Head, Workshop & General Services- OQ8

Oman Refinery; Oman; On-site; OMR 30,760 - 38,450; Full time

Job summary

Oman Refinery is seeking a qualified individual to manage and lead the workshop and general services support for operations. The role involves directing plant maintenance reliability, overseeing technicians, and developing maintenance strategies to ensure the refinery operates safely and efficiently.

The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and have over 12 years of relevant experience in the Oil & Gas Refinery Industry, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership role. Familiarity with maintenance processes and safety standards is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in Oil & Gas Refinery Industry.
• Certifications such as CMRP or CRL preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee maintenance technicians and contractor relationships.
• Develop preventive and corrective maintenance strategies.
• Ensure adherence to safety and compliance regulations.

Skills

Leadership and people management

Problem-solving skills

Strong communication (verbal and written)

Analytical thinking

Organizational commitment

Drive for excellence

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical)

Tools

SAP (PM & MM modules)

MS Office applications (Word, Excel)

Job description

Job Overview

Manages and leads the workshop and general services support processes to Operations Departments for the overall safe, smooth, and reliable 24 hours day operation to support the Plants production targets. Directs overall plant maintenance reliability and asset integrity. Oversees maintenance technicians, manages contractor relationships, develops preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, and controls the maintenance budget. To minimize equipment downtime and ensure the refinery operates safely and efficiently, the position will act in accordance with the OQ8 mission, vision, values and strategies as well as policies, guidelines and standards supported by an IT Technology platform, HSE standards, Oman government and other legal justifications and best international practices in consonance with national objectives.

Maintenance & Asset Reliability

Develop and execute comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance strategies (PM, CM) to maximize the operational lifespan and reliability of rotating and static refinery assets. Plan and direct major refinery shutdowns, turnarounds and plant outages in close coordination with operations.

Champion the use of the site’s Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track work orders, analyze equipment downtime, and allocate labor.

Workshop Operations

Oversee the daily workflow, logistics and capabilities of the central maintenance workshop, which typically includes specialized teams for machining, fabrication, welding and valve repair.

Ensure all workshop machinery, calibration tools and heavy equipment are fully functional and safe to use. Optimize workshop turnaround times for repairing pulled equipment bundles, pumps and compressors before returning them to operational service.

General Services

General service core business for workshop teams are civil works, scaffolding, insulation, painting, lifting and rigging.

Safety Compliance and Environmental Control: Foster a robust safety culture ensuring all maintenance and workshop tasks strictly adhere to Permit‑to‑Work systems, LOTO, Lock‑out Tag‑out, confined space and hot work protocols. Ensure compliance with ISO standards and local environmental regulations and report to regulatory bodies when necessary.

Budgeting & Vendor Management

Develop and control both operational expenditures (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX) related to facility upgrades, maintenance and equipment replacement. Negotiate contracts with external contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized technical service providers.

Key Interactions

• Internal – COO Office, Operations, Maintenance, Technical Services, HSSE, Functional Management, Logistics, Procurement
• External – Contractors, Vendors and Suppliers

Working Conditions

Office environment and field operations. Moderate to intensive computer screen use. Sporadic travel to operational areas where the company operates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical) or relevant engineering field.
• Certifications such as Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) or Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) are preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken English (required).
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in Oil & Gas Refinery Industry with specific areas on maintenance and reliability with at least 3–5 years leadership role.
• Deep understanding of mechanical equipment (pumps, compressors, piping, vessels) and electrical systems.
• Familiarity with Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Good knowledge of HSE/SCE equipment & plans.
• Outstanding coaching and development experience and certification in major areas of Maintenance.
• Knowledge of maintenance processes for the following refinery operations:
  • Heavy Oil Complex Operation (CDU, VDU, SGP, LTU, KTU, DCU, and UGP)
  • Hydro Processing Complex (HCU/ARU/SRU/SWS/DHT/HPU/PSA)
  • Sulfur/Utilities Complex Operations (SRU, TGTU, ARU, CRU, SSW, CSW, BFW, Steam Generation, Air, N2, CWT, WWTP)
  • Offsite/Logistics Complex Operations (Crude Receiving Terminal, Refinery Tankage, product Dispatch, Coke and Sulfur Handling, Flare, Buildings)

Additional Desired Skills

• Soft Skills – Leadership and people management, problem‑solving skills, strong communication (verbal and written), analytical thinking, organizational commitment, drive for excellence.
• Technical Skills – Computer knowledge in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.), SAP (PM & MM modules), maintenance management systems, risk and hazard management, modern maintenance technologies, maintenance planning techniques for utilities and offsite complexes, refinery maintenance planning and scheduling, reactive, preventative, predictive maintenance, sound judgement in technical matters.