Commissioning Director

EHIF; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy company is seeking an experienced Commissioning Director to oversee complex multi-billion dollar oil and gas projects in Abu Dhabi. The role involves developing commissioning plans, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and leading diverse project teams. Candidates should have at least 25 years of experience in the oil & gas industry, with specific expertise in commissioning and project management, particularly within the Middle East. This position offers a competitive remuneration package and benefits, including medical insurance and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance

End of Service Gratuity

Employee Share Plan

Long Service Award

Commitment to professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum 25 years relevant experience in the oil & gas industry.
• At least 5 years in a similar position in commissioning.
• Experience with onshore greenfield/brownfield projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement commissioning plans.
• Coordinate testing and verification of systems.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and safety standards.

Skills

Project management

Commissioning

Risk management

Team leadership

Communication

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Tools

Project management software

HSE management tools

Job description

Remarkable people, trusted by clients to design and advance the world.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Commissioning Director with a proven track record in overseeing and managing complex multi‑billion dollar onshore oil and gas EPCm projects.

Our Clients and Projects

Designing the future. Transforming the world.

Wood's Oil, Gas & New Energies business is built on a strong legacy of delivering large and complex projects for national and international energy companies across the globe. We have experienced teams, a proven delivery model and a strong reputation.

We are the market‑leading provider of integrated and innovative solutions that challenge the status‑quo in the oil and gas upstream and midstream, onshore and offshore, gas‑to‑liquids and decarbonization and electrification markets. We pride ourselves in steady and predictable delivery, setting our sights on an exciting growth trajectory.

Energy security, transition and supply have never been more important. Our teams are at the forefront of transformative projects that are providing sustainable power to generations to come. We bring low‑carbon concepts to reality.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects: Delivered to high profile clients across the Energy Sector
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: We are an actively committed organisation across our business
• Competitive remuneration package: With regular reviews to ensure we reward at the right level in line with the market
• Medical Insurance: Inpatient and outpatient medical care is available if required
• Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance: The company provides Life Assurance cover
• End of Service Gratuity: In line with UAE Labour Law, all employees are eligible for an End of Service benefit
• The Employee Share Plan: Opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company
• Long Service Award: Celebrating long service at 5‑year milestones
• Commitment to continued professional development: Development plans tailored to individual needs
• Global connections: Join experts worldwide who shape industry standards
• Energy Transition Academy: Community of experts sharing knowledge on emerging energy systems

The Key Objectives for this Role Are

• Develop and implement commissioning plans and procedures to ensure a systematic approach.
• Oversee and coordinate the testing and verification of systems and equipment to meet design specifications and operational requirements.
• Ensure all systems and equipment function correctly and safely before handover.
• Prepare and maintain comprehensive commissioning documentation, including test results and certificates.
• Collaborate with project teams, contractors, and stakeholders for seamless integration and communication.
• Identify potential risks during commissioning and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Provide training and support to operations and maintenance personnel on newly commissioned systems and equipment.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and safety standards throughout the commissioning process.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues on site and maintain overall responsibility for the HSE Plan.
• Provide leadership to focus preparation and execution aligned to project objectives.
• Identify specific HSE issues associated with the commissioning scope.
• Identify all risks associated with the commissioning scope.
• Identify all systems/equipment requiring verification.
• Identify specific testing and integration activities related to safe, tight, clean, function, operate, preserve and how these will integrate to create operating plant.
• Identify the end state of the project, sequence drives and execution logic, specific interfaces/transitions that may affect execution.
• Develop commissioning execution plan to maximise efficiencies, reduce cost and schedule.
• Prepare the project commissioning and start‑up plan including detailed activities and start‑up logic.
• Develop and manage commissioning and start‑up budget, including forecast for future staffing requirements.
• Obtain alignment with all stakeholders on commissioning execution plan and initiate actions to drive success.
• Establish and manage commissioning management team across the portfolio of projects.
• Provide expert knowledge into design to ensure commissioning is built into design, minimise the amount of design deliverables required to achieve safe and efficient execution onshore.
• Participate in design review, 3D model reviews, value engineering, risk management workshops, planning workshops, constructability reviews, PHSERs, IPR etc.
• Jointly establish system breakdown, mechanical completions and work‑pack structure with construction and engineering managers, to drive completion of each project scope.
• Key member of the contract management team—prepare and issue ITT for construction and commissioning contract, evaluate proposals, and make recommendation to client for placing contracts.
• Establish and manage commissioning management team across the portfolio of projects.
• Develop commissioning record (closeout) documentation throughout the project and submit to the project manager before substantial completion.
• Accountable for delivery of fit‑for‑purpose project documentation including pre‑commissioning and commissioning procedures.
• Plan and prepare all resource, materials, tools, test equipment, spares and consumables required for commissioning activities and early operations.
• Establish the completions management system to ensure verification activities are recorded at all stages.
• Oversee all on‑site commissioning activities including P&ID checking, mechanical completion, pre‑commissioning, cold commissioning (dry/wet), hot commissioning.
• Run pre‑start‑up safety review with client and construction contractor.
• Oversee start‑up and responsible for full punch‑list hand‑over to operations for performance testing and post‑commissioning.
• Manage, direct and guide commissioning team to ensure delivery against milestones and KPIs.
• Responsible for managing site materials and logistics.
• Oversee and manage contractor, subcontractor and vendor activities associated with pre‑commissioning and commissioning.
• Interface with Operations Team in commissioning, start‑up and final turnover of the facility/plant.
• Assist in operational readiness plan and project execution plan development.
• Accountable for hazard/risk analysis performance and mitigating risk before start of activities.
• Establish progress reporting systems for all phases of commissioning and start‑up of the facility.
• Ensure the commissioning plan is in compliance with external regulatory bodies, Wood procedures and systems.

Skills And Qualifications

What makes you remarkable?

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. Even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

Expected

• B.S. or equivalent degree in Engineering from an accredited university.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum twenty‑five (25) years relevant experience in the oil & gas industry including onshore greenfield / brownfield projects, including at least five (5) years in a similar position.

Role‑Specific Skills / Experience

• Demonstrable ability to manage commissioning on onshore greenfield and brownfield oil and gas projects.
• Specific experience in the Middle East for renowned clients, preferred.
• Personality, ability and experience to drive, manage, direct and guide the team to achieve project objectives.
• High level of professional competence and management skills to motivate the team to achieve high quality performance during the execution of the portfolio of projects.
• Thorough knowledge of project success and benefits management.
• Demonstrable ability to drive cash flow management and projection / forecast of cost at completion.
• Demonstrable experience in coordinating packages, commissioning reviews, site plan management and completions progress measurement and tracking.
• Experienced in developing schedules and cost estimates for standard projects.
• Good knowledge of industry and company risk management processes.
• Experience of implementing successful project performance improvement activities and techniques for recovering poor performance.
• Understands the needs of information management requirements in the project phases (operation), internal (contractual, statutory) and asset (customer) documentation.
• Well versed in international and company quality assurance standards.
• Robust knowledge of all handover and close‑out activities required for customer, companies, and suppliers.
• Extensive experience in IOC, NOC, mega oil and gas onshore projects, EPC / EPCM.
• Strong management and leadership skills.

Wood is currently recruiting for an experienced commissioning director to oversee the commissioning of an ambitious and complex project for our client ADNOC in Abu Dhabi. The position will be based full time at the Abu Dhabi office.

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, supporting 60 countries and employing around 35,000 people.

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (non‑exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with relevant governing laws.