Plant Operator III

Airswift; Anzac; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking a Plant Operator III for a large-scale industrial processing facility in the Athabasca Region, Northern Alberta. The role involves operating in a DCS/control room environment, monitoring processes, and coordinating start-up and shutdown activities.

This one-year contract features a 14-on/14-off schedule with 12-hour rotating shifts and camp accommodation. The ideal candidate has 5-7 years in oil sands, SAGD, gas processing, refining, or related heavy industrial operations and

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in industrial plant operations.
• Strong knowledge of process operations, production systems, and optimization techniques.
• Experience with operating complex process facilities and advanced troubleshooting.
• Ability to interpret process trends, SOPs, and technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor plant processes through a DCS/control room environment.
• Analyze plant performance data and optimize production accordingly.
• Monitor critical variables and respond to abnormal conditions.
• Conduct field inspections and equipment condition assessments.
• Coordinate start-up, shutdown, commissioning and upset recovery activities.
• Mentor junior operators and support maintenance planning and turnover procedures.
• Ensure compliance with operating standards and HSE programs.
• Contribute to reliability improvement and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

DCS control room

Troubleshooting

Process optimization

Leadership

Data interpretation

Education

Power Engineering certification (3rd/4th class)

Tools

P&IDs

Permits to work

Isolation procedures

Job description

Plant Operator III

Location: Athabasca Region, Northern Alberta (FIFO + Camp Accommodation)

Schedule: 14 Days On / 14 Days Off | 12-Hour Rotating Shifts

Duration: 1-year contract (extendable)

Position Summary

We are seeking a Plant Operator III to provide advanced operational expertise in a large-scale industrial processing facility. This role requires an experienced operator capable of independently managing complex processes, optimizing plant performance, troubleshooting operational challenges, and supporting operational excellence initiatives. The successful candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in oil sands, SAGD, gas processing, refining, petrochemical, mining, or heavy industrial operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor plant processes through a DCS/control room environment.
• Analyze plant performance data and make operational adjustments to optimize production.
• Monitor critical process variables and respond appropriately to abnormal operating conditions.
• Conduct detailed field inspections and equipment condition assessments.
• Coordinate plant start-up, shutdown, commissioning, and upset recovery activities.
• Troubleshoot process, mechanical, and operational issues with minimal supervision.
• Support maintenance planning and execution through equipment isolation and turnover procedures.
• Review operational trends and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
  • Participate in root cause investigations and incident reviews.
  • Mentor junior operators and provide guidance on operational procedures and best practices.
  • Ensure compliance with company operating standards, regulatory requirements, and HSE programs.
  • Contribute to operational readiness, reliability improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives.

  Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in industrial plant operations.
  • Strong knowledge of process operations, production systems, and process optimization techniques.
  • Demonstrated experience operating complex process facilities.
  • Advanced troubleshooting and diagnostic capabilities.
  • Working knowledge of rotating and static equipment.
  • Experience with permit-to-work systems, isolation procedures, and operational risk management.
  • Ability to interpret process trends, P&IDs, SOPs, and technical documentation.
  • Strong communication and leadership skills.

  Preferred Qualifications

  • 4th or 3rd Class Power Engineering certification.
  • Experience in SAGD, oil sands extraction, upgrading, gas plants, or refinery operations.
  • Familiarity with process safety management (PSM) principles.
  • Experience mentoring or training junior operators.

  About Airswift

  Airswift is an international workforce solutions provider within the energy, process and infrastructure industries. Airswift serves as a strategic partner to clients, offering a turnkey workforce solution to capture and deliver the top talent needed to complete successful projects by aligning with unique project needs. With over 1000 employees and 9,000 contractors operating in over 60 countries, Airswift's geographical reach and pool of talent available is unmatched in the industry. #LI-BC2