Facilities Pre commissioning lead

Purpose

The Facilities Pre-commissioning Lead is a critical leadership position responsible for bridging the gap between mechanical construction and live offshore operations. The primary purpose of this role is to design, govern, and execute a flawless pre-commissioning plan that safely integrates the facility systems with the existing live host asset (FPSO) and SURF systems.

As the ultimate gatekeeper of the technical integrity and operations readiness, the lead ensures all subsea infrastructure and topsides systems are rigorously tested, fully compliant with industry/company standards and verified as safe for the introduction of first hydrocarbon. By managing complex interfaces, mitigating risks within a high-consequence SIMOPS environment and driving a zero-incident safety culture, the lead secures a seamless, on-schedule handover to the asset operations team.

The role ensures systems are mechanically complete, safe, integrated, and fully verified for commissioning and start‑up, while managing brownfield tie‑ins to a live FPSO and interfaces with a new SURF (Subsea, Umbilical, Riser and Flowline) development.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

The Facilities Pre-commissioning Lead is accountable for the safe, flawless, and on-schedule pre-commissioning and mechanical completion of the subsea interfaces with topside integration and associated brownfield topside systems. The role bridges the gap between mechanical completion and handover to operations, ensuring all systems meet stringent safety, regulatory and company standards.

• Lead COMPANY efforts to provide offshore perspective/inputs in readiness reviews, risk assessment, SIMOPs, HAZOP, HAZID and other critical assessments to support pre-commissioning, commissioning and start up during Offshore Execution.
• Develop comprehensive pre-commissioning and commissioning philosophies, execution plans, and detailed procedures for topside systems and their interfaces with subsea.
• Lead pre-commissioning and commissioning reviews and actively participate in translating specifications in pre-commissioning and commissioning requirements verification and validation.
• Define boundaries of commissioning systems and subsystems, establishing clear check sheets and marked-up P&IDs.
• Coordinate complex brownfield upgrades on the host facility to integrate controls and process streams.
• Develop and manage detailed SIMOPS (Simultaneous Operations) plans to mitigate risks associated with executing pre-commissioning activities on a live, producing asset.
• Manage technical and operational interfaces between the subsea installation teams, the topside modification teams, and the existing asset operations crew.
• Oversee and sign off on major testing scopes, including factory acceptance tests (FAT), Site Integration Tests (SIT), electrical testing (e.g. IR testing for umbilical) and control system integration tests.
• Supervise offshore pre-commissioning campaigns.
• Manage project punch list tracking system, prioritizing and categorizing defects to ensure critical items are cleared prior to introducing hydrocarbon.
• Stakeholder and Contractor Management: Act as the primary point of contact for engineering, fabrication, and installation contractor regarding pre-commissioning deliverables.
• Interface with multi-disciplinary teams and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment on project milestones and readiness.
• Support project HSSE & SP, Management of Repeated Failures, QA/QC and TIV targets. Ensure quality in execution with “right for time” mindset.
• Ensure that all work is to the required standard and that all drawings, specifications, inspections and certifications are strictly adhered to.
• Ensure that site works are performed in accordance with approved procedures. Monitor compliance to the Company standard work process compliance.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure specifications / approved procedures and applicable MOC (if any) are implemented.
• Ensure worksite toolbox protocol and hazard assessment are conducted and signed off for site specific activity.
• Support the pre-commissioning team in proactive resolution of Site queries, managing interface with Technical Authorities (TAs) where required.
• Uphold asset integrity, design intent, and regulatory compliance throughout pre‑commissioning.
• Demonstrate visible HSSE leadership during high‑risk activities and safeguard asset integrity.
• Embed process safety, barrier management, and safe systems of work.

Position Dimension and Special Challenges

• The project is a Flagship mega-project with high visibility and significant technical and brownfield complexity.
• Managing construction site safety in view of the large number of workers with differing levels of safety knowledge and motivation across a multinational consortium.
• Design activities concentrate on highly unique topics (not guided by procedures or precedents). Realistic pre-commissioning planning and execution strategies needs to be captured early in detailed design.
• Works in an environment with highly complex operations with high potential impact on performance of own business area.
• Integrates diverse disciplines and third-party contractors to achieve project delivery.
• Scale and severity of consequences if things go wrong are moderate/high and involve complex stakeholder management.
• Manage a very high workload and large diversity of tasks requiring both deep technical and excellent people skills.
• Maintaining effective interfaces with executing parties. Ability to work through others and build relationships to drive insights.
• Brownfield complexity: Work in congested FPSO topsides with live production and SIMOPS constraints.
• Interface intensity: Multiple stakeholders (Construction, Operations, Marine, vendors, certifying bodies) with tight schedules.
• Regulatory compliance: Adherence to standards, regulation, and safety requirements.
• Risk management: Scope of work requires robust contingency planning. Brownfield complexities with multiple scope and execution interfaces.
• SIMOPS challenges.
• Working with and influencing a diverse multi-cultural team.
• Position will be based onshore during onshore pre-commissioning phase, then transition to offshore for execution.

Experience and Qualifications Required

• The Facilities Pre-Commissioning Lead shall have a bachelor’s degree in engineering with a minimum of 20+ years’ experience in offshore projects, preferably deepwater (detail design, construction, installation, pre-commissioning, commissioning and start-up).
• The candidate shall have at least 10 years’ work experience directly related to managing major execution of pre-commissioning activities on offshore brownfield projects. Past work experience in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) particularly in Nigeria will be preferred.
• Experienced in Brownfield Onshore and Offshore Pre-commissioning.
• Experienced with working with both Tier 1 and 2 EPC Contractors.
• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Controls or related Engineering discipline.
• 15 - 20+ years’ experience in oil & gas projects, with at least 10 years in a lead pre‑commissioning or commissioning role.
• Strong knowledge of all aspects of the field - FPSO Topsides, Hull, Mooring, Offloading Buoy, Subsea, Pipelines etc. and significant experience with construction management of these systems.
• Strong HSE commitment and demonstrated HSE leadership skills.
• Demonstrated capability to proactively implement plans and follow through with sustained execution, meeting project milestones.
• Experience in managing EPCM, OEM and Specialist Contractors.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to work across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to work with and influence multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, Company management and Stakeholder management.
• Ability to deal with substantial uncertainty and multiple, often conflicting, goals and priorities while staying focused on delivery. Provides clear and decisive leadership in an environment of many competing priorities and diverse activities and issues.
• Proven, broad knowledge of Deepwater floating systems design, fabrication, installation, commissioning and operation with depth in FPSO systems.
• Knowledge of standard industry Opportunity Realization Processes, Top Quartile Project Delivery including Project management techniques, tools and practices.
• Visibly demonstrate personal and company HSE commitment.
• High personal energy level; core values enterprise first, leadership and teamwork; and a proven track record in achieving stretching personal and business goals.
• This post requires a self-starter, ability to work with minimal supervision and possessing the ability to communicate well and interact.
• Ability to deal with multiple, often conflicting, goals and priorities.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in driving change.
• Strong interpersonal skills – able to influence and develop relationships across disciplines and culture, be comfortable coaching and motivating others, and delivering through others.
• Skillful at leading through influence.
• Values and is open to listening to stakeholders’ perspectives, maintain composure under pressure while providing clear and decisive leadership.

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