Associate Director - Downstream Refinery Operations & Digital Transformation

Proclink; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Proclink seeks an Associate Director to lead refinery operations and digital transformation initiatives for global clients in the USA. You will drive operational excellence, asset performance, and supply chain improvements while guiding technology adoption and data-driven decisions.

The role requires deep refinery expertise, consulting leadership, and the ability to develop value-driven solutions with senior stakeholders across organizations.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in downstream refining, manufacturing, or energy operations.
• Strong understanding of refinery processes, operations management, and supply chain performance.
• Proven track record leading digital transformation programs in industrial settings.
• Experience engaging with C-level stakeholders and leading large teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead refinery operations leadership and optimize unit operations across value chains.
• Drive digital transformation strategies, roadmaps, and value realization for clients.
• Mentor consulting, delivery, and account teams to deliver client value.
• Develop business growth opportunities and strategic account plans.

Skills

Downstream refining

Digital transformation

Executive stakeholder management

MES platforms

Industrial automation

Cloud technologies

AI/ML

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering

MBA (preferred)

Tools

MES platforms

Industrial automation

Cloud technologies

AI/ML

Job description

Associate Director – Refinery Operations & Digital Transformation (USA)

Industry: Oil & Gas | Downstream Refining | Manufacturing Services

Experience: 15+ Years

Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, or related discipline (MBA preferred)

About the Role

As part of our growth strategy in the Manufacturing Services vertical, we are seeking an experienced Assistant Director – Refinery Operations & Digital Transformation to lead strategic engagements across the downstream refining value chain. The successful candidate will bring deep refinery operations expertise combined with strong experience in digital transformation initiatives, helping clients improve operational excellence, asset performance, profitability, and supply chain efficiency.

This role requires a blend of refinery domain knowledge, consulting capability, business leadership, and technology transformation experience to drive value for global refining and petrochemical clients.

Key Responsibilities

Refinery Operations Leadership

• Serve as a subject matter expert for downstream refining operations and business processes.
• Provide operational leadership across refinery unit operations and integrated refinery value chains.
• Advise clients on operational excellence, production optimization, yield improvement, energy efficiency, and margin enhancement initiatives.
• Support operational assessments, benchmarking studies, and business transformation programs.
• Drive improvements in refinery reliability, throughput, safety, and sustainability.
• Lead client discussions around digital transformation strategies and roadmaps.
• Enable adoption of advanced manufacturing and digital technologies across refining operations.
• Identify opportunities to leverage data, analytics, automation, AI, cloud platforms, and industrial digital solutions to improve business performance.
• Support implementation and value realization of manufacturing and operational technology solutions, including MES and related digital platforms.
• Bridge the gap between business objectives and technology capability
• Build and maintain strong executive-level relationships with key stakeholders.
• Understand client priorities, challenges, and growth objectives to develop value-driven solutions.
• Lead business reviews, strategic workshops, and executive discussions.
• Serve as the primary escalation and governance point for strategic engagements.

Business Growth & Account Development

• Identify and develop new business opportunities within existing and prospective accounts.
• Contribute to account growth through strategic planning, consulting-led engagements, and digital transformation programs.
• Collaborate with delivery, consulting, and technology teams to create compelling client solutions.
• Support proposal development, solution positioning, and business development activities
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory developments, digital technologies, and emerging refining best practices.
• Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and client forums.
• Contribute to thought leadership, capability development, and internal knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Mentor and guide consulting, account, and delivery teams.
• Foster a collaborative, client-focused, and high-performance culture.
• Support talent development, coaching, and organizational growth initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

• Extensive experience in downstream refining, manufacturing, or energy operations.
• Strong understanding of refinery business processes, operations management, supply chain, blending, logistics, and operational performance improvement.
• Proven experience in leading digital transformation programs within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing technologies, MES platforms, advanced analytics, industrial automation, cloud technologies, AI/ML, and operational intelligence solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with executive and C-level stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• Experience in consulting, client-facing leadership, account management, or transformation leadership roles.
• Experience leading large-scale operational and technology transformation programs.