About you:
Join us. Unleash your energy within.
If you have world-class ambitions to reach the stars while keeping your feet on the ground, we’re the team for you. We've created a new breed of company – future-focused with reimagined ambition across all disciplines within the energy sector.
We love people who know their own potential and are not afraid to use it. We know that together, we’re far more than the sum of our parts. So, we celebrate people who want to grow and develop as we work together on some of the largest projects on the energy world stage.
We are committed to our diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. From day one, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds.
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.
We’re a disability-friendly employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process.
Our purpose and beliefs:
As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.
It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:
We PLAY BIG
We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY
We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE
We are built on INFINITE THINKING
Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us:
Our vision for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging:
We recognise that diversity & inclusion are catalysts for success. We’re heightening awareness on the benefits of people diversity, diversity of experiences and diversity of our perspectives. Creating a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel a sense of belonging.
Our combined energy is fueled by different nationalities, across 6 continents and 24 countries. Our commitment is to celebrate character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability.
About the job:
Kent is seeking an experienced Pre-Commissioning and Commissioning Manager to support a major EPC project, initially based in Woking before transitioning to site in Saudi Arabia. The role is central to implementing a “right-to-left” execution philosophy, ensuring that commissioning, start-up, and operational requirements are embedded from the earliest project stages. A key focus is establishing the commissioning handover network (Path of Construction), influencing construction sequencing, Advanced Work Packaging, and engineering priorities to optimise delivery.
In the early phases, the role leads the definition of system boundaries and Limits of System Handover (LOSH), aligning multiple disciplines including process, piping, mechanical, and electrical & instrumentation. This ensures the facility is designed and built to support efficient system completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and final handover. The position works closely with engineering, construction, and project controls teams to integrate commissioning requirements throughout the project lifecycle, including constructability, SIMOPS planning, and completions strategy.
During execution, the manager transitions to site to lead a multi-disciplinary commissioning team of around 40 personnel. They are accountable for the safe and predictable delivery of all pre-commissioning and commissioning activities, including test pack preparation, system turnover, and final handover to operations. This leadership role is pivotal in ensuring that quality, safety, and operability standards are achieved through start-up and successful project completion.
Skills & Responsibilities:
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Provides strategic direction across pre-commissioning, commissioning, completions and construction from early engineering through to start-up and handover, embedding right-to-left thinking, constructability, AWP and sequencing
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Leads the development of the commissioning handover network (Path of Construction) and system turnover strategy, influencing engineering deliverables, procurement priorities and construction logic
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Establishes and governs System Boundaries and Limits of System Handover (LOSH), ensuring alignment across all disciplines to maximise system completion efficiency
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Acts as the primary authority on commissioning, systemisation and handover, advising on sequencing, constructability and execution constraints
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Holds accountability for safe, predictable and high-quality delivery aligned with HSSEQ, schedule, cost and quality objectives
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Champions a zero-incident culture, embedding HSE in design, SIMOPS planning and safe system energisation principles
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Ensures compliance with Saudi Aramco standards, commissioning procedures, and quality requirements across the project lifecycle
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Leads mobilisation and management of a multi-discipline commissioning team (~40 personnel), setting clear objectives and performance expectations
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Develops and implements the Commissioning Execution Strategy integrated with construction and AWP programmes
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Oversees system completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up and final handover readiness
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Manages preparation, execution and close-out of Test Packs, ensuring compliance and readiness for energisation
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Ensures QA/QC processes including inspection, testing, certification and documentation are fully implemented
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Oversees contractor and subcontractor performance across complex environments, ensuring strong interface management
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Coordinates activities across engineering, construction, commissioning and operations teams
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Implements governance systems such as SIMOPS, permit to work, completions and document control
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Identifies risks and constraints related to commissioning, sequencing and interfaces, ensuring mitigation strategies are in place
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Supports construction methodologies, shutdown planning and execution strategies to align with commissioning requirements
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Maintains accountability for productivity, schedule adherence and readiness for start-up
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Builds strong relationships with client PMT and operations, ensuring alignment with operational expectations
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Leads system handover, energisation and hydrocarbon introduction in coordination with operations
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Provides structured reporting on HSSEQ, progress, system status and readiness
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Maintains alignment with project leadership to ensure integrated delivery
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Demonstrates leadership aligned with company values, promoting safety, quality and performance
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Ensures implementation of HSSEQ management systems (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001)
In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad-hoc tasks as needed or directed by the supervisor or management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee's skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee's current workload and with respect to their professional development.
Your knowledge/skills, education, and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Process or related discipline); Chartered/Professional status preferred
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Proven experience in oil & gas EPC experience, including at least 5 years in a senior commissioning leadership role
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Proven experience delivering pre-commissioning and commissioning from early engineering through to start-up and handover
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Experience on large-scale EPC/EPCM projects for major NOCs; Saudi Aramco experience strongly preferred
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Strong ability to embed HSE, quality and operability into commissioning and system completion activities
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Deep knowledge of system boundaries, LOSH, completions systems and commissioning governance
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Practitioner-level understanding of AWP, including CWA definition, IWP sequencing and system-based execution
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Expert knowledge of SIMOPS, Permit to Work, system isolation, energisation and live plant environments
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Strong technical understanding of commissioning processes across all disciplines (mechanical completion, testing, loop checks, start-up, etc.)
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to engage across all organisational levels
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Strong interface management capability across engineering, construction, commissioning and operations
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Proficiency in MS Office and working knowledge of Primavera P6, Hexagon/AVEVA and digital commissioning tools
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Ability to work autonomously, apply sound judgement and lead in complex EPC environments while driving performance and accountability
Communication:
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Excellent command of the English language in both oral and written communication and skills.
Behaviour/ Core Competencies:
At Kent, you will be trusted to lead independently and exercise sound judgement in the delivery of a major EPC project. You will bring strong practical knowledge of pre-commissioning/commissioning execution, advanced work packaging, brownfield delivery and Saudi Aramco standards, and apply that experience to achieve safe, predictable and high-quality outcomes across all project phases.
You will take ownership of the pre-commissioning/commissioning organisation, not only leading but developing the team, ensuring experience and good practice are shared and that right to left thinking is understood and applied in day-to-day delivery. You will create a culture where people are clear on expectations, accountable for performance, and focused on getting the job done properly.
You will work closely with engineering, procurement, construction, client and operations teams, building effective working relationships across all interfaces and maintaining a strong, credible presence with stakeholders at all levels.
You will actively look for opportunities to improve performance, apply lessons learned and drive continuous improvement across the project. You will also contribute to strengthening commissioning capability within the wider business through practical input and experience.
This includes responsibility for:
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Implementation and enforcement of Kent's HSSEQ Management System (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001) across all Package 12 construction activities
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Full compliance with Saudi Aramco's Construction Safety Manual, GI 2.100 (Work Permit), GI 7.028–7.030 (Lifting), GI 2.710 (Mechanical Completion), and all applicable General Instructions
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Embedding HSE in Design principles throughout the engineering phase, ensuring construction and commissioning safety risks are eliminated or mitigated at source
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Personal visible safety leadership – conducting regular site safety walks, participating in HSSE reviews, and reinforcing a zero-accident culture at every level of the organisation
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Ensuring all subcontractors are selected, inducted, and monitored in full compliance with Kent's Subcontractor HSSE Management requirements.
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Ensuring the Smart Site Monitoring Solution (SSMS) is deployed, operational, and actively used as a safety management tool across all Manifa CPF work areas from the start of field activities
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Maintaining full compliance with all Kingdom of Saudi Arabia environmental and sustainability obligations, including waste management, ground disturbance controls, and reinstatement requirements under approved Land Use Permits (LUPs)
HSSEQ:
The Employee shall observe the Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment and Quality rules of the Company; it’s clients and the governing authorities of the host country.
We are committed to our diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. From day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds.
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.
We’re a disability-friendly employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process. Please contact us confidentially at [email protected] to find out how we can support you.
