Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Refining Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

The Refining Analyst serves as a critical link between commercial markets and refinery operations. You will be responsible for developing and executing optimal production plans by leveraging sophisticated linear programming (LP) models, conducting in-depth economic analysis, and monitoring market dynamics. Your insights will directly influence short-term operational decisions and long-term strategic investments, ensuring maximum profitability and competitive advantage for our refining assets. This position requires a unique blend of technical knowledge, economic acumen, and strong collaborative skills to succeed in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Process Engineer
Junior Financial or Commercial Analyst
Chemical Engineering Graduate with relevant internships

Advancement To:

Senior Refining Analyst / Senior Refinery Economist
Planning & Economics Supervisor
Commercial Advisor / Manager

Lateral Moves:

Supply Chain & Logistics Analyst
Downstream Market Analyst
Trader or Trading Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, maintain, and run complex linear programming (LP) models, such as PIMS or GRTMPS, to generate optimal short-term and long-term refinery production plans.
Analyze and evaluate various crude oil slates, feedstocks, and blend components to determine their economic value and impact on refinery operations and profitability.
Conduct detailed economic evaluations and sensitivity analyses for capital projects, debottlenecking opportunities, and operational changes to support strategic investment decisions.
Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including gross refining margins, yields, energy consumption, and variable operating costs.
Perform comprehensive market analysis of crude oil, feedstocks, and refined product markets, utilizing industry data sources like Platts, Argus, and EIA to identify trends and opportunities.
Prepare and present clear, concise reports and presentations on refinery economics, plan vs. actual performance, and market outlook to senior leadership and commercial teams.
Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply, and Trading teams to ensure production plans are feasible, aligned with commercial strategy, and effectively executed.
Identify, model, and champion margin improvement opportunities through feedstock optimization, changes in operating modes, or new product development.
Perform back-casting and variance analysis to understand deviations between the operating plan and actual performance, providing insights for future plan improvements.
Support the development of the annual operating budget, long-range strategic plans, and turnaround (TAR) planning by providing detailed economic inputs and scenarios.
Maintain and update the LP model with accurate unit yields, operating constraints, cost data, and up-to-date economic assumptions.
Analyze the financial impact of changing environmental regulations, product specifications, and other external factors on refinery operations.
Develop and manage sophisticated spreadsheets and databases to track crude assays, product prices, and other critical planning data.
Provide analytical support for the negotiation of feedstock purchase agreements and product sales contracts.
Utilize process simulation tools (e.g., Aspen HYSYS) to validate LP model assumptions and investigate potential process improvements.
Generate and distribute daily, weekly, and monthly reports detailing refinery margins, production targets, and inventory levels.
Evaluate the economics of spot processing opportunities and third-party transactions to maximize asset utilization.
Track competitor activities, refinery outages, and global supply/demand balances to inform and refine our own operational strategy.
Lead or participate in cross-functional planning meetings to facilitate alignment and communication between different departments.
Analyze refinery product giveaway and quality variance to identify opportunities for blend optimization and margin capture.
Provide analytical justification for crude and feedstock selection, influencing a multi-billion dollar annual spend.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from various business units.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by identifying data gaps and improvement opportunities.
Collaborate with business units to translate complex data needs into clear engineering and IT requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data and analytics teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

LP Modeling: High proficiency with refinery Linear Programming (LP) planning models, specifically Aspen PIMS, GRTMPS, or equivalent software.
Refinery Knowledge: Strong, fundamental understanding of petroleum refining processes, unit operations, product specifications, and overall refinery economics.
Advanced Excel: Expert-level skills in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, Power Query, and VBA macro development for automation and modeling.
Process Simulation: Experience with process simulation software such as Aspen HYSYS, Pro/II, or similar tools for modeling refinery units.
Data & SQL: Competency in querying and managing data using SQL and experience working with large relational databases and data historians (e.g., OSIsoft PI).
Data Visualization: Proficiency in using data visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau to create insightful dashboards and reports for business stakeholders.
Market Intelligence: Familiarity with market data services and publications, including Platts, Argus, ICIS, and other energy information providers.
Financial Modeling: Strong financial modeling and economic evaluation skills, including DCF, NPV, and IRR analysis for project justification.
Programming (Preferred): Basic to intermediate programming skills in Python or R for data manipulation, automation, and statistical analysis is highly desirable.
ERP Systems: Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, particularly SAP (e.g., PM/MM modules), is a plus.

Soft Skills

Analytical & Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills with an unwavering attention to detail and accuracy.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical and economic concepts to diverse, non-technical audiences.
Collaboration: A strong team player with proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams (Operations, Engineering, Commercial, Finance).
Commercial Acumen: High level of business and commercial acumen with the ability to connect market trends to operational and financial performance.
Initiative & Time Management: Proactive and self-motivated, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the bigger picture and contribute to long-term strategic planning while managing day-to-day tactical responsibilities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical or business field.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree (MBA or M.S.) in a relevant discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Finance
Economics
Data Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, preferably within a refinery, corporate downstream group, or consulting environment.

Preferred:

Direct, hands-on experience in a refinery planning, scheduling, or economics role is highly preferred and will be a key differentiator for candidates.