Control of Work Lead
Orion Group
As Control of Work (CoW) Lead – CSU, you will be responsible for establishing, implementing, and overseeing the Control of Work framework for all Commissioning and Start-Up activities. You will ensure that all work is executed safely through effective planning, coordination, and control of permits, isolations, SIMOPS, and system status.
You will provide leadership to the Permit Coordination function, ensuring the Permit-to-Work (PTW) system is applied consistently and effectively throughout all CSU phases. The Permit Coordinator will report directly to the CoW Lead.
Key Activities:
The responsibilities of the role will include, but not limited to:
Control of Work Leadership
- Develop and implement the CSU Control of Work strategy, procedures, and execution plan.
- Ensure effective application of Permit-to-Work, isolations, LOTO, SIMOPS, and safe system of work principles across all CSU activities.
- Act as the authority for Control of Work decisions impacting safety, system integrity, and commissioning progression.
Permit-to-Work & Isolation Management
- Provide oversight and governance of the Permit-to-Work system, ensuring compliance with site rules and statutory requirements.
- Ensure isolations (electrical, mechanical, process, and control) are correctly identified, implemented, controlled, and reinstated.
- Interface with Authorised Persons / Senior Authorised Persons and system owners to manage energisation and live plant activities.
SIMOPS & System Status Control
- Manage and coordinate Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) during commissioning and start-up.
- Ensure clear definition and communication of system status (dead, live, under test, restricted access, etc.)
- Chair or contribute to daily planning and SIMOPS meetings.
Team Leadership & Interface Management
- Line-manage and support the Permit Coordinator, ensuring competency, coverage, and effective performance.
- Act as a key interface between CSU, Construction, Operations, HSE, and Project Management teams.
- Support CSU Discipline Leads by removing Control of Work constraints and resolving conflicts.
Assurance, Audit & Improvement
- Monitor compliance through audits, inspections, and field verification.
- Lead investigations into Control of Work incidents, near misses, or breaches.
- Drive continuous improvement of Control of Work processes and site safety culture.
Key skills and experience:
Essential:
- Significant experience in Control of Work, Permit-to-Work, and isolations within industrial, power, or energy projects.
- Experience working in commissioning and start-up or live plant environments.
- Strong understanding of HV / LV electrical safety rules, mechanical and process isolations.
- Proven leadership experience managing permit or safety coordination teams.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- High level of safety awareness and authority to challenge unsafe work.
- Familiarity with electronic PTW systems.
- Authorised Person (AP) or Senior Authorised Person (SAP) experience.
- NEBOSH / IOSH or equivalent HSE qualification.
- Experience with SIMOPS planning and management.
People are our business worldwide
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.
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