Senior Petrochemical Operations Leader

Hire Resolve.com; Johannesburg; In loco; Tempo pieno

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Description

Hire Resolve is assisting petrochemical organisations in hiring experienced petrochemical professionals to support refinery, chemical, and downstream manufacturing operations across South Africa. This is a multi‑role opportunity covering several functions within the sector, including plant operations, process and project engineering, reliability and maintenance, SHERQ (Safety, Health, Environment, Risk & Quality) and process safety, quality and laboratory functions, supply chain, and commercial/technical services. These opportunities suit mid‑ to senior‑level professionals and offer clear progression toward senior leadership roles such as Operations/Production Manager, Engineering Manager, Reliability Lead, SHERQ Manager, and broader site leadership positions.

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 development through execution, commissioning, and handover
• Maintain robust technical documentation and change control (P&IDs, SOPs, operating envelopes, MOC)
• Strengthen reliability through preventive/predictive maintenance strategies, RCA, shutdown/turnaround planning, and asset integrity programmes
• Ensure compliance with applicable South African legislation and site standards, including the OHS Act, Major Hazard Installation (MHI) requirements where applicable, and environmental compliance obligations
• Lead and participate in risk assessments (HAZOP/LOPA), incident investigations, and corrective action close‑out
• 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 audits and inspections; implement and sustain continuous improvement programmes
• Coach and develop teams through training, competency development, and performance management support

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) 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
• Experience in one or more functional tracks: operations leadership, process engineering, reliability/maintenance, rotating equipment, SHERQ/process safety, projects, quality/laboratory, or commercial/technical support
• Working knowledge of safety and regulatory expectations in high‑hazard environments (OHS Act, risk assessments, Permit‑to‑Work, contractor management; MHI and environmental compliance awareness 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 practices
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead cross‑functional teams and drive delivery
• 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