Lifting Specialist

Company Overview

Saipem is a global frontrunner in engineering and construction within the energy and infrastructure sectors, executing complex projects onshore and offshore worldwide. The company is committed to technological innovation and a sustainable future, employing 30,000 professionals from over 130 nationalities across more than 50 countries, actively contributing to the energy transition and environmental sustainability.

Role Purpose

The Lifting Specialist, situated in the Operations Department, is tasked with overseeing all aspects of offshore lifting and rigging activities throughout a project’s life cycle. This includes managing and approving lifting schemes, crane setups, rigging plans, as well as assessing hydrodynamic and offshore vessel impacts to guarantee safe and effective operations at sea. The Lifting Specialist also functions as the main offshore contact to coordinate and supervise all heavy and critical lifts, ensuring alignment with company policies, international codes, client standards, and industry best practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the dedicated offshore focal point for managing, coordinating, and supervising all heavy and critical lift operations.
• Prepare, review, and approve detailed offshore lifting plans, rigging layouts, lift analyses, calculations, and procedures.
• Perform evaluations of lifting configurations, crane capabilities, rigging components, hydrodynamic forces, and vessel dynamics prior to executing operations.
• Develop and authorize lift plans for critical activities, such as deck-to-deck lifts exceeding 20 tonnes, vessel transfers over 20 tonnes, subsea structure lowering and recovery surpassing 5 tonnes, and complex lifts involving clamps, sleepers, and frames.
• Verify calculations including Dynamic Amplification Factor (DAF), crane utilization rates, rigging capacities, center of gravity placement, lift radius, and load distribution.
• Evaluate rigging setups involving wire ropes, shackles, hooks, slings, spreader beams, and other lifting accessories.
• Coordinate interfaces among engineering, marine, vessel operations, offshore construction, subsea installation, and subcontractors to optimize lifting tasks.
• Provide technical guidance throughout offshore transport, installation, recovery, and subsea campaigns.
• Participate actively in risk assessments, hazard identification workshops, toolbox talks, simultaneous operations reviews, and readiness evaluations.
• Monitor real-time lifting activities offshore to ensure compliance with safety standards and operational efficiency.
• Prepare comprehensive technical documentation including reports, lifting dossiers, registers, lessons learned, and project closeout materials.
• Drive HSE excellence and continuous improvement initiatives within all lifting and rigging operations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field.
• Certification from the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) or an equivalent recognized qualification.
• At least 8 years of experience in the Oil & Gas sector, including a minimum of 5 years in roles such as Lifting Specialist, Rigging Specialist, Offshore Lifting Engineer, or Critical Lift Specialist.
• Proven skills in designing, reviewing, endorsing, and supervising offshore lifting tasks involving heavy and critical lifts.
• Hands-on experience with vessel-to-vessel lifting, deck lifts, subsea lowering and recovery, and heavy lift projects.
• Knowledge and application of offshore construction, marine operations, subsea installations, and broad offshore project management.
• Expertise in assessing rigging arrangements and understanding mechanical properties of lifting gear and crane operations.
• Experience liaising with multinational teams and working in Middle East offshore environments considered advantageous.
• Fluent English communication skills mandatory.

Technical Competencies

• In-depth understanding of offshore lifting engineering principles, rigging design, and safe critical lift execution.
• Capability to perform Dynamic Amplification Factor calculations, safe working load verifications, rigging and crane utilization analysis.
• Thorough familiarity with offshore lifting equipment such as wire ropes, shackles, hooks, slings, various lifting beams, and crane systems.
• Working knowledge of international standards including IMCA, IOGP, and Company Standards relative to offshore lifting operations.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, methodologies, and procedural documents.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and engineering document management software.
• Strong interpersonal skills for coordination, communication, and stakeholder management.

Additional Information

• The role entails potential travel within the Middle East and offshore/onshore project sites based on project requirements.
• Contract type is permanent and project-based with a standard working schedule of 45 hours per week (9 hours per day, 5 days a week).
• Saipem offers a comprehensive corporate benefits scheme.
• The workplace is located in Doha, Qatar.
• Saipem emphasizes development opportunities, diversity, inclusion, safety, and environmental stewardship throughout its operations.
• Applicants not perfectly matching the role profile are encouraged to apply for future opportunities.
• Compliance with Qatar’s Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (PDPPL) and GDPR regulations is observed.