Operations Manager
BH-323779
Posted: 30/01/2026
- Competitive daily rate
- Iraq Basra
- Contract
-
Oil & Gas
Our client is currently seeking an Operations Manager to support the development of a major onshore oil field in Iraq, on a 28/28 rotational basis.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in Production Operations, with proven experience as an OIM, Onshore Site Manager or similar. You have number of direct and indirect reports within Operations, Maintenance and Engineering Support teams.
This is a challenging but rewarding role, where stakeholder management and influencing skills are crucial.
You will also need strong multitasking skills and the ability to calmly manage rapidly evolving situations.
Role Synopsis
The Operations Manager reports to the Senior Operations Manager and is accountable for the delivery of safe, reliable, and compliant operations of the facilities.
This already complex field will increase in complexity requiring the incumbent to manage a challenging set of dynamic issues in the facilities and will require significant people leadership and stakeholder management experience.
The role also ensures that the interfaces between operations, maintenance, engineering, optimization, wells, subsurface and projects are defined and effectively managed to successful delivery both day to day operations and longer-term optimization and development activities. There is a large, distributed multi-cultural operating staff requiring a wide breadth of leadership skills and capabilities.
There is significant value at stake for this role to successfully manage one of the world’s largest oil fields, which comes with associated exposure to senior management.
Key Accountabilities
Criteria & Qualifications
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in Production Operations, with proven experience as an OIM, Onshore Site Manager or similar. You have number of direct and indirect reports within Operations, Maintenance and Engineering Support teams.
This is a challenging but rewarding role, where stakeholder management and influencing skills are crucial.
You will also need strong multitasking skills and the ability to calmly manage rapidly evolving situations.
Role Synopsis
The Operations Manager reports to the Senior Operations Manager and is accountable for the delivery of safe, reliable, and compliant operations of the facilities.
This already complex field will increase in complexity requiring the incumbent to manage a challenging set of dynamic issues in the facilities and will require significant people leadership and stakeholder management experience.
The role also ensures that the interfaces between operations, maintenance, engineering, optimization, wells, subsurface and projects are defined and effectively managed to successful delivery both day to day operations and longer-term optimization and development activities. There is a large, distributed multi-cultural operating staff requiring a wide breadth of leadership skills and capabilities.
There is significant value at stake for this role to successfully manage one of the world’s largest oil fields, which comes with associated exposure to senior management.
Key Accountabilities
- Safe, reliable, and efficient operations
- Fulfil the role as incident commander in Emergency Response
- Manages a team of direct reports, demonstrating effective leadership to ensure excellence in execution, performance improvement, technical development, direction and coaching
- Shaping the operating and safety culture in the entity being managed
- Support the delivery of the nationalization plan within operations including the development of local capability through coaching, mentoring, and leading by example
- Effective management of risks associated with plant operations and control of work activities
- Ensure that operations are conducted in compliance with all applicable company policies
- Implements self-verification for production operations
- Manages the budget for production operations
- Leads a continuous improvement culture across the entity being managed and demonstrates performance improvement against agreed leading and lagging KPIs
- Provide operational input to both Brownfield and Greenfield projects
Criteria & Qualifications
- BSc or BEng(UK), or international equivalent in an engineering discipline
- Professional accreditation, such as Professional Engineer or Chartered Engineer
- Minimum of 15 years of experience in operations or engineering role, with at least 10 years in a management or senior leadership position
- Strong communication and influencing skills and a track record of delivery, action-orientated and value-based decisions
- Track record of visible Safety Leadership and in Emergency response
- Proven and demonstrable risk management skills
- Deep discipline knowledge encompassing the full breadth of departmental activities
- Business acumen, encompassing an understanding of budgetary management and financial decision making
- Fluent English and superior communication, presentation, mentoring and coaching skills.
- Ability to make decisions and initiate actions
- Strategic thinking and prioritization
- Cross-functional integration
- People management skills (including technical and leadership development experience)
- Performance management and delivery track record
- Business integrity
- A track record of working to international standards
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.