POSITION SUMMARYWith minimal supervision the Process Heater Specialist is responsible for training and consulting with operations personnel. The specialist will also train and provide directions for steam boiler operations, process treatment of raw water, boiler feed water, cooling water and condensate.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS- Chemical or Mechanical Engineering degree or 10+ years of equivalent refinery operations experience.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS- 10+ years of progressive refinery experience required
- 2+ years operations leadership experience required
- Demonstrated knowledge of refinery processes and technology
- Efficient with Microsoft Office Suite required
- Fluent in English, oral and written require
- Strong understanding of mechanical systems, thermal processes, and refinery operations.
- Proficiency in safety protocols, environmental regulations, and refinery safety standards.
- Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, blueprints, and equipment specifications.
- Experience with refractory materials, tube inspection, and heat exchanger systems.
- Problem-solving and analytical skills for root cause analysis of failures.
- Familiarity with diagnostic tools and control systems used in industrial heating equipment.
- Fluent in English, oral and written required.
- Ability to adjust schedule to meet business needs.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES- Provide leadership and develop job skills of operators
- Provide daily directions to operations personnel to meet safe reliable and efficient operations
- Implement and drive safety and environmental culture to achieve positive results
- Provide specific guidance to inspection, project engineering, drafting/design and electronic data management groups and other refinery departments as required
- Maintain close contact with the technical and operations groups to ensure alignment with corporate and departmental procedures
- Promote communication with employees to influence the continuous improvement of the refinery heaters, boilers, and process water treatment systems.
- Manage specific projects as directed by refinery management and participate in functional and cross-functional initiatives as assigned
- Initiate, investigate and resolve incident reports
- Communicate effectively with hourly workforce and management
- Comply with and require compliance with all company policies, procedures, and collective bargaining agreement(s)
- As assigned, serve as back-up for the other refinery staff functions
- Operational Oversight: Monitor and adjust temperature, pressure, and flow rates in oil heaters to ensure optimal performance and compliance with safety and environmental standards.
- Maintenance & Inspections: Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and corrective repairs to extend equipment life and prevent breakdowns.
- Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve operational anomalies, including heater malfunctions, refractory issues, and process deviations.
- Technical Analysis: Evaluate heater designs, select and specify fired equipment, and participate in HAZOP studies to ensure safe and efficient operation.
- The specialist will also be responsible for the interface with the refinery water and steam treatment chemical suppliers as well as training and directing operations in the applications of water and steam programs.
- Lifecycle Management: Calculate remaining life of heater tubes, develop replacement schedules, and implement repair procedures to prevent recurrence of failures.
- Support During Turnarounds: Assist in major plant shutdowns and turnarounds to address heater-related issues.
- Documentation: Maintain detailed logs and reports for operational review and process improvement.
- Typically works in refinery or industrial plant settings, often in high-temperature, high-pressure environments.
- May require working in shifts and during plant maintenance or shutdowns.
- Safety gear and adherence to strict operational procedures are mandatory.
- Regularly communicate with supervisor work progress, concerns, and questions.
- Exposure to work near potentially volatile and combustible materials and chemicals.
EXPECTED RESULTS- Safe, reliable and environmentally compliant operations of refinery heaters, steam, and condensate systems
- Optimize process water treatment and process chemical usage
- Effective and timely communication with all refinery stakeholders, including hourly employees, staff, and management
- On stream and on-specification targets are met
- Confidential information remains protected
- Knowledgeable, trained, and certified operations staff in the areas of operating conditions, limits, and risk management
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Quality and timely results in a driven team player
- Embrace positive change, promote safety, drive inclusive behaviors and support sustainable reliability
- Adherence to all company policies and procedures
Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. The Company will not sponsor immigration or work visas. 
