Director of CSO: Commissioning, Start-Up & Ops

KBR, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Flexible spending account

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) seeks a Director of Commissioning, Start-Up, and Operations to lead all CSO activities across major projects. You will guide governance, standardization, and execution readiness from construction turnover to operations, ensuring safe, reliable handover.

The role requires 15+ years in commissioning/ops with 5+ years of leadership, strong PS M knowledge, and travel to multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; equivalent experience may be substituted.
• 15+ years in commissioning, start-up, operations, process engineering, or major industrial project execution with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Experience leading commissioning, start-up, turnover, and operational readiness for large capital projects in energy, petrochemical, LNG, power, oil & gas, or process industries.
• Strong knowledge of pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, system turnover, performance testing, and plant operations.
• Experience directing multidisciplinary teams across multiple project phases including contractors and craft labor.
• Ability to coordinate equipment/system checkout, flushing, cleaning, testing, initial operation, and start-up activities.
• Knowledge of process systems, rotating equipment, electrical, instrumentation, and utilities.
• Working knowledge of PSM, regulatory compliance, risk management, and safe work practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, client engagement, and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to travel to Home Office and Site locations; background check required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and governance of CSO across projects, ensuring consistent execution and standards.
• Establish and continuously improve commissioning, completions, start-up, turnover, and operational readiness procedures and methodologies.
• Define systemization, completions management, and turnover strategies spanning CC to handover to Operations.
• Oversee Completions Management Systems for data structure, workflows, and project controls.
• Direct staffing, resource planning, and manpower forecasting for CSO activities across locations.
• Support business development through proposals, planning, staffing, and client presentations.
• Build strong client relationships and advise on commissioning, start-up, and readiness matters.
• Ensure integration among Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Project Controls, and Operations.
• Serve as escalation point for execution challenges and safety/compliance issues.
• Develop and implement procedures for commissioning, start-up, and maintenance; monitor progress and risks.
• Mentor CSO Managers and coordinators; align with leadership for successful handover and early operations.
• Travel as required to project sites and home office; ensure readiness and performance.

Skills

Leadership

Commissioning

Turnover & Start-Up

Operational Readiness

Client Engagement

Project Leadership

Safety & PSM

Staffing & Resource Planning

Communication

Travel Readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

Professional Engineer (PE) certification

Job description

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) seeks a Director of Commissioning, Start-Up, and Operations to lead all CSO activities across major projects. You will guide governance, standardization, and execution readiness from construction turnover to operations, ensuring safe, reliable handover.

The role requires 15+ years in commissioning/ops with 5+ years of leadership, strong PS M knowledge, and travel to multiple sites.