Utilities Area Manager

About the role

The owner is seeking an experienced Utilities Area Manager to lead the utilities scope of a 2.5 Mtpa green Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) / Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) project in Duqm, Oman. The role combines technical and commercial accountability for air separation, water treatment, wastewater management, compressed air, and gas distribution, and includes a dual function as Lead Process Engineer for the utilities scope.

Key responsibilities

• Own technical and commercial accountability for the Utilities area, including scope definition, OEM selection, contract negotiation, claims management, schedule and cost ownership.
• Lead owner’s engineering definition of the air‑separation unit and gas distribution system.
• Lead engineering of plant water systems (raw water intake, demineralised water production, cooling water, fire water) and integrated water balance.
• Design and deliver wastewater management and zero‑liquid‑discharge (ZLD) strategy in line with Omani regulations.
• Lead engineering of compressed air, instrument air, plant air and gas distribution (nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, natural gas).
• Provide cross‑area utilities discipline authority and review interfaces with DRI, BoP, Materials Handling and HV areas.
• Prepare specifications, tender documents, technical evaluations and award recommendations for utilities EPC packages.
• Review and approve utilities engineering deliverables from Owner’s Engineer and EPC contractors.
• Contribute to HAZID, HAZOP, SIL, LOPA and other process safety studies.
• Support cost estimate development to FID‑level accuracy and lead technical/commercial activities through construction, commissioning and performance testing.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in utilities engineering for large‑scale industrial projects.
• Proven track record of leading FEED, EPC tendering, construction and commissioning phases.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in OEM selection, contract negotiation and claims management.
• Ability to coordinate cross‑disciplinary interfaces and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Required skills

• Air‑separation unit (ASU) design and operation.
• Water treatment, demineralisation, cooling water and fire‑water systems.
• Zero‑liquid‑discharge (ZLD) design and wastewater management.
• Compressed air, instrument air and plant‑air distribution engineering.
• Gas distribution system design (nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, natural gas).
• HAZID, HAZOP, SIL and LOPA safety assessments.
• Project cost estimation and budgeting for utilities scope.
• EPC contract management and technical evaluation.