Job title
Team Leader, SUW & O&L
Company
OQ8
Function
TSD
Department
Process Engineering, Control & Safety
Section
Process Engineering
Location
Oman - Duqm
Budget control
*OPEX and/or CAPEX and/or Revenue amount as relevant*
Reporting to
Head Process Engineering, Control & Safety
Direct reports
3
Job purpose
Leads the team for optimizing the process engineering activities across the Sulfur/Utilities/Wastewater & Offsites and Logistics units at OQ8, under Head of Process Engineering, Controls & Safety scope, acting as team leader and single point of accountability for managing Process Engineering in Sulfur/Utilities/Wastewater & Offsites and Logistics units though: (1) Leading the resolution of complex operational problems associated with process engineering at OQ8 Sulfur/Utilities/Wastewater & Offsites and Logistics units, (2) Coordinate team to ensure that Management process optimization Services meets Management strategy and performance goals, and (3) Leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of process optimization-based activities in refinery processes; in order to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of these units, contributing to the overall performance and profitability of the OQ8 Assets.
The position will act in accordance with OQ8’s Mission, Vision, Values & Strategies, as well as, policies, guidelines, and international standards, supported by an IT Technology platform, HSE standards, Oman’s government & other legal justifications, and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.
Main tasks and responsibilities
Scope
The Sulfur/Amines, Utilities, Wastewater, Offsites, and Logistics units play a critical role in ensuring safe, reliable, efficient, and environmentally compliant refinery operations by supporting continuous processing, energy optimization, product handling, and environmental protection.
Unit
Purpose
Key Features
Sulfur & amines
Sulfur recovery, Sour Water and acid gas treatment to meet environmental requirements
Amine Treatment, Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU), Tail Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU), Sour Water Systems
Utilities Unit
Provide and optimize essential refinery utilities and energy systems
Steam Generation, Power Distribution, Cooling Water, Boiler Feed Water, Instrument Air, Nitrogen, and Fuel Gas
Wastewater Unit
Treat and manage refinery wastewater in compliance with environmental regulations
Primary Treatment, Secondary Treatment, Tertiary Treatment, Sludge Handling, and Water Recovery.
Offsites & Logistics
Manage storage, transfer, and distribution of refinery feedstock and products
Tank Farms, Pipelines, Loading/Unloading Facilities, Jetty, Product Blending, Flare, and Interconnecting Systems
Accountabilities:
Plant Performance and Optimization
- Lead and supervise Sulfur/Amines/Sour Water, Utilities, Wastewater, Offsites and Logistics operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient performance.
- Monitor overall unit performance, identify gaps, and drive optimization initiatives to improve reliability, throughput, and operational stability.
- Ensure optimum utilization of utilities including steam, fuel gas, power, cooling water, instrument air, nitrogen, and flare systems.
- Lead troubleshooting activities for recurring operational and reliability issues.
- Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, and technical teams to minimize unit downtime and operational losses.
- Ensure refinery offsites and logistics systems support continuous refinery operation without constraints.
- Monitor refinery energy performance and identify opportunities for energy conservation and efficiency improvement.
- Lead energy optimization initiatives across utilities and process integration systems.
- Monitor key energy KPIs including Steam balance, Fuel gas consumption, Power consumption, Boiler efficiency, Steam venting and condensate recovery and Flare minimization
- Support refinery energy intensity reduction and sustainability initiatives.
Energy Management & Utility Optimization
Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure all units operate in compliance with company HSE standards and environmental regulations.
- Ensure safe operation of sulfur recovery, flare, wastewater, and utility systems to minimize environmental impact.
- Support and participate in HAZOP, PSSR, HAZID, SIL reviews, Risk assessments and Incident investigations
- Ensure implementation and compliance with operating procedures, standards, and management of change (MOC) requirements.
- Lead initiatives related to flare reduction, emissions control, sulfur recovery efficiency, and wastewater compliance.
- Ensure refinery wastewater treatment systems meet environmental discharge requirements.
Technical & Engineering coordination
- Provide technical direction and guidance to engineers and operations teams.
- Review and endorse major technical studies, process modifications, and optimization proposals.
- Coordinate with Engineering and Project teams during design modifications, commissioning, and startup activities.
- Ensure technical integrity of utility, sulfur complex, wastewater, and offsites systems.
- Support development of operating philosophies, control strategies, and performance monitoring systems.
- Review major process engineering recommendations and ensure alignment with operational objectives.
Projects, Improvement & Strategic Planning
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, reliability, operability, and energy efficiency.
- Support refinery expansion, debottlenecking, and revamp projects related to utilities, sulfur, wastewater, and offsites facilities.
- Participate in refinery strategic planning and long-term capacity improvement studies.
- Ensure lessons learned and best practices are implemented across all responsible units.
- Drive digitalization and performance monitoring initiatives for utilities and offsites systems.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
- Set team objectives and monitor performance against KPIs.
- Ensure competency development, coaching, and succession planning within the team.
- Promote strong coordination between Operations, Maintenance, Inspection, Process Engineering, and HSE teams.
- Support effective communication and alignment across refinery departments.
- Manage contractors and external technical support activities related to responsible areas.
Key interactions
Internal: Liaise with colleagues and stakeholders for day-to-day work.
External: Acts as liaison between Consultants and Vendors
Notable Working Conditions. Field Operations and office environment, Moderate to intensive computer screen use.
Education requirements
- Minimum Qualifications for this position are an Engineering degree preferably in Chemical Engineering.
- Professional Engineer (PE) certification preferred.
Language requirements
Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required)
Background and experience
Competencies and skills
- 10+ years of total experience within the Oil & Gas / Refinery / Petrochemical industry, with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in a similar role
- Experience with Sulfur/Utilities/Wastewater & Offsites and Logistics units.
- Expertise in process simulation software and modelling techniques.
- Proven record in leading HAZOP studies and process optimizations.
- Demonstrated leadership impact to deliver improved and sustained performance.
- Proven experience with Personal Safety Management.
- Refinery commissioning and start-up experience.
- Proven Emergency Response experience.
- Experience is Process Simulation tools like HYSYS, PetroSIM etc.
Soft:
- Supervisory skills.
- Strong Communication skill verbal and written.
- Personal and Team Accountability
- Accurate Reporting skills
- Effective planning and organizing skills.
- Proficient at interpreting Technical Drawings
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Result orientation
- Planning and Organizing
- Decisiveness
- Exercising influence
- Demonstrated ability to cooperate with and influence peers.
Technical:
- Computer literacy including MS Office applications.
- Knowledge of refinery operations, industry standards, and best practices.
- Proficient in interpreting PFDs, P&IDs, technical drawings, and SOPs.
- Good knowledge of Sulfur, Utilities, Wastewater, and Offsites systems.
- Knowledge of energy management and utilities optimization.
- Experience in process simulation tools such as Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, or Petro-SIM.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
- Good understanding of HSE requirements and Safety Critical Equipment (SCE).
- Knowledge of estimating, budgeting, and cost control.
- Experience in refinery commissioning, startup, shutdown, and optimization activities.
Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
Spanish