PLANNING ENGINEER – MECHANICAL 

JOB PURPOSE

Supervise and lead the planning, scheduling, resource management, mechanical maintenance contract management, contractor supervision, and site execution of routine, preventive, corrective, turnaround, and major mechanical maintenance activities.

The position shall provide strong coordination between Maintenance, Operations, Reliability, Engineering, Inspection, Procurement, Contracts, HSE, and mechanical maintenance contractors to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, within approved schedule, budget, quality, and contractual requirements.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Mechanical Maintenance Planning & Scheduling

• Supervise the activities assigned to Senior Planners and cross-functional maintenance planning teams.
• Lead preparation and planning of mechanical maintenance activities for rotating equipment, static equipment, piping, valves, pumps, compressors, turbines, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, tanks, mechanical packages, and associated plant equipment.
• Develop detailed maintenance plans, job plans, work packs, schedules, manpower requirements, material requirements, tools, equipment, and contractor resource requirements.
• Participate in planning and coordination of preventive, predictive, corrective, breakdown, routine, and major mechanical maintenance programs.
• Ensure all required manpower, mechanical spare parts, materials, tools, equipment, lifting facilities, scaffolding, specialist services, and contractors are available before work execution.
• Review maintenance backlog and prioritize mechanical maintenance activities based on equipment criticality, production requirements, safety, reliability, and plant operating conditions.
• Coordinate with Operations, Mechanical Maintenance, Reliability, Inspection, Engineering, Procurement, Contracts, HSE, and other disciplines to ensure timely execution.
• Ensure proper budget allocation and resource planning for critical mechanical equipment to support reliable and trouble-free plant operation.
• Prepare technical documentation in accordance with applicable standards, codes, specifications, and CLIENT requirements.

2. Mechanical Maintenance Contracts & Contractor Management

• Lead the planning and coordination of mechanical maintenance contracts, including long-term mechanical maintenance service contracts, manpower contracts, specialist mechanical services, equipment hire, and shutdown/turnaround maintenance contracts.
• Prepare detailed Scope of Work (SOW), technical specifications, BOQ/MTO, manpower requirements, equipment requirements, work schedules, cost estimates, execution methodologies, and contractor deliverables for mechanical maintenance contracts.
• Develop mechanical maintenance contracting strategies based on workload, equipment criticality, manpower requirements, maintenance history, and in-house versus outsourced execution.
• Review annual requirements for mechanical manpower, specialist services, lifting equipment, machining services, scaffolding, inspection support, and other special equipment/services.
• Prepare detailed tender documents and technical specifications for major and long-term mechanical maintenance contracts.
• Participate in contractor prequalification, technical clarification meetings, site visits, tender meetings, and contractor selection processes.
• Perform technical evaluation of contractor bids, including:
  • Contractor experience in mechanical maintenance.
  • Manpower and supervision structure.
  • Mechanical maintenance methodology.
  • Equipment, tools, lifting facilities, and workshop capabilities.
  • Proposed execution schedule and resource loading.
  • HSE and quality arrangements.
  • Technical compliance with CLIENT requirements.
  • Productivity and performance commitments.
• Support Contracts and Procurement departments during tendering, clarification, negotiation, award, renewal, and closeout of mechanical maintenance contracts.
• Review contractor mobilization plans and verify availability of manpower, supervisors, tools, equipment, materials, lifting resources, permits, documentation, and site facilities.
• Coordinate daily and weekly mechanical maintenance activities with contractors and ensure alignment with approved maintenance priorities.
• Monitor contractor performance against scope, schedule, manpower, productivity, quality, HSE, KPIs, SLAs, and contractual deliverables.
• Monitor contractor manpower utilization, productivity, equipment utilization, work-front availability, and progress at site.
• Conduct regular contractor progress and performance meetings and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Review contractor work orders, timesheets, progress reports, completed quantities, manpower records, and supporting documents.
• Provide technical and planning input for contractor progress measurement and payment certification.
• Identify contractor delays, manpower shortages, productivity issues, material constraints, equipment shortages, and schedule risks.
• Develop and monitor contractor recovery plans for delayed or critical mechanical maintenance activities.
• Participate in technical assessment of contractor variations, additional works, claims, and extension-of-time requests, including cost and schedule impact.
• Maintain contractor performance records, productivity data, lessons learned, and historical information for future mechanical maintenance contract tendering.
• Participate in contractor performance evaluations and recommend corrective or improvement actions.
• Support contract closeout, including outstanding works, punch-list clearance, final quantities, documentation, lessons learned, and demobilization.

3. Site-Based Mechanical Maintenance Experience

• Maintain regular and frequent site presence to monitor mechanical maintenance execution, contractor performance, manpower deployment, work progress, and resource availability.
• Provide direct site coordination and supervision of mechanical contractors, subcontractors, technicians, and maintenance personnel.
• Conduct site walkdowns before commencement of mechanical maintenance activities to verify actual site conditions and work requirements.
• Verify work scopes against equipment condition, drawings, specifications, job plans, inspection findings, and site requirements.
• Ensure work-front readiness, including availability of materials, mechanical spares, tools, lifting equipment, scaffolding, access, isolation, permits, manpower, and specialist services.
• Monitor field execution against approved mechanical maintenance schedules and identify constraints affecting completion.
• Coordinate with mechanical supervisors and contractors to resolve daily site execution issues.
• Monitor contractor compliance with approved Method Statements, JSA, Risk Assessments, Permit-to-Work requirements, quality procedures, and HSE requirements.
• Verify actual site progress against contractor-reported progress and ensure accurate progress measurement.
• Participate in inspections and verification of mechanical maintenance activities such as:
  • Pumps and compressors maintenance.
  • Valve overhaul and replacement.
  • Heat exchanger maintenance.
  • Static equipment maintenance.
  • Piping repairs and modifications.
  • Rotating equipment alignment.
  • Mechanical seal replacement.
  • Bearing replacement.
  • Coupling and shaft-related maintenance.
  • Equipment installation and removal.
  • Pressure testing and reinstatement.
  • Mechanical completion and punch-list activities.
• Coordinate lifting, rigging, scaffolding, equipment access, and other mechanical work-front requirements with relevant site teams.
• Verify completed work and ensure maintenance activities meet technical, quality, safety, and CLIENT requirements.
• Participate in mechanical equipment testing, commissioning support, reinstatement, and handover activities where applicable.
• Provide site feedback to update maintenance plans, schedules, manpower requirements, and recovery plans.
• Coordinate multiple mechanical contractors and subcontractors working simultaneously within the plant.
• Support troubleshooting of mechanical equipment problems with Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering, OEMs, and contractors.

4. Shutdown & Turnaround Mechanical Planning

• Lead and oversee planning of mechanical shutdown and turnaround activities.
• Develop detailed mechanical shutdown work lists, job packages, resource-loaded schedules, and critical paths.
• Review estimates for mechanical labour, materials, spare parts, tools, lifting equipment, scaffolding, specialist services, and contractors.
• Coordinate shutdown preparations with Supply Chain, Contracts, Procurement, Inspection, HSE, Operations, Production, Reliability, and Mechanical Maintenance.
• Develop contractor manpower and equipment mobilization plans for shutdown and turnaround activities.
• Lead activities during turnarounds, including site supervision, contractor coordination, manpower follow-up, work-front management, progress monitoring, and schedule control.
• Monitor mechanical contractor progress against the approved shutdown critical path.
• Identify delays and constraints and coordinate recovery actions.
• Participate in daily shutdown meetings and provide accurate progress, manpower, productivity, and schedule information.
• Support shutdown closeout, punch-list clearance, mechanical completion, documentation, lessons learned, and contractor demobilization.

5. Mechanical Maintenance Budget & Cost Control

• Review annual manpower and special equipment requirements for mechanical maintenance.
• Analyze manpower utilization, contractor productivity, material consumption, equipment utilization, and maintenance cost data.
• Prepare cost estimates for mechanical maintenance activities, shutdowns, turnarounds, manpower contracts, equipment hire, and specialist services.
• Support preparation and monitoring of the annual mechanical maintenance budget.
• Monitor planned versus actual maintenance expenditure and contractor costs.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining equipment reliability, safety, quality, and integrity.
• Raise necessary documentation to initiate contract negotiations for ongoing mechanical manpower, equipment hire, and specialist maintenance services.

6. Mechanical Equipment & Spare Parts Planning

• Prepare proper plans for critical mechanical spare parts to ensure availability when required.
• Review equipment criticality and maintenance history to identify critical mechanical spares.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Procurement for timely procurement of mechanical spare parts.
• Perform technical evaluations of material and spare-parts quotations for stock and special items.
• Coordinate with OEMs and vendors regarding technical specifications, spare parts, equipment problems, and maintenance requirements.

7. Reliability & Mechanical Maintenance Improvement

• Participate in the development and improvement of preventive and predictive mechanical maintenance programs.
• Ensure implementation of Inspection and Reliability recommendations to improve mechanical equipment integrity and reliability.
• Participate in Root Cause Analysis as a member of the Reliability/RCA team.
• Participate in failure analysis reviews and maintenance strategy development for bad-actor mechanical assets.
• Participate in troubleshooting with Mechanical Maintenance and Reliability teams to resolve recurring equipment reliability problems.
• Analyze mechanical equipment failure history and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Support development of maintenance strategies based on equipment criticality, failure modes, operating conditions, and maintenance history.

8. Vendor & OEM Coordination

• Participate in vendor selection processes, including technical evaluations, site visits, vendor meetings, and technology reviews.
• Coordinate with OEMs and vendors for resolving specific mechanical equipment problems.
• Review OEM recommendations and assess their applicability to plant mechanical maintenance requirements.
• Evaluate new mechanical maintenance technologies, tools, equipment, and techniques for potential implementation.
• Coordinate vendor technical support during major mechanical maintenance, shutdown, and turnaround activities.

9. HSE, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure Quality, Safety, Health, and Environmental procedures are complied with by employees, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Ensure mechanical contractors comply with CLIENT HSE procedures, Permit-to-Work requirements, Method Statements, JSAs, Risk Assessments, and site safety requirements.
• Prepare Method Statements and Job Safety Analysis for critical mechanical maintenance activities.
• Participate in incident investigations and Root Cause Analysis and recommend corrective actions.
• Conduct audits of mechanical work orders, maintenance activities, contractor documentation, and workshop repairs.
• Ensure mechanical maintenance documentation is properly completed, controlled, updated, and maintained in accordance with quality standards.
• Identify unsafe conditions or non-compliant contractor activities and ensure immediate corrective actions are taken.

10. Reporting & Team Leadership

• Supervise the activities of assigned Senior Planners and planning personnel.
• Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, annual, shutdown, turnaround, contractor performance, and management reports.
• Monitor and report contractor performance, manpower utilization, productivity, schedule compliance, quality, HSE, and cost performance.
• Prepare management reports highlighting progress, delays, risks, resource requirements, contractor issues, and recovery actions.
• Conduct frequent site visits to verify actual work progress and contractor performance.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to complete mechanical maintenance jobs within schedule and budget without compromising safety.
• Keep abreast of developments in mechanical maintenance planning, contract management, reliability, technology, and industry best practices.
• Perform other similar and related duties as assigned by management.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and/or recognized certification as a Planning Engineer or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant industry experience in maintenance planning within the Oil & Gas industry, preferably in mechanical maintenance.
• Proven experience in Mechanical Maintenance Contract Management and Contractor Management.
• Strong site-based mechanical maintenance experience, including contractor supervision, field execution, shutdowns, turnarounds, and major maintenance activities.
• Proven experience in preparing mechanical maintenance contract SOWs, technical specifications, BOQs/MTOs, cost estimates, tender documents, and technical bid evaluations.
• Experience in contractor mobilization, manpower planning, productivity monitoring, progress measurement, KPI/SLA monitoring, variation assessment, and contract closeout.
• Strong experience with mechanical maintenance of rotating and static equipment, piping, valves, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, tanks, pressure equipment, and associated mechanical systems.
• Strong knowledge of maintenance planning, scheduling, work-pack preparation, resource loading, critical-path analysis, shutdown, and turnaround planning.
• Good knowledge of contractor performance management, tendering, procurement processes, and contract administration interfaces.
• Proven ability to work directly with mechanical contractors and subcontractors in operating Oil & Gas facilities.
• Good knowledge of HSE requirements, Permit-to-Work systems, Method Statements, JSA, Risk Assessments, and field execution practices.
• Good understanding of mechanical equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, critical spares, RCA, failure analysis, and maintenance strategies.
• Good written and oral communication skills. Arabic language skills are an advantage.
• Proven interpersonal, leadership, coordination, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in both office-based planning and site-based mechanical maintenance execution environments.
• Fully versed with maintenance planning principles and techniques.
• Excellent computer skills, including MS Office and relevant SAP, CMMS/ERP, planning, scheduling, and reporting systems.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Mechanical Maintenance Planning & Scheduling
• Mechanical Maintenance Contract Management
• Contractor & Subcontractor Management
• Site-Based Mechanical Maintenance Execution
• Shutdown & Turnaround Planning
• Contractor Mobilization & Supervision
• Rotating & Static Equipment Maintenance
• Pumps, Compressors, Valves & Heat Exchangers
• Piping & Mechanical Equipment Maintenance
• Tendering & Technical Bid Evaluation
• SOW & Technical Specification Preparation
• BOQ/MTO & Cost Estimation
• Contractor KPI/SLA Management
• Progress Measurement & Schedule Control
• Variation & Additional Work Assessment
• Manpower & Resource Planning
• HSE & Quality Compliance
• Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
• Reliability & RCA
• Critical Mechanical Spares Planning
• Vendor & OEM Coordination
• Shutdown/Turnaround Execution
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership