Head of Operations Oil & Gas (Upstream)📣 Job Ad

About the Joint Venture

A new Joint Venture (JV) is being established to develop an advanced manufacturing and remanufacturing platform specifically for the Oil & Gas upstream sector in Saudi Arabia. This facility, located in Dammam within the Eastern Region, will specialize in high-precision CNC machining, remanufacturing, welding/fabrication, assembly, and special process capabilities for critical upstream applications. The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and IKTVA localization objectives, addressing the growing demand for in-Kingdom manufacturing to support energy customers, OEMs, EPCs, and service companies.

The Role: Head of Operations, Oil & Gas (Upstream)

Coefficient Alliances & Ventures (Coefftalent) is seeking a Head of Operations Oil & Gas (Upstream) to lead the end-to-end operational execution of this new JV facility. This full-time leadership position reports directly to the General Manager / Plant Head. The successful candidate will be responsible for converting the JV’s business plan into a high-performing, customer-qualified, cost-efficient, and scalable manufacturing operation, requiring a hands-on, execution-driven approach.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations, including production, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, procurement, stores, supply chain, production planning, and operational excellence.
• Drive operational readiness for the greenfield facility, overseeing plant layout, machine placement, material flow, utilities, and production systems.
• Establish operating systems from the ground up, including SOPs, work instructions, maintenance systems, and production dashboards, ensuring readiness for API, ISO, and customer audits.
• Oversee production plans across CNC machining, welding/fabrication, assembly, and remanufacturing, focusing on utilization, cycle time, throughput, and cost efficiency.
• Lead manufacturing engineering activities such as process planning, CNC programming governance, fixture development, and process validation for new product introduction.
• Implement preventive, predictive, and breakdown maintenance systems to ensure high uptime and reliability of all plant assets.
• Manage the end-to-end supply chain, covering procurement, vendor development, import logistics, inventory, and subcontracting, with a focus on cost reduction and localization.
• Collaborate with the Quality Head to ensure operational compliance with API, ISO, HSE, and customer requirements, fostering a zero-defect culture.
• Participate in customer audits and technical discussions, providing credible operational inputs on lead times, capacity, and delivery readiness.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, TPM, and other continuous improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and enhance productivity.
• Build and lead a high-performing operations organization, managing a team expected to exceed 100 employees, and developing local Saudi talent in line with IKTVA objectives.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, or a related discipline; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 18 years of experience in manufacturing operations, with significant exposure to precision machining, fabrication, welding, and industrial manufacturing.
• Mandatory experience in API-certified manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience managing large CNC machining operations, preferably with more than 20 CNC machines.
• Demonstrated experience in greenfield plant setup or major capacity expansion.
• Ability to lead and develop teams of more than 100 people.
• Strong understanding of production planning, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, procurement, supply chain, and stores.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured operational excellence systems.

Key Skills and Attributes

The ideal candidate will possess a hands-on, execution-driven leadership style with a proven track record in complex manufacturing environments. Exposure to the GCC / Saudi manufacturing ecosystem is considered an added advantage. The role demands a leader capable of building robust operational systems from the ground up and fostering a culture of discipline, ownership, safety, and continuous improvement.

Employment Details

This is a full-time position based in Dammam, Eastern Region. Salary details will be discussed during the interview process.