Lead Planner Turnaround

About Air Products and the Role

At Air Products, we envision new possibilities by harnessing the enthusiasm and expertise of our people to foster innovation and progress. Our collaborative environment values every voice and cultivates a sense of belonging, driving solutions that empower space exploration, critical medical care, and construction of large-scale industrial facilities.

The Lead Planner Turnaround position is critical for organizing, coordinating, and preparing maintenance, inspection, repair, and modification activities across various assets within the Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Hub (BHIG), including SATORP, SASREF, and JIGH. Reporting to the Project Controls Manager within the Operation Project Management Team, this role aims to uphold equipment integrity and plant dependability while minimizing costs consistent with BHIG's asset management strategy.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning, development, and management of Turnaround (TAR) projects for SATORP, SASREF, and JIGH, with budget scopes between $5 million and $50 million.
• Manage planning and execution of brownfield plant improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $5 million.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout all TAR and project phases, including scope definition, bid assessments, and handover to operations.
• Support strategic TAR and project execution plans with the Project Controls Manager, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder needs.
• Leverage advanced project management software to track progress, control budgets, and maintain timelines.
• Work closely with internal departments to ensure adherence to safety standards fostering BHIG’s goal of zero injuries.
• Negotiate contracts and address conflicts efficiently during project execution.
• Lead project evaluations and capture lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

Safety and Quality Compliance

• Ensure all activities comply with company Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) standards and legal regulations.
• Take active leadership and participation roles in BHIG safety initiatives, safe work practices, environmental compliance, and upkeep of workplace cleanliness.
• Maintain EH&S standards through all turnaround lifecycle stages, including shutdown periods.
• Review and enforce safety plans for outage activities ensuring execution integrity.
• Integrate risk assessments and mitigation procedures within work packages.
• Engage in HAZOP, SIMOPS, and safety review meetings.
• Develop quality compliance KPIs, review and approve Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) plans and documents associated with turnarounds and project execution.

Turnaround Planning and Execution

• Support and enhance enterprise management tools including Primavera P3, P6, Microsoft Project, and contract management solutions.
• Collaborate with planning teams to generate manpower and equipment histograms and provide guidance aligned with scope definition.
• Identify critical paths during planning and execution and implement necessary control measures.
• Coordinate material procurement and timely availability with stakeholders.
• Develop comprehensive work scopes, job plans, work packages, manpower needs, procedures, and execution strategies.
• Handle scope documentation such as drawings, P&IDs, safety requirements, material take-offs, quality inspection criteria, and Bills of Materials.
• Conduct site surveys and field verification to validate job requirements.
• Coordinate turnaround schedules and resource-loaded plans with various departments and contractors.
• Detect critical path activities and optimize the sequence of execution steps.

Resource and Cost Management

• Estimate requirements for labor, equipment, tools, and materials.
• Ensure materials procurement and availability prior to turnaround execution.
• Manage contractor mobilization and onsite logistics.
• Assist in developing turnaround budgets and cost estimates.
• Monitor project costs and actively identify opportunities for cost optimization.
• Participate in post-turnaround cost reviews and capture lessons learned.

Post-Turnaround and Documentation

• Engage in turnaround reviews and document lessons learned to enhance future practices.
• Support close-out documentation and ensure smooth project handover to operations.

Project Management and Stakeholder Communication

• Adopt a proactive hands-on approach throughout the project lifecycle from scope inception to commissioning.
• Lead efforts to ensure projects are executed safely and effectively.
• Utilize project metrics for progress monitoring and hold Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors accountable for budget and schedule adherence.
• Communicate project strategies and progress to all stakeholders including senior management.
• Collaborate across operations, finance, supply chain, and safety departments to maintain alignment and compliance.

Technology and Collaboration

• Utilize enterprise resource planning systems (preferably SAP) and project management tools (such as Primavera and Microsoft Project) proficiently.
• Coordinate closely with BHIG internal technical teams to address complex issues and ensure integrated project delivery.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in engineering or technical discipline (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical preferred).
• 8 to 12 years of industry experience in industrial gases, oil and gas, or petrochemical sectors.
• Experience with ERP (SAP) project development and implementation is preferred.
• Proven record in chemical, oil and gas, or petrochemical project execution, engineering, or construction in a multinational environment emphasizing safety and compliance.
• Ability to work independently with strong project management skills in turnaround/brownfield projects.

Desired Attributes and Skills

• Exemplary ethical standards prioritizing worker safety and regulatory compliance.
• Strong organizational skills and turnaround management expertise.
• Competence with project management tools like Primavera and Microsoft Project.
• Experience operating in international, multicultural environments with matrix reporting structures.
• Customer-oriented mindset focused on quality and service.
• Critical thinker with leadership and communication capabilities able to build trust with diverse teams.
• Self-motivated, confident, adaptable, able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Commitment to continuous personal and professional development and flexible work hours as needed.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills in English; Arabic and additional languages advantageous.

Company Background

Founded in 1940, Air Products is a leading global industrial gases corporation distinguished by innovation, operational excellence, and dedication to safety and environmental responsibility. Working together, we strive to forge a cleaner future for our customers, communities, and the planet through our passion and diversity.