Lead, Commissioning & Startup - Osbl

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

NextDecade is currently seeking a Commissioning and Startup (CSU) OSBL Lead to join our multi-discipline Engineering and Construction team which is responsible for executing the Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) project. The CSU OSBL Lead is responsible for representing the Client's CSU team during the design, construction, commissioning, start-up, and handover of the Rio Grande LNG project. The CSU activities will be performed by the EPC contractor (Bechtel). The OSBL Lead will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of a multiple discipline team of CSU Engineers within the Client team to ensure these activities are performed in accordance with approved Project Specifications and procedures, as well as in accordance with industry best practices and National/Local standards. In addition, the CSU OSBL Lead will coordinate daily with the EPC Contractor's CSU Leads, to prioritize testing activities and cascade that information to the rest of the Client team. The OSBL Lead will be imbedded with the Client's CSU team during the Construction phase to help "pull" the sub-system/system from Construction, and "push" it into the Commissioning phase in accordance with the CSU Skyline/System Delivery Schedule. Once the sub-system/system is in the Pre-Commissioning phase, the OSBL Lead will work directly with the EPC Contractor's CSU team to help coordinate and witness activities for verification that all testing activities are performed in accordance with the EPC Agreement and approved Project requirements. The Project's CSU team will utilize a "One Team" approach and will be integrated with members from both the Client's and EPC Contractor's CSU team.

The position is based in Brownsville, TX at the RGLNG site however, a Short-Term Assignment (STA) in Houston is required initially.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the EPC Contractor's pre-commissioning and commissioning teams with multi-disciplined support and surveillance of all pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start-up activities. This includes testing of all electrical, mechanical, I&C, and piping related components and equipment.

• Lead the day-to-day work of the Client's CSU team for activities that are performed in their assigned systems, which include both "cold" (various Water Systems, Effluent Water Treatment, and Instrument/Plant Air Systems) and "hot" utilities (Condensate Storage & Loading, Emergency Power Systems, Flare Systems, Refrigerant Storage and Nitrogen Systems).

• Ensure the Client's CSU team support, verify and witness all activities within their systems, while supporting his/her counterpart within the EPC Contractor's CSU team. This could include helping to provide Operations resources, or Client CSU resources for performing and completing various CSU tasks.

• Ensure all required testing adheres to the Project approved CSU Inspection Test Plans (ITPs), is documented on Project approved Inspection Test Reports (ITRs) and is uploaded into the Project's Completion Database.

• Participate in walkdowns and identify punch list items at various stages in the construction and commissioning phases.

• Review reports and tracks the testing progress of all equipment/components within systems and sub-systems.

• Review and approve EPC Contractor's CSU documentation and procedures and support management of change, updating and tracking (working in conjunction with the specific document owners).

• Facilitate with EPC Contractor to provide all the required documentation needed to satisfy all regulatory conditions and commitments (FERC, PHMSA, USACE, USGC, etc.).

• Ensure all project and general procedures (i.e. Permit-to-Work (PTW), Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), etc.) are being utilized and followed by the EPC Contractor's and Client's CSU team.

• Be a champion and a Project Leader of the Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (HSSE) culture that seeks to mitigate all identified and known risks and strive for Zero accidents within the Project's work areas.

• Ensures management of change process is applied to the CSU activities. This includes design changes, changes to scoped drawings, produces NCRs/RFIs/FCDs, redlines, and associated rework and retesting coordination.

• Review scoped drawings and ensure databases are updated as scoping changes are made, coordinating with the Completions Coordinator.

• Provide support and coordination with both the Client's and Contractor's site Resident Engineering, Field Engineering, home office engineering and suppliers for Mechanical technical issues and queries.

• Support EPC Contractor's sub-contractors, supplier representatives & other discipline teams to ensure proper documentation of testing, and that testing is performed in accordance with approved Project Procedures/Specifications.

• Monitors and surveys the EPC Contractor's purchase and use of Spare Parts - ensure that adequate spare parts are available for CSU use and are onsite in the warehouse.

• Performs routine preservation surveillance activities and participates in preservation walkdowns during all phases of the Project.

• Oversees Client's support to the EPC Contractor's CSU team for Site Acceptance Tests of supplier packages and coordinates with Performance Test Engineer, if SAT is to be run in parallel with the Demonstration/Operations Test.

• Is actively involved and leads the Client's review of all Ready for Start-up (RFSU) and Substantial Completion (SC) Turnover Packages, which includes participating in a Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) exercise and review.

• Coordinating EPC Contractor's work with the Client's Operations team once the OSBL Area/Systems have achieved Substantial Completion (SC) and have been jurisdictionally handed over to the Client Operations team to address future scope(s) expansion, punch list item closeout or to address warranty items.

REQUIREMENTS

Minimum experience required for the position:

• 10+ years experience in a similar role at owner/operators or EPC contractors.
• 5+ years experience during execution phase on a LNG liquefaction project.
• 7+ years knowledge & experience in LNG Liquefaction equipment and preferably with APCI Technology.
• 7+ years experience and knowledge of testing requirements for completion of construction and commissioning/startup of I&C Equipment, ICSS Systems, Electrical Equipment, Cryogenic Equipment, Expanders, Hydraulic Turbines, Compressors, Waste Heat Recovery Units (WHRU), Thermal Oxidizers Process Pumps and Fans (including VFD units), and static equipment such as Heat Exchangers and Vessels.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required of the position:

• Knowledge & experience of general testing, commissioning, start-up, operation & turnover practices.

• Knowledge & experience with FERC requirements for LNG Plant installation and testing activities.

• Previous experience in representing the Client's CSU team for Lump Sum, Turn-Key Projects.

• Strong knowledge of process mechanical and electrical isolations to perform activities safely.

• Knowledge & experience in PTW, JHA/JSA, LOTO and other HSE and control of work-related procedures & practices.

• Good leadership skills & able to lead multiple people from various backgrounds.

• Good computer skills including experience with 3D Models, MS Excel, MS Word, Completions database/tracking in the execution of work assignments.

• Strong knowledge and experience in working with reporting tools and reviewing schedules.

• Good knowledge of and prior experience in using Bechtel's SWPPs and STCPs to govern work activities is preferred.

• Apply knowledge of industry and regulatory standards, and design criteria pertinent to mechanical equipment such as OSHA, ASME, ANSI, API, ASTM, NFPA and National/Local U.S. standards to review and approve test plans and procedures.

Preferred education:

Associate degree in a related field or 10+ years' experience in the commissioning and start up of LNG facilities.

Work Environment

• Must be able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.

• Operates in a complex construction environment.

• Exposure to indoor and outdoor weather conditions.

• Not necessarily protected from weather and temperature changes. Possible exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions.

• Exposure to moving mechanical parts and electrical circuits.

• Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds of a pitch level sufficient to cause marked distraction.

• Routinely uses standard office and field communications equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers w/scanner and fax, and radios.

Able to meet the following physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Ability to drive to other Company work locations as required.

• Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility, including being physically capable of traveling to a designed muster point during emergency situations.

• Stand and/or sit continuously and perform job functions for a full shift.

• The incumbent is required to have fully mechanical motion and usage of all extremities.

• Physically able to walk, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, twist, lift, push, pull, climb, balance, crouch, handle, and lift items weighing up to 20 lbs. without assistance.

• Visual acuity corrected to perform job functions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Must be able to clearly communicate with others via radio, phone, and verbal methods.

• May be required to enter confined spaces.

• May be required to work at elevated heights and access elevated structures without assistance.