Senior Petrochemical Operations & Engineering Leader

Hire Resolve.com; Sittard; On-site; Full time

Job description

Description

Hire Resolve is assisting petrochemical organisations in hiring experienced petrochemical professionals to support refinery, chemical, and downstream manufacturing operations across the Netherlands. This is a multi-role opportunity covering several functions within the sector, including plant operations, process and project engineering, reliability and maintenance, HSE and process safety, quality and laboratory functions, supply chain, and commercial/technical services. These roles are designed for mid- to senior-level professionals and provide a clear pathway toward senior leadership positions such as Operations/Production Manager, Engineering Manager, Reliability Lead, HSE/Process Safety Manager, and broader site leadership roles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead safe, efficient plant operations across continuous and batch processes, utilities, and supporting units
• Drive process optimisation, debottlenecking, yield improvement, energy efficiency, and cost reduction initiatives
• Support or lead capital projects from scope definition through execution, commissioning, and handover
• Maintain robust technical documentation and change control (P&IDs, procedures, operating envelopes, MOC)
• Strengthen asset reliability through preventive/predictive maintenance strategies, RCA, shutdown/turnaround planning, and integrity programmes
• Ensure compliance with Dutch health and safety requirements and site HSE management systems, including major hazard controls where applicable
• Lead and participate in risk assessments (HAZOP/LOPA), incident investigations, and corrective action closure
• Manage contractors and safe systems of work (Permit to Work, isolations/LOTO, method statements and risk assessments)
• Monitor and improve KPIs for safety, production, quality, reliability, and budget performance
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Laboratory, Supply Chain, and external vendors to deliver site objectives
• Support internal and external audits and inspections; maintain continuous improvement programmes
• Coach and develop teams through training, competency development, and leadership support

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Instrumentation Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline
• Typically 7–15+ years of experience in petrochemicals, refining, specialty chemicals, polymers, industrial gases, or comparable process manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience in one or more functional tracks: operations leadership, process engineering, reliability/maintenance, rotating equipment, HSE/process safety, projects, quality/laboratory, or commercial/technical support
• Working knowledge of industrial safety and major hazard expectations (Seveso/BRZO context, Permit to Work, isolations/LOTO, contractor management, process safety practices where applicable)
• Familiarity with common plant systems and tools such as CMMS/EAM (e.g., SAP/Maximo), process historians (e.g., PI System), and standard engineering documentation
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
• Professional English proficiency required; Dutch is an advantage for some roles and sites
• Willingness to work onsite in an industrial environment; some roles may include on-call duties, shift coverage, or travel depending on site needs

Benefits

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Training & Development