Rigging & Lifting Specialist

Wood; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood is seeking a PMC Rigging & Lifting Specialist to provide expert technical oversight of all lifting and rigging activities across the project, ensuring planning, execution, and monitoring meet ADNOC standards and international regulations.

The role focuses on reducing operational risk, promoting safe lifting operations, and ensuring contractor compliance from engineering through commissioning in a demanding oil and gas environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Professional certification in Rigging and Lifting from a recognized international body preferred.
• Additional lifting certifications such as Appointed Person (Lifting Operations), LEEA, CPCS, NCCCO, OPITO or equivalent desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and assurance of all lifting and rigging activities performed by EPC Contractors.
• Review and approve lifting studies, lifting plans, method statements, and risk assessments for lifting operations.
• Ensure compliance with ADNOC Codes of Practice, HSE requirements and international standards.
• Participate in constructability reviews to integrate lifting requirements into planning.
• Verify that cranes and lifting gear are certified, inspected and fit for purpose.
• Monitor contractor compliance with lifting procedures and permit-to-work.
• Conduct site inspections and audits of lifting operations and provide improvement recommendations.
• Witness and assess critical, heavy, tandem lifts and complex lifting activities.
• Ensure competent personnel are deployed for lifting operations.
• Investigate lifting incidents and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate with Construction, HSE, Engineering, QA/QC, and Operations teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

HSE excellence

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Microsoft Office

Digital lifting management systems

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional certification in Rigging and Lifting

Appointed Person (Lifting Operations)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Engineering documentation systems

Job description

Job Description

PMC Rigging & Lifting Specialist -Job Objective

To provide specialist technical expertise and assurance for all lifting and rigging activities across the project, ensuring that all lifting operations are planned, executed, and monitored in accordance with ADNOC standards, applicable international regulations, project specifications, and industry best practices. The role is responsible for promoting safe lifting operations, minimizing operational risks, and ensuring contractor compliance throughout all phases of construction and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and assurance of all lifting and rigging activities performed by EPC Contractors.
• Review and approve lifting studies, lifting plans, method statements, and risk assessments for routine and critical lifting operations.
• Ensure all lifting activities comply with ADNOC Codes of Practice, project HSE requirements, and applicable international standards.
• Participate in constructability reviews to ensure lifting requirements are incorporated into engineering and construction planning.
• Verify that cranes, lifting equipment, lifting accessories, and rigging gear are certified, inspected, and fit for purpose.
• Review crane selection, lifting configurations, ground bearing assessments, and equipment capacities.
• Monitor contractor compliance with lifting procedures, permit-to-work requirements, and lifting management systems.
• Conduct regular site inspections and audits of lifting operations and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Witness and assess critical lifts, heavy lifts, tandem lifts, and other complex lifting activities.
• Ensure competent personnel, including crane operators, riggers, signalmen, and lifting supervisors, are deployed for lifting operations.
• Investigate lifting incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Participate in HAZID, HAZOP, SIMOPS, constructability, and risk assessment workshops where lifting activities are involved.
• Coordinate with Construction, HSE, Engineering, QA/QC, and Operations teams to ensure safe execution of lifting activities.
• Support pre-commissioning and commissioning activities requiring specialized lifting operations.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections, audits, lifting observations, and technical recommendations.
• Promote continuous improvement in lifting safety performance through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• Professional certification in Rigging and Lifting from a recognized international body is preferred.
• Additional lifting certifications such as Appointed Person (Lifting Operations), LEEA, CPCS, NCCCO, OPITO, or equivalent are highly desirable.
• Valid HSE-related certifications relevant to offshore or onshore construction environments are advantageous.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience in construction, heavy lifting, and rigging operations within the oil and gas industry.
• Minimum 10 years of experience on major EPC, EPCM, or PMC projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience on ADNOC projects or equivalent Middle East oil and gas projects.
• Extensive experience in planning and supervising critical lifts involving heavy process equipment, modules, vessels, tanks, and structural steel.
• Experience supporting greenfield oil and gas developments from engineering through construction and commissioning.
• Previous PMC experience is highly preferred.

Technical Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of ADNOC lifting requirements and Codes of Practice.
• Strong understanding of:
• LOLER and relevant international lifting regulations.
• BS 7121.
• ASME B30 series.
• ISO lifting standards.
• LEEA guidance and industry best practices.
• Experience reviewing:
• Crane studies.
• Lift plans.
• Ground bearing calculations.
• Rigging calculations.
• Load distribution analyses.
• Familiarity with heavy lift engineering and transport operations.
• Ability to assess lifting risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing and interface management.
• Excellent technical report writing and communication skills.

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence EPC Contractors.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to HSE excellence.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and standard engineering documentation systems.
• Familiarity with digital lifting management systems is advantageous.

Key Interfaces

• PMC Construction Manager
• Site Construction Team
• HSE Team
• Engineering Team
• QA/QC Team
• Commissioning Team
• EPC Contractor Construction Management
• Crane and Heavy Lift Contractors
• ADNOC Project Management Team

About Us

Wood is a global leader in consulting, engineering and operations for the energy and materials sectors. With 33,000 people in around 50 countries, Wood supports clients across the full asset lifecycle, delivering safe, predictable outcomes while enabling resilient operations and a lower carbon future. Wood forms the Energy & Materials pillar of Sidara - a global partnership uniting leading multidisciplinary engineering, design, and project management companies. www.woodgroup.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.