Heavy Lift and Project Cargo Specialist - Americas

Heavy Lift and Project Cargo Specialist — Americas
Heavy Lift, Project Cargo and Marine Interface | Flexible location, regional hubs preferred such as Panama | Regional remit across the Americas | Initial one to two year engagement

The role

A regional specialist within the Americas solutions team of a major project logistics provider.  Responsible for engineering, planning and leading the movement of oversized and heavy cargo — mining and industrial equipment, construction materials and project freight — with a strong emphasis on the marine interface at ports, quaysides and vessels.

The work divides between the desk and the field. 

At the desk: developing lift and transport methodology, producing the engineering behind it, and evaluating options against cost, safety, speed and reliability so the business and its clients can make an informed choice. In the field: leading or supervising the critical operations, holding the method when conditions on the quay differ from the drawing, and directing crews and subcontractors.

This is a hands-on role. It is not a desk engineering post with occasional site visits, and it is not a pure supervision post. The person appointed must be able to do the technical work and then go and lead the job.

It is also a solutions role: the specialist contributes to tenders, feasibility studies and method development before award, then leads or advises execution afterwards.

Key responsibilities

• Lift and transport engineering. Develop rigging arrangements, lift plans, load calculations, centre-of-gravity determination, sling and shackle selection, spreader and lifting beam configuration, ground bearing pressure and load spreading, grillage and cribbing arrangements.
• Rigging method. Apply practical knowledge of rigging methods and techniques, and judge whether a proposed arrangement is sound before anyone lifts anything.
• Field leadership. Lead or supervise major lift and transport operations on site — directing crews and subcontractors, verifying that execution matches the approved method, and making the call when conditions change, including the call to stop.
• Method development and option evaluation. Produce and compare feasible methods — crane versus SPMT, lift versus skid versus roll, shore crane versus vessel gear versus floating crane — and present the trade-offs between cost, schedule, risk and reliability with a clear recommendation.
• Marine interface. Plan and oversee loading, discharge and stowage at ports and terminals, including Lo-Lo and Ro-Ro operations, barge and vessel load-out, ballasting considerations, quay and ramp bearing capacity, sea fastening and lashing design, and the interface with vessel masters, terminal operators, stevedores and marine warranty surveyors.
• Risk and assurance. Lead HAZID and lift risk assessments, pre-lift briefings, method statement review and approval, exclusion zones, weather and environmental limits.
• Permitting and compliance. Support route surveys, oversize and overweight permitting, escort and clearance requirements, and compliance with the standards applicable in each jurisdiction.
• Subcontractor and asset selection. Assess crane, SPMT, barge and specialist equipment suppliers on technical capability, equipment condition and crew competence, not price alone.
• Client and tender support. Contribute the technical substance to proposals, feasibility work and client presentations.

Essential

• Demonstrated experience planning and executing oversized and heavy cargo lifts and transports, gained with a specialist heavy lift and transport contractor, a project forwarder, an EPC or a comparable organisation. Ownership of the method, not attendance at the job.
• Substantial United States project delivery experience, with working command of US standards and practice. A full United States career is not necessarily required — but demonstrable delivery of US projects is.
• Hands-on capability. Practical knowledge of rigging methods, and the proven ability to lead or supervise major lift and transport operations in the field.
• Practical command of rigging engineering: load and sling calculations, centre of gravity, lifting gear selection, ground bearing pressure, load spreading and grillage.
• Experience of the marine interface — vessel loading and discharge, stowage, sea fastening and lashing, and working with terminals, stevedores and marine warranty surveyors.
• Experience with mining equipment, industrial plant, construction materials or comparable project cargo moved by sea.
• Ability to evaluate and present competing methods on cost, safety, speed and reliability, and to defend the recommendation.
• Fluent English with ability to communicate in Spanish/Portuguese highly desirable.
• Ability to travel across the Americas at short notice and sustain a frequent travel schedule. Base location is flexible — see below.
• Willingness to work on an initial one to two year engagement.

Highly desirable

• Based at or near a regional hub offering strong connectivity to project sites across the Americas. Panama is of particular interest, and candidates already resident in the Panama market are especially welcome to apply.
• Spanish and / or Portuguese language capability. Advantageous and genuinely useful across the regional remit.
• Background with a specialist heavy lift and transport contractor of the Sarens or Malmete type, or with a major project logistics provider.
• Recognised certification such as NCCCO Rigger Level II, Lift Director or Crane Operator, or an equivalent national qualification.
• Degree or diploma in mechanical, civil, structural or marine engineering, or equivalent demonstrated competence.
• Working knowledge of ASME B30 series, OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, and marine warranty requirements such as DNV-ST-N001.
• Experience in Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean, including local permitting, port practice and regulatory expectations.
• SPMT, strand jack, gantry, climbing jack and skidding system experience.
• Lift planning and engineering software — 3D Lift Plan, LiftPlanner, AutoCAD, Navisworks or comparable.
• Experience supporting tenders and feasibility studies in a commercial environment.

The person

Technically rigorous and commercially aware. Comfortable telling a client or a colleague that a proposed method does not work, and able to offer one that does. Calm when a plan meets reality on site, and willing to be the person standing on the quay when needed around the clock. Able to work across cultures and jurisdictions without assuming that the way it is done in one market is the way it is done everywhere.

Location, travel and engagement

Base location is flexible. The remit is regional across the Americas and the work is wherever the projects are, so what matters is the ability to reach sites quickly rather than a particular address. Candidates based at or near a regional hub with strong connectivity to the key markets are of particular interest, and Panama especially so — but a strong candidate well placed elsewhere in the Americas will be considered on merit.

Expect significant travel at short notice, balanced against office-based engineering and solution development between mobilisations. Initial engagement of one to two years; employment or contract basis and terms are negotiable for the right person.

Remuneration

Negotiable. Candidate expectations are established during screening.