Senior Shift Engineer
Interconnector Limited operates a bi-directional natural gas pipeline and terminals linking the UK and continental European gas markets. The Interconnector offers a unique commercial service and can import and export large volumes of gas providing flexibility to customers.
We are seeking a Senior Shift Engineer to join our team in Bacton. The role reports to the IBT Maintenance Manager and is full time and site based, with travel as required for the performance of the role.
Working within an Operations team, the successful candidate will monitor and safely operate two Gas Compression Terminals and associated Pressure Letdown Facilities.
You will also prepare plant and equipment for maintenance activities as defined within the operational and maintenance procedures which you will be capable of reviewing. The position also requires the postholder to conduct the role of Performing Authority and Isolating Authority within the Permit to Work system.
This position requires flexibility to operate field equipment and the Control Room on a rotational shift pattern to maintain a 24/7/365 operation.
All employees are recruited not just on their technical competency but also on their behavioral competencies, a team and performance orientated candidate that is organised yet flexible with the ability to effectively make decisions will be suited to this role.
Key responsibilities/accountabilities
- Maintain a continuous presence in the INT Bacton control room via rostered shifts. Arrange shift cover as necessary in the event of absence.
- Respond to emergency call-outs whilst off-shift if required and reasonably able to do so.
- Control and operate the IBT and IZT process plant, equipment and pipeline safely and efficiently in accordance with statutory, environmental, commercial and procedural requirements.
- Monitor incoming gas quality, flow rates and pressures throughout the INT system reporting anomalies and taking necessary actions to maintain nominations.
- Maintain comprehensive and comprehensible logs of all communications and actions taken throughout the shift. Maintain control room registers, handover documents and plant histories to supplement scheduled written handovers.
- Respond to incidents ensuring swift evaluation and strategic decisions are made to effectively prevent escalation whilst communicating and recording all relevant information for review.
- In an emergency, act as Forward Incident Controller on site, liaise with emergency services and adjacent Operators. Assist in the preparation of evidence gathering for incident reports.
- Initiate the appropriate response to plant failures including staff and vendor call-outs.
- Initially respond to and record public complaints and forward them to local management.
- Provide timely information and advice to local management.
- Control of INT Safe System of Work – Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Permits to Work and Isolation Certificates;
- Evaluate work requests at Bacton Terminal by liaising with Maintenance personnel and contractors to ensure satisfactory scope, risk & mitigation identification.
- Assist in preparation of method statements and risk assessments.
- Carry out isolations within certified competency.
- Inspect and audit permitted work.
- Maintain status boards and permit registers.
- Issue and maintenance of gas detection, noise monitoring and site radios to technicians and contractors in support of safe system of work mitigations and monitoring.
- Carry out and record atmospheric testing including, but not limited to: Flammable gas testing, Toxic gas testing, NORM testing, Benzene testing, within certified competencies.
- Carry out Nitrogen purging activities for preparation of plant within certified competencies.
- Liaise with National Grid Permit Authority for interface permits and other work that may affect Interconnector facilities.
- Use Interconnector Safety and other Reporting Systems, including but not limited to: Safety Observations Scheme, Operations Database, Safety Representatives, weekly and monthly planning meetings, handover logs, control room log, maintenance reporting system shutdown lessons learned and participation as required during incident investigation and reporting activities.
- Complete regular site visits, monitoring and inspection. Report all defects or issues to management.
- Liaise with Commercial Operations and adjacent Transportation System Operators with regard to day-to-day gas flow requirements. Monitor, record and action all nomination data.
- Effectively communicate with Commercial Operations, with the goal of improving operational efficiency, by optimisation of pressure profiles, minimising fuel gas, efficient use of Compressor Trains and other equipment.
- Optimise plant operation for efficient gas flow and plant reliability and to minimise emissions and noise disturbance.
- Perform breakdown maintenance investigation and remedial actions within certified competency.
- Carry out maintenance and site operational tasks as co-ordinated by the Operations Manager.
- Participate in weekly planning and review meetings and provide all relevant plant information regarding operation, availability, inhibits and overrides, permit to work system, interfaces with other parties and any other operational information.
- Complete training in line with competency profile, training is applicable to the role and activities to be undertaken.
- Foster a ‘one team’ approach with all other INT entities, working with other departments in INT’s and the team’s best interests. Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with all other INT departments, stakeholders and individuals to maximise safety, efficiency and plant operability.
- Participate in desktop & live emergency exercises and training as requested.
- Understand the requirements of Environmental Permits and Management System in terms of process operation and routinely monitor compliance with procedures.
- Liaise with other terminal operators, authorities, contractors and other third parties.
- Assist visiting authority representatives by demonstrating techniques, procedures and records.
- Contribute to development work, including reviews of processes, procedures, audit actions, alarm handling, monitoring and recording.
- Participate in Engineering or Process reviews such as HAZIDs, HAZOPS and other technical reviews within competency.
- Support of other INT staff and contractors and assist development, by knowledge sharing and technical support, assistance with planning, sharing workload of tasks, analysis and lessons learned.
- Attend the IZT terminal for operational familiarisation visits on a scheduled basis or otherwise requested by management.
Knowledge, Qualifications, and Experience
- Min 10 years’ oil or gas asset operation or maintenance experience, or equivalent technical background in a similar industry
- Preferred ONC or HNC equivalent or proven technical experience in gas terminal, and/or chemical facilities Operations and Maintenance
- Good understanding of and experience of risk assessment requirements in Process Safety environment, ideally in the gas industry
- Understanding of the safety requirements of COMAH sites, ideally in the gas industry.
- Management of Major Emergencies training and assessment, with willingness to participate in relevant training to develop or maintain competency
- Preferred NVQ Level 3 Processing Hydrocarbons
- Good spoken and written communication skills and experience of developing procedures on maintenance or operational functions. Able to summarise complex situations and report on key issues and priorities.
- Basic or Advanced First Aider with willingness to participate in relevant training to develop or maintain competency
- Ability to participate in an open reporting culture by encouraging a learning and productive idea generation
- Positive Leadership Skills
- Able to maintain calm and focus under pressure, e.g. operational outage or emergency situations
- Ability to motivate others and communicate a cooperative approach
- Self-motivated and resilient with an ability to encourage and motivate others to keep going
- Team related skills:
- Positive team working orientation and the ability to include others in a positive and constructive way to work in a team, across sites or discipline, minimising the negative impacts of a silo
- Willingness to liaise with other INT staff and contractors and assist development, by knowledge sharing and technical support, assistance with planning, sharing workload of tasks, analysis and lessons learned
- Communication related skills:
- Able to interact and communicate with multiple disciplines and contractors
- Able to apply a systematic and analytic thinking approach to fault analysis and problem solving
- Able to facilitate open and positive communication with key stakeholders
- Able to prioritise when faced with conflicting work fronts and priorities
Key Competencies Required
Impact - Make a credible and confident impression on others and interact in a way that considers and respects the opinions of others while also standing up for own ideas.
- Speak and interact in a way that considers and respects the opinions of others while also standing up for own ideas.
- Use the appropriate arguments and adapt one’s communication to persuade.
Building relationships - Identify and initiate working relationships, develop and maintain them in a way that is of mutual benefit to both parties:
- Contribute to effective collaboration.
- Establish and maintain formal and informal relationships that are beneficial to the organisation.
Broad thinking - Look beyond one’s own domain and place business issues in their broader context:
- Look beyond one’s own role and understand how it fits within the larger organisation.
- Integrate the organisation’s vision into the assessment of issues and the development of solutions.
Agility - Smoothly deal with change, embrace it and adjust behaviour and approach to varying and unclear situations:
- Adapt one’s own behaviour to changes in the work environment.
Ownership of results - Take responsibility to address issues, seize opportunities, build performance and act proactively to best contribute to company success.
- Take initiative to achieve targets.
Leading - Get others excited about the company’s ambitions and provide direction and support to achieve bold results:
- Behave like a company ambassador.
Open Mindedness - Be open to new realities, to others’ ideas and individual differences, and to one’s own need to change.
How to apply
For further information, including a full job description and competency profile/person specification and/or to formally apply, please email your CV, covering letter and salary expectations to the HR Department at inthr@interconnector.com quoting the job title as a reference.
Please note that we may share your details with our selected recruitment partners in the case that we have opted to manage a campaign via a specialist third party.