Head of Lifting

Head of Lifting

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Lifting to provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, and governance across lifting operations within a portfolio of major onshore and offshore energy projects.

This position serves as the focal point for lifting discipline assurance, operational excellence, and safety leadership, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices throughout all phases of project execution. The role requires extensive experience in lifting operations, risk management, contractor oversight, and stakeholder engagement across complex project environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the lifting discipline across multiple large-scale projects, providing technical guidance and operational support to project teams.
• Establish and maintain robust lifting assurance processes to ensure compliance with company procedures, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Review and assess critical lifting activities, ensuring appropriate safeguards and risk mitigation measures are implemented.
• Drive continuous improvement of lifting standards, procedures, and best practices across project portfolios.
• Lead investigations into significant lifting incidents, identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and ensure close-out of mitigation measures.
• Support project teams in lifting resource planning, recruitment, onboarding, and competency assurance.
• Facilitate risk screenings and formal risk assessments for complex and critical lifting operations.
• Develop effective communication channels for sharing lessons learned, operational feedback, and best practices.
• Monitor lifting performance, analyze trends, identify vulnerabilities, and implement improvement initiatives.
• Promote a strong safety culture through leadership, coaching, and implementation of industry-recognized safety principles and life-saving rules.
• Engage with contractors, vendors, certification bodies, and operational stakeholders to ensure effective coordination and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Relevant lifting operations certification such as OPITO LOLER Competent Person or equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience supporting major construction or project execution activities within the oil & gas, energy, offshore, marine, or industrial sectors.
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory, leadership, or contractor oversight experience.
• Extensive experience in lifting equipment inspection, certification, verification, and lifting operations management.
• Demonstrated experience implementing compliance and assurance frameworks for lifting operations.
• Strong knowledge of international industry standards including API, ASME, DNV, ISO, LOLER, and other relevant regulations.
• Previous experience serving as a Lifting Subject Matter Expert, Technical Authority, or similar specialist role is highly desirable.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Strong risk assessment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across complex project environments.
• Effective coordination and interface management skills.
• High level of professionalism and safety focus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard business applications.
• Fluent written and spoken English.