Commissioning Lead/Project Manager - Oil Sands

OCL Group; Fort McMurray; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian contractor is seeking a Commissioning Lead / Project Manager for a project at Kearl Oilsands. The role involves overseeing commissioning processes, ensuring compliance, and leading project teams. Candidates should have extensive experience in commissioning within industrial settings and possess strong leadership skills.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Eligible for annual bonus

100% employer-paid drugs, travel, life & dependent life insurance

Long-term disability

$7000 flex credit account per year

Paid vacation

Cell phone allowance

Company-provided IT assets

Paid professional membership fees

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–10 years of experience in commissioning roles within oil & gas.
• Familiarity with oil sands safety, regulatory, and operational standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop commissioning plans and strategies for projects.
• Coordinate and oversee the commissioning process.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and standards.

Skills

Commissioning planning & execution

Project Coordination

Technical Knowledge

Leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Documentation & reporting

Safety focus

Adaptability

Education

Engineering or Technical diploma/degree

Job description

Who We Are

OCL Group Inc., is proudly 100% Canadian. We are a privately held, employee-owned, fully integrated general contractor with design-build solutions across Western Canada. We have been serving the energy and municipal infrastructure markets since 2009.

The formation of OCL was a direct result of a few long-tenured industry professionals with entrepreneurial spirits, wanting to get back to their roots and build an organization where people matter. Formed in 2009, OCL started their first project and began building around a business model focused on “People” and “Doing the Job Right”. Learn more about OCL here: www.oclgroup.ca

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Commissioning Lead / Project Manager to join our team at Kearl Oilsands. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in commissioning management within complex industrial or oil sands projects and will take a leadership role in driving safe, efficient, and compliant project delivery. This position has the following shift options: 5/2 or 10/4, 12 hours per day, with charter flights provided from either Calgary or Edmonton, with flight allowances based on the province located.

Compensation/Benefits

• Competitive base salary, negotiable, based on experience
• Can hire as a direct employee or as a *Direct Service Provider/Subcontractor
• Eligible for annual bonus based on company performance
• 100% employer-paid drugs, travel, life & dependent life insurance, and AD&D
• Long-term disability
• $7000 flex credit account per year (can roll into and health care spending account and/or RRSP)
• Paid vacation
• Cell phone allowance or company-provided cell phone
• Company-provided IT assets
• The company paid professional membership fees and/or dues (e.g., P. Eng)
• DSPs - hourly wage only plus vehicle and insurance allowance; no overtime, benefits, vacation, or stat holiday pay
  
  

About The Project

The Project involves the installation of CST pipelines with associated pump houses, e-houses, and upgrades to the Gland Water system. Additionally, the project includes Kearl transformer upgrades to accommodate incremental electrical loads. This multi-disciplinary project encompasses Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Piping, Electrical, and Insulation scopes.

Our Culture

Our employees would describe the work environment as team-based, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial. We believe in hiring “A” Players who are self-motivated and intrinsically driven to succeed. These types of people thrive in environments with minimal guidance because they are resourceful and can seek out information on their own to make informed decisions. Turning around profitable, safe projects for our clients is key to everything we do.

OCL Advantage

• Employee Ownership - Fosters a culture of ownership, integrity, accountability, and desire for group success
• Flexibility - Intrinsically motivated, “A” players don’t need to be micromanaged. They work hard because they want themselves and the Company to succeed. These types of employees enjoy increased levels of autonomy and flexible schedules
• Work Hard, Play Hard Culture - We pride ourselves on being a FUN place to work! We work hard but know how to have a good time too! We frequently gather as a group to celebrate wins, holidays, and individual milestones
• Entrepreneurial Mindset - We are always looking for opportunities to expand our business and diversify! We take calculated risks, foster innovation, and make quick decisions because we operate in a very low-bureaucracy environment
• Small Business/Family Feel - With the capacity to handle complex, multi-million dollar projects and grow our workforce to over 1500 people quickly, we compete with large General Contractors but pride ourselves in our ability to maintain a “small business/family feel”. We have blue-collar roots, so our casual environment and commitment to our hard-working men and women in the trades are key to our success
  
  

Key Duties / Responsibilities

• Develop commissioning plans and strategies for projects
• Coordinate and oversee the commissioning process
• Collaborate with project teams and stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with regulations and standards
• Conduct inspections and tests to verify system performance
• Identify and resolve deficiencies or issues
• Document and report commissioning activities
• Manage commissioning schedules and resources
• Review and approve commissioning documentation
• Conduct training and handover activities
• Collaborate with contractors and vendors
• Monitor progress and address project risks
• Manage relationships with clients and stakeholders
• Conduct post-commissioning evaluations and follow-ups
• Ensure project completion within specified quality standards
  
  

Key Skills

• Commissioning planning & execution: Ability to develop, manage, and execute commissioning plans across all project phases
• Project Coordination: Skilled in aligning schedules, disciplines, and contractors toward common milestones
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of systems integration, instrumentation, controls, and power systems
• Leadership: Proven capability to lead teams, delegate responsibilities, and manage performance in high-pressure environments
• Problem-solving: Able to quickly identify, assess, and resolve issues impacting safety, quality, or schedule
• Communication: Clear and effective communicator across all levels—field crews, vendors, engineering teams, and client stakeholders
• Documentation & reporting: Detail-oriented with strong documentation skills for system completions, punch lists, test results, and turnover packages
• Safety focus: Commitment to safe work practices and fostering a zero-incident culture
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in dynamic, fast-paced site conditions with shifting priorities
  
  

Education/Work Experience/Qualifications

• Minimum 5–10 years of experience in commissioning roles within the oil & gas, energy, or heavy industrial sectors
• Engineering or Technical diploma/degree in a relevant discipline
• 5+ years of experience in commissioning or project management in industrial environments
• Strong understanding of multi-disciplinary construction and commissioning processes
• Proven leadership, communication, and coordination skills
• Familiarity with oil sands safety, regulatory, and operational standards is a strong asset
• Valid safety certifications (e.g., First Aid, OSSA, CSTS, WHMIS, H2S Alive)
• Ability to work in a remote camp-based environment and adapt to changing site conditions
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to lead cross-functional teams
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
  
  

OCL Group Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

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