Lead Process Engineer at Sasol

Location: Sasolburg, Free State Province, South Africa

Operating Model Entity (OME): Sasolburg Operations

NATREF

The National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Natref), located approximately 85 kilometres from Johannesburg, is a processing refinery owned by Sasol (Pty) Ltd (63,64%) and Total South Africa (36,36%). Natref is South Africa’s only inland crude oil refinery. This deep conversion refinery is designed to upgrade heavy, sour crude oil (oil with a high sulphur content) and yields about 89% white petroleum products.

ABOUT THE ROLE / PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Responsible for the groups process engineering plant support deliverables to define and maintain the critical operating envelope parameters for each plant plus monitor and correct deviations from optimal plant performance in collaboration with production management. Within the group each plant operating within its operating envelope assures safe, reliable and sustainable operations and optimal performance within the value chain.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Responsible for managing no less than 3 direct reports supporting the Crude Distillation Unit and Fluidised Catalytic Cracker Division.
• Drive the group’s high performance culture with emphasis on delivery and results, by building self-directed, motivated and engaged team.
• Responsible for identifying, prioritizing and planning (including scheduling and resource loading) of all the groups plant support process engineering activities. Responsible for compiling and sign-off of the group prioritization list for all the studies and projects as defined on the agreed upon signed off shareholder studies priorities list.
• Provide expertise and guidance to deliver short term as well as medium term solutions to the existing and new technical issues.
• Responsible for development and implementation of plant monitoring systems capable to proactively identify potential deviations and risks to production volumes, product quality and equipment integrity. Accountable for development, implementation and successful outcome of plans to eliminate identified risks and preserve the combined shareholder production plan.
• Responsible for the group ensuring technically robust process engineering deliverables during and up to the Basic Engineering phase of projects as well as ensuring seamless back integration into existing refinery assets.
• Define the group’s current plant performance baseline and targets for improvements in terms of volumes, quality and units costs. Responsible for compliance to the targets and meeting the improvement targets.
• Responsible for development, implementation and successful outcome of short term gap closure plans and medium term strategic studies.
• Responsible for providing quality process engineering input to projects and ensuring process engineering governance is followed.
• Responsible for implementation and management of the group’s performance contracts, personal development plans, training requirements and succession planning for personnel under supervision.
• Responsible for implementation and quality of the group reporting as required. e.g. Month end reports, techno-economic memos, study/ test run/ Root Cause Analyses/ investigation reports.
• Responsible for his/her own safety and safety of personnel under direct supervision and for implementation and compliance to the systems aimed at ensuring the safety. Ensuring the complied to in order to ensure your own safety, safety of your personnel as well as safety of any other personnel in your area of your influence.
• Sign-off on the groups operating envelopes and any other technical documentation including critical parameters, Operating-Within-Agreed-Parameters (OWAP), technical drivers, mass and energy balances, Process & Instrument Diagrams, operating/training manuals, process simulations, unit operating and design manuals, etc.
• Maintaining effective collaboration with NATREF internal teams and external service providers and vendors. 
• Provide direct input into the group’s production plan and directives, by defining and managing unit capability and constraints in order to meet the Shareholder plans. Direct input into plan adherence via management of yields, conversion and asset capability.
• Drive the group’s shutdown and Turnaround & Inspection (T&I) process inspections and repair scoping, catalyst systems change-out/regeneration and start-up/stabilization support.
• Responsible for ensuring the accuracy and precision of all units Linear Programming models via test-run verification, unit model updates and evaluations resulting in continuous improvement and fine tuning of the Business Linear Programming model used in the planning, optimisation and determination of Business Unit profitability via the Shareholders.
• Manage the group in providing input into, drive and support Process Safety Management studies, initiatives and defined compliance plans.
• Responsible for defining and managing all unit Process Safety Information.
• Development of Catalyst and Chemical strategies and implementation thereof.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Must have:

• Minimum qualifications: BSc/BEng (Chemical Engineering).
• Minimum 5-8 years overall process engineering experience.
• Proven track of good performance validated with references.

Nice to have (not compulsory):

• Masters in Chemical Engineering, Petrochemical refining, Project Management, Engineering Management, Business Administration or any other formal qualifications.
• Managerial experience: Managing a team minimum 0-3 years
• Experience in Petrochemcial refining
• Professional Engineer accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa registration.

NOTES:

• In line with Sasol’s commitment to Employment Equity, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups.
• In addition to a pre-employment medical examination, some positions may require a physical fitness assessment as part of the normal selection criteria.
• Whilst we would ideally like to respond individually to all candidates who contact us applying for positions, we acknowledge that this is not always possible due to the large number of applications we continually receive. If you have not heard from us within 30 days after applying, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.