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