Head of Lifting

Job Purpose:

Provide strategic and technical leadership for the Lifting discipline across major offshore and onshore projects, ensuring lifting activities are executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with applicable company, regulatory, and international standards. The role will serve as the technical focal point for lifting operations, providing guidance on critical lifts, lifting assurance, risk management, competency, incident investigations, and continuous improvement. The position will also coordinate closely with project, engineering, construction, operations, contractors, and third-party stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and provide technical oversight for lifting activities across major onshore and offshore projects.
• Establish and maintain effective lifting assurance processes in line with company requirements and international standards.
• Review critical lifting plans, methodologies, risk assessments, and execution strategies, ensuring appropriate controls are in place.
• Provide technical support for complex lifting operations, including construction, installation, brownfield, and offshore activities.
• Act as the key interface between project and operations teams on lifting-related matters.
• Lead investigations of high-potential lifting incidents, identify root causes, and drive corrective and preventive actions through to close-out.
• Support the selection, recruitment, competency assessment, onboarding, and deployment of lifting personnel.
• Standardize lifting procedures, reporting, lessons learned, and best practices across multiple projects.
• Monitor lifting performance, identify trends and risks, and implement appropriate improvement measures.
• Provide expert advice on complex lifting-related technical issues that may impact safety, schedule, cost, or project execution.
• Promote strong safety leadership and the consistent application of industry best practices and critical safety requirements.
• Lead, coach, and develop the lifting team while maintaining a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Sciences, or a related technical discipline.
• OPITO LOLER Competent Person certification or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in large-scale Oil & Gas projects, particularly in construction, fabrication, installation, offshore operations, hook-up, commissioning, or project execution.
• Minimum 2 years' supervisory or leadership experience, including oversight of contractors, vendors, or specialist personnel.
• Extensive experience in lifting operations, lifting equipment inspection, certification, verification, and lifting management.
• Strong knowledge of international lifting standards, including API, ASME, BS, DNV, ISO, and LOLER.
• Proven experience in lifting assurance, critical lift planning, risk assessment, incident investigation, and compliance management.
• Experience working with EPC contractors, subcontractors, certification bodies, and specialist lifting service providers.
• Previous experience as a Lifting SME, Technical Authority, or equivalent senior technical role within an Oil & Gas operating or major project environment is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.