Lead Operator

NES Fircroft; Canada; On-site; CAD 69,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RSP contribution

Health benefits package

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a Lead Operator / Day Foreman for a modern gas processing facility in Northern Alberta. The role oversees daily plant operations, maintenance coordination, and operator leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable performance.

Requires 10+ years in gas processing, 2nd/1st Class Power Engineer, and strong leadership with experience in SCADA/DeltaV. Relocation may be required for non-local candidates; ABSA/AER compliance is essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in gas processing operations.
• Strong leadership and mentoring of operators.
• Experience with MOC processes and change control.
• Knowledge of ABSA/AER regulatory requirements.
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License.
• Experience with DeltaV or similar DCS is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on operational leadership to Gas Plant Operators to ensure safe, efficient performance.
• Troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues and coordinate with Engineering/Maintenance.
• Promote hazard awareness and enforce safe work practices.
• Ensure compliance with HSE standards and site procedures.
• Support startups, shutdowns, turnarounds, and commissioning events.
• Coordinate with Maintenance on priorities and reliability improvements.
• Mentor operators to strengthen capability and operating discipline.

Skills

Team leadership

Troubleshooting

Safety leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Effective communication

Education

2nd Class Power Engineer

1st Class Power Engineer

Tools

DeltaV

SCADA

Job description

An established natural gas processing facility is seeking a Lead Operator / Day Foreman to oversee daily plant operations and provide hands‑on leadership to operating teams. This role is responsible for all aspects of plant production, maintenance coordination, and operator leadership in a dynamic gas processing environment.

• Schedule: 4x3 (Days)
• Work Setup: Non‑camp position (relocation required if not local)
• Eligibility: Open to candidates legally eligible to work in Canada

The Facility

This is a modern gas processing facility supporting sour natural gas production in Northern Alberta. The plant includes advanced gas processing and sulphur recovery capabilities and plays a key role in regional energy infrastructure.

Position Overview

The Lead Operator / Day Foreman is responsible for the daily operations of the facility, including plant production, maintenance coordination, and leadership of plant operators.

This role requires strong technical expertise combined with hands‑on leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide hands‑on operational leadership and technical guidance to Gas Plant Operators to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable facility performance
• Serve as a primary point of support for troubleshooting plant issues, resolving complex process and equipment challenges, and coordinating with Engineering and Maintenance
• Demonstrate strong safety leadership by promoting hazard awareness, supporting risk assessments, and reinforcing safe work practices
• Ensure full compliance with HSE standards, regulatory requirements (including ABSA and AER), and site procedures
• Monitor plant performance and support optimization to maximize production while maintaining cost effectiveness
• Maintain and improve operating procedures to ensure consistency and accuracy across all shifts
• Participate in Management of Change (MOC) processes, supporting implementation and documentation
• Support plant activities including startups, shutdowns, turnarounds, and commissioning events
• Coordinate with Maintenance teams on priorities, execution, and equipment reliability
• Mentor and coach operators to strengthen technical capability and operating discipline
• Oversee critical activities such as sampling, inspections, and regulatory log management
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, and operational performance
• Provide coverage for senior plant leadership roles when required
• Perform additional duties as needed

Education and Experience Requirements

• Preference for 2nd or 1st Class Power Engineer certification

In addition, candidates will have:

• 10+ years of hands‑on experience in gas processing operations
• Strong technical expertise in:
• Sulphur recovery
• Gas compression
• Steam systems
• Water treatment
• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex process and equipment issues
• Leadership experience mentoring and developing operators
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills
• High level of professionalism, organization, and decision‑making ability
• Experience with work order systems and SCADA platforms
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License
• Experience with distributed control systems (e.g., DeltaV) is an asset
• Competitive hourly rate
• RSP contribution
• Comprehensive health and benefits package