Rigging & Lifting Specialist

Role Overview

Rigging & Lifting Specialist for Wood PLC's PMC team. This role provides specialist technical expertise and assurance for all lifting and rigging activities across the project, ensuring that all lifting operations are planned, executed, and monitored in accordance with ADNOC standards, applicable international regulations, project specifications, and industry best practices.

Role Purpose

To provide specialist technical expertise and assurance for all lifting and rigging activities across the project, promoting safe lifting operations, minimizing operational risks, and ensuring contractor compliance throughout all phases of construction and commissioning.

Key Responsibilities

Oversight & Assurance

• Provide technical oversight and assurance of all lifting and rigging activities performed by EPC Contractors.
• Review and approve lifting studies, lifting plans, method statements, and risk assessments for routine and critical lifting operations.
• Verify that cranes, lifting equipment, lifting accessories, and rigging gear are certified, inspected, and fit for purpose.
• Review crane selection, lifting configurations, ground bearing assessments, and equipment capacities.

Compliance & Standards

• Ensure all lifting activities comply with ADNOC Codes of Practice, project HSE requirements, and applicable international standards.
• Monitor contractor compliance with lifting procedures, permit-to-work requirements, and lifting management systems.
• Participate in constructability reviews to ensure lifting requirements are incorporated into engineering and construction planning.

Site Operations & Monitoring

• Conduct regular site inspections and audits of lifting operations and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Witness and assess critical lifts, heavy lifts, tandem lifts, and other complex lifting activities.
• Ensure competent personnel, including crane operators, riggers, signalmen, and lifting supervisors, are deployed for lifting operations.

Risk & Incident Management

• Investigate lifting incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Participate in HAZID, HAZOP, SIMOPS, constructability, and risk assessment workshops where lifting activities are involved.

Coordination & Collaboration

• Coordinate with Construction, HSE, Engineering, QA/QC, and Operations teams to ensure safe execution of lifting activities.
• Support pre-commissioning and commissioning activities requiring specialized lifting operations.

Records & Improvement

• Maintain accurate records of inspections, audits, lifting observations, and technical recommendations.
• Promote continuous improvement in lifting safety performance through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

Certifications

• Professional certification in Rigging and Lifting from a recognized international body is preferred.
• Additional lifting certifications such as Appointed Person (Lifting Operations), LEEA, CPCS, NCCCO, OPITO, or equivalent are highly desirable.
• Valid HSE-related certifications relevant to offshore or onshore construction environments are advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience in construction, heavy lifting, and rigging operations within the oil and gas industry.
• Minimum 10 years of experience on major EPC, EPCM, or PMC projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience on ADNOC projects or equivalent Middle East oil and gas projects.
• Extensive experience in planning and supervising critical lifts involving heavy process equipment, modules, vessels, tanks, and structural steel.
• Experience supporting greenfield oil and gas developments from engineering through construction and commissioning.
• Previous PMC experience is highly preferred.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of ADNOC lifting requirements and Codes of Practice.
• Strong understanding of LOLER and relevant international lifting regulations.
• Strong understanding of BS 7121.
• Strong understanding of ASME B30 series.
• Strong understanding of ISO lifting standards.
• Strong understanding of LEEA guidance and industry best practices.
• Experience reviewing crane studies, lift plans, ground bearing calculations, rigging calculations, and load distribution analyses.
• Familiarity with heavy lift engineering and transport operations.
• Ability to assess lifting risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing and interface management.

Professional Competencies

• Excellent technical report writing and communication skills.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence EPC Contractors.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to HSE excellence.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams.

Technical Tools

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and standard engineering documentation systems.
• Familiarity with digital lifting management systems is advantageous.