Operations & Maintenance Lead

EHIF; Sharjah; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Sharjah is seeking an experienced Operations & Maintenance Lead to oversee the safe operation of field production facilities. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in oil & gas, particularly in the Middle East, and strong leadership skills. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day operations, developing maintenance strategies, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. This role offers a competitive salary, medical insurance, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Medical Insurance

Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance

Employee Share Plan

Long Service Award

Qualifications

• 15+ years of O&M experience in oil & gas production facilities, preferably in the Middle East.
• Strong field experience with surface facilities, CPF, water injection, gas handling, pumps, compressors.
• Previous experience in Iraq or similar high complexity international projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day to day operations of surface facilities and supporting infrastructure.
• Develop and execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Champion a strong safety culture across all operations and maintenance teams.
• Lead, train, and mentor local and expat technicians.

Skills

Strong leadership and communication skills

Ability to work under pressure and in remote conditions

Cultural awareness and adaptability

Problem solving and decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or equivalent

Tools

CMMS tools (SAP, Maximo)

Job description

Wood is looking for Operations & Maintenance Lead to join our Engineering team in Sharjah, UAE.

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, helping to unlock solutions to critical challenges in energy and materials markets. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in 60 countries, employing around 35,000 people. www.woodplc.com

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 (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.

#Wood #Sharjah #UAE #

Operations & Maintenance Lead

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects Delivered to high profile clients and complex projects in Iraq
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests
• Global connections: join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession
• Medical Insurance:Ensures inpatient and outpatient medical care is available should you require treatment.
• Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance:The company provides Life Assurance cover
• The Employee Share Plan:Gives you the opportunity to purchase Wood shares and receive a match from the company
• Long Service Award:Wood values the commitment and loyalty of our people. Celebrating Long Service provides an opportunity for the business to demonstrate their appreciation of the hard work, dedication and many years’ services of our employees at 5-year service milestones

Role Purpose

• The Operations & Maintenance Lead is responsible for overseeing the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of field production facilities, utilities, and supporting infrastructure within the Kirkuk project. This role ensures O&M activities are executed in compliance with international standards, local regulations, and company HSE protocols, while supporting production targets and optimizing asset integrity.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Management

• Oversee day to day operations of surface facilities, processing units, wells, pipelines, and utilities.
• Ensure seamless coordination between operations, maintenance, HSE, engineering, and field teams.
• Monitor production KPIs and troubleshoot operational deviations.
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensure compliance.

Maintenance Leadership

• Develop and execute preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs for mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.
• Lead maintenance planning, scheduling, and prioritization to minimize downtime.
• Manage maintenance technicians and contractors to ensure timely work execution.
• Ensure the integrity of rotating equipment, static equipment, and critical systems.

HSE & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture across all operations and maintenance teams.
• Enforce compliance with Iraq oilfield regulations, company HSE policies, and international best practices.
• Conduct toolbox talks, incident reviews, and ensure implementation of corrective actions.
• Support risk assessments, work permits, SIMOPS, and emergency response plans.

Asset Integrity & Reliability

• Support reliability engineering initiatives, including RCA (Root Cause Analysis), FMECA, and equipment life cycle management.
• Ensure integrity compliance for pressure vessels, pipelines, lifting equipment, and safety critical elements.
• Review CMMS (e.g., SAP/Maximo) data accuracy and integrity.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, train, and mentor local Iraqi staff and expat technicians.
• Foster a culture of accountability, technical competence, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure competency development plans for O&M personnel are implemented.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Liaise with internal stakeholders (engineering, logistics, procurement, drilling, completions).
• Coordinate with external stakeholders including government bodies, contractors, and JV partners.
• Provide daily, weekly, and monthly operations reports to management.

Project & Upgrade Support

• Support facility upgrades, brownfield modifications, and commissioning activities.
• Participate in technical evaluations, FAT/SAT, and readiness reviews for new equipment.
• Ensure smooth integration of new systems into ongoing operations.

Qualifications

What makes you remarkable?

At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So 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.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, or equivalent.

Professional Experience

• 15+ years of O&M experience in oil & gas production facilities, preferably Middle East operations.
• Strong field experience with surface facilities, CPF, water injection, gas handling, pumps, compressors, and rotating equipment.
• Previous experience in Iraq or similar high complexity international projects preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of oil & gas production processes.
• Proficiency in CMMS tools (SAP, Maximo).
• Understanding of HSE standards (API, OSHA, ISO).
• Ability to read P&IDs, PFDs, equipment specs, maintenance manuals.

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in remote field conditions.
• Cultural awareness and adaptability in multicultural teams.
• Strong problem solving and decision making abilities.