Pre-Operations Manager

Pre-Operations Manager

St. John’s, NL

Introduction

Brunel is currently seeking an experienced Pre-Operations Manager for a permanent opportunity based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

This senior leadership role will be responsible for coordinating people, processes, systems, and resources to ensure a safe and successful transition from project execution into operations. The Pre-Operations Manager will lead operational readiness activities across multiple disciplines, working closely with engineering, commissioning, operations, and other key stakeholders to ensure the facility and operational organization are fully prepared for start-up, handover, and ongoing operations.

The ideal candidate will bring strong oil and gas operational leadership experience, excellent stakeholder-management capabilities, and a proven ability to manage complex operational readiness activities within a major industrial or offshore environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of operational readiness activities in alignment with the overall operations strategy.
• Lead and coordinate the Operations Readiness team, ensuring effective collaboration across all disciplines and appropriate resource planning.
• Work closely with engineering, commissioning, and operations teams to ensure facility designs are safe, maintainable, operable, and fit for purpose.
• Provide operational input throughout detailed engineering, execution, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Manage pre-operations CAPEX requirements, including personnel, procurement, third-party services, and system-development costs.
• Support the development of initial OPEX estimates and annual work plans and budgets.
• Develop operational staffing plans and support the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and mobilization of personnel.
• Coordinate the establishment of local operational support functions, including office requirements, logistics, and onshore staffing.
• Support the establishment of appropriate emergency-response readiness prior to operational start-up.
• Prepare operational teams for system handover, start-up, and the transition into steady-state operations.
• Coordinate readiness activities to ensure people, processes, systems, procedures, equipment, and resources are prepared for operations.
• Act as a key day-to-day operational interface with internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor and report operational readiness progress, risks, issues, and mitigation measures.
• Participate in technical assurance, governance, and operational-readiness reviews.
• Identify potential operational risks and gaps and drive appropriate corrective or mitigation actions.
• Promote a strong safety culture throughout all pre-operations and readiness activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Marine, Chemical, Process Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Extensive relevant industry experience may be considered in lieu of formal educational requirements.
• Significant experience in oil and gas operations and operational management.
• Demonstrated experience supporting operational readiness, commissioning, start-up, handover, or transition from project execution into operations.
• Previous experience within offshore, marine, FPSO, production, or similarly complex industrial operating environments is strongly preferred.
• Strong leadership skills with experience coordinating multidisciplinary operational teams.
• Experience with operational staffing, workforce planning, recruitment, and mobilization.
• Strong understanding of CAPEX and OPEX planning, budgeting, and cost management.
• Ability to interface effectively with engineering, commissioning, project, operations, and senior leadership teams.
• Strong understanding of operational risk, safety, technical assurance, and governance requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across multiple disciplines and organizations.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound decisions within a complex, fast-paced operational environment.

What We Offer

Why work with Brunel? We are proud to offer exciting career opportunities from over 100 offices globally in 42 countries. Advancing your career takes time and effort – let us match you to your ideal position.

About Us

Brunel has a reputation for working with some of the best in the business. That’s what we continually strive for. Brunel provides the global recruitment and workforce services you need to lead your industry. With 50 years of market experience in Renewable Energy, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Mining and Infrastructure, we help you finish major projects safely, compliantly, on-time, within budget and at the highest quality, so you can keep growing – anywhere in the world.