Lead Chemist

About ENGIE Saudi Arabia

ENGIE is a global energy company focused on responsible growth in Power, Natural Gas, and Energy Services. The company addresses challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economy, including supply security, resource efficiency, sustainable energy access, and climate change. ENGIE provides solutions to governments, communities, cities, and businesses, leveraging expertise in independent power development, renewable energy, liquefied natural gas, and energy efficiency services. The Middle-East, South & Central Asia and Turkey (MESCAT) Business Unit, headquartered in Dubai, manages large-scale power generation, water desalination, gas retail & distribution, LNG, and energy services for B2B customers. This unit is expanding its presence in renewable energies, the gas value chain, and energy efficiency services.

Role Overview: Lead Chemist

ENGIE Saudi Arabia is seeking a Lead Chemist for a full-time position in Saudi Arabia. This role reports to the Engineering Manager and is responsible for ensuring the engineering health and statutory compliance of power plant assets. The Lead Chemist will define chemistry parameters for optimal chemical conditions, supporting both current operations and long-term plant integrity. The role requires a detailed understanding of chemical, operational, and environmental aspects of Co-Generation Plants and auxiliary systems, ensuring all chemical systems are fully operational.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional guidance on power plant chemistry and environmental control.
• Ensure effective, efficient, economical, and safe execution of activities affected by chemical considerations.
• Support the maintenance of sampling analysis.
• Define and maintain operating and maintenance parameters for optimum chemical conditions and long-term plant integrity.
• Provide accurate and timely guidance on chemical parameter deviations affecting plant processes, equipment health, performance, and water quality to Shift Engineers, with the authority to intervene as needed.
• Define and implement operating policies and practices.
• Anticipate and respond effectively to operational demands on the plants.
• Manage sampling and analysis functions and present results appropriately.
• Assist operations departments in managing the chemical store.
• Train and develop operations and maintenance teams on best industrial practices related to oil and water chemistry schemes, sampling, testing, and analysis.
• Ensure safe and efficient plant operation to deliver high levels of commercial availability within environmental limits.
• Liaise effectively with Plant Managers, Operation Engineers, and Third-Party vendors on plant chemistry issues.
• Develop and implement sampling frequency based on plant and equipment condition.
• Deliver outcomes consistent with Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental policies.
• Participate in internal and external Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental audits.
• Actively participate in the Fleet Chemical Networking Group (CNG).
• Assist in ensuring all procedures, documentation, drawings, and manuals are up to date and necessary training is completed.
• Ensure commitment to training programs for individual development and operational competence, and assist in the development of other staff.
• Facilitate communication and cooperation between Operations, Stores, and External Vendors.
• Ensure the continuous availability of chemicals.
• Travel between Tihama Assets for sample collection, analysis, training, and walkdowns.
• Raise operational performance, reliability, and availability of assets.
• Reduce and optimize operational costs of chemicals and oils.
• Improve the quality, economy, and efficiency of "within-the-fence" projects.
• Contribute technical expertise.
• Mobilize, apply, and allocate appropriate resources for normal and exceptional operational circumstances.
• Drive improvement projects to completion.

Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Responsibilities

• Identify all statutory obligations related to asset integrity and ensure timely and ongoing compliance.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies to ensure assets are suitable for their operational environment and support HSE standards.
• Establish and monitor asset conditions, identifying and managing all HSE risk items.
• Implement rigorous control processes to ensure plant changes do not prejudice HSE standards prior to execution.
• Audit compliance of all stakeholders within the Regions with relevant procedures and implement corrective or improvement measures.
• Establish effective relationships with local Saudi Arabian representatives.
• Identify and maintain staff competencies necessary to support team activities.
• Improve Process Safety and champion Operational Excellence.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of current chemical handling, safety, and best chemical practices.
• Knowledge of environmental legislation relevant to power plant operation.
• Computer literacy with MS Office, SharePoint, and Maximo.
• Knowledge of relevant testing standards and guidelines such as ISO, NAS, ASTM, IEC, and EPRI.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory equipment usage and calibration.