Senior Petrochemical Operations & Projects Leader

Hire Resolve.com; Riyadh; 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 Saudi Arabia. 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 offer 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, SOPs, operating envelopes, MOC)
• Strengthen asset reliability through preventive/predictive maintenance strategies, RCA, shutdown/turnaround planning, and integrity programmes
• Ensure compliance with site HSE standards, process safety controls, and contractor management requirements in high-hazard environments
• 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 across safety, production, quality, reliability, and budget performance
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Laboratory, Supply Chain, and external vendors to deliver site targets
• Support audits and inspections; implement and sustain continuous improvement programmes
• Coach and develop teams through training, competency development, and leadership support

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Instrumentation Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline (relevant certifications are advantageous)
• 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 safety and process safety expectations for major hazard operations (Permit-to-Work, isolations/LOTO, contractor management, incident investigation, MOC; local regulatory alignment as applicable to the site)
• 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 practices
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams in multicultural environments
• Professional English proficiency required; Arabic is advantageous for some roles but not essential
• Willingness to work onsite in an industrial environment; some roles may involve shift coverage, on-call rotation, or travel depending on site needs

Benefits

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