
Wood Plc GCC
Lead Operations Engineer
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 29/01/2026
Job overview
Date posted
15/12/2025
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Job description
Wood is currently looking for a Lead Operations Engineer to join its Operations & Maintenance team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with travel required 50% of the time to the MEAC region. The roleâs objective is to ensure the quality and integrity of all assigned projects and work scopes within established time, cost, and quality standards, emphasizing advanced operations and maintenance activities, including complex assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and quality assurance, using Woodâs O&M management procedures and best practices. The position supports clients and complex upstream and midstream oil and gas operations, with context highlighting Woodâs long-standing operations footprint in Iraq, delivering maintenance, modifications and engineering solutions to support energy security and decarbonisation ambitions, including commitments to decarbonising existing assets, producing cleaner energy, and developing a sustainable national workforce and local talent. The role requires delivering O&M and contractor-related outputs, supervising small projects or specific disciplines on larger projects, leading health, safety, and environmental compliance to minimize risks and ensure adherence to regulations, executing work to meet quality standards and project specifications, and managing and controlling project cost and schedule performance. It also involves interpreting functional specifications, resolving technical issues and operational challenges, monitoring maintenance quality and adherence to safety procedures, planning short-term activities for work continuity (including shift schedules, job priorities, material availability, and preventive inspections), collaborating with other plant functions for integrated support, recommending improvements in equipment, processes, or methods, and exercising judgment in prioritizing breakdown repairs and critical tasks. The role additionally supports and manages business development pursuits through technical input for proposals, bid strategies, and client engagement. Required technical systems and controls include CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) and OMS (Operations Management Systems) for planning, scheduling, reporting, and performance monitoring, and strong knowledge and application of Control of Work (CoW) processes, including Permit-to-Work systems and safe isolation practices. Middle East experience is strongly preferred, and the role includes training and developing local talent and continuous professional development alignment, while operating within Woodâs global consulting and engineering environment supporting energy and materials markets across 60 countries.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Deliver O&M and contractor-related outputs in line with project requirements and Woodâs O&M management procedures and best practices.
- Supervise all areas on small projects or specific disciplines on larger projects to ensure quality and integrity within time, cost, and quality standards.
- Lead health, safety, and environmental compliance by ensuring adherence to regulations and minimizing risks while acting as a health and safety champion.
- Execute operations and maintenance work to meet quality standards and project specifications, including complex assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and quality assurance activities.
- Manage and control project cost and schedule performance across assigned projects and work scopes.
- Interpret functional specifications and resolve technical issues by guiding teams through operational challenges.
- Monitor maintenance quality and adherence to safety procedures, including Control of Work (CoW), Permit-to-Work systems, and safe isolation practices.
- Plan short-term activities for work continuity, including shift schedules, job priorities, material availability, and preventive inspections.
- Collaborate with other plant functions to ensure integrated operational and maintenance support.
- Recommend improvements in equipment, processes, or methods to drive cultural and operational improvements.
- Prioritize breakdown repairs and critical tasks using sound judgment to maintain operational continuity.
- Support and manage business development pursuits by providing technical input for proposals, contributing to bid strategies, and engaging with clients.
- Travel 50% of the time to the MEAC region to support operations and maintenance activities across the regional footprint.
Experience & skills
- Hold a minimum ISCED Level 5 qualification (technical diploma/apprenticeship) or demonstrate an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Bring at least 10 years of post-qualification supervisory experience in operations and maintenance within oil & gas or a related industry, preferably across trade and craft disciplines.
- Demonstrate proven experience with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) and OMS (Operations Management Systems) for planning, scheduling, reporting, and performance monitoring.
- Apply strong knowledge of Control of Work (CoW) processes, including Permit-to-Work systems and safe isolation practices.
- Offer Middle East experience (strongly preferred) and the ability to travel 50% of the time to the MEAC region.
- Show a proven track record in training and developing local talent and supporting development of a sustainable national workforce.
- Evidence experience in managing pursuits and contributing to proposals and business development activities, including technical input and bid strategy support.
- Maintain commitment to continuous professional development and alignment with Woodâs values and behaviors while operating in complex upstream and midstream oil & gas operations environments.