involves managing long-distance construction sections (up to ~100 km) for an HVDC cable system, requiring strong expertise in heavy civil engineering rather than telecommunications or fibre-optic deployment.
Lead all on-site civil construction activities for 110–380 kV underground cable routes, including trenching, micro-tunnelling, HDD works, shaft construction, soil replacement, and cable corridor preparation across large linear distances.
Coordinate and supervise civil contractors, specialist tunnelling teams, and heavy plant operations, ensuring that execution follows engineering specifications, environmental requirements, and project timelines.
Ensure regulatory compliance with German construction standards (HOAI, VOB/B, VDE), environmental legislation, occupational safety rules, and technical guidelines associated with high-voltage transmission infrastructure.
Oversee logistics and route access including temporary site roads, traffic management, land access, reinstatement, and coordination with municipalities and landowners.
Drive progress tracking, quality assurance, documentation, and reporting for all civil works, ensuring construction milestones are achieved across multiple geographically distributed sites.
Manage risk identification and mitigation, particularly related to deep excavations, groundwater control, geotechnical challenges, long-distance corridors, and micro-tunnelling interfaces.
Collaborate closely with engineering, permitting, environmental, and cable installation teams, ensuring that civil works are fully coordinated with mechanical and electrical disciplines.
Represent the project on-site during inspections, audits, and coordination meetings with contractors and technical partners.
Account Manager / Calculations Specialist
Manage client relationships, serve as the primary point of contact, and ensure high customer satisfaction through proactive communication.
Prepare detailed cost calculations, quotations, and proposals based on technical requirements and project specifications.
Analyze project data, pricing structures, and resource needs to produce accurate and competitive commercial offers.
Coordinate internally with sales, engineering, and project teams to clarify requirements and support successful project delivery.
Monitor contract performance, track changes, and update financial documentation to maintain transparency and profitability
FTTx Bauleiter
Supervise and coordinate all on-site activities for FTTx construction projects, ensuring quality, safety, and adherence to plans.
Manage contractors and subcontractors, oversee resource allocation, and maintain project schedules and budgets.
Conduct regular site inspections, resolve technical or logistical issues, and ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
Collaborate with engineering teams, authorities, and stakeholders to secure permits, clarify designs, and report project progress.
Verify accurate installation of ducts, fiber cables, cabinets, and documentation to ensure reliable, high-performance network infr