Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Unit Operations Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Unit Operations Officer is responsible for safe, reliable and efficient day-to-day operation of a production unit or process train. This role leads shift-level operational control, enforces process safety and regulatory compliance, executes startup/shutdown procedures, troubleshoots process upsets, and drives continuous improvement to meet production, quality and reliability targets. The Unit Operations Officer interfaces with maintenance, process engineering, HSE, and supply chain to optimize throughput while maintaining a strong focus on safety and environmental performance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Process Operator / Field Operator with multi-unit experience.
Production Technician or Shift Supervisor in a continuous process plant.
Junior Process Engineer or Maintenance Technician transitioning to operations.

Advancement To:

Unit Supervisor / Shift Manager
Operations Manager / Production Superintendent
Plant Manager or Reliability Manager

Lateral Moves:

Process Engineer
Maintenance Supervisor
HSE Specialist / Process Safety Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and be accountable for safe, compliant and efficient operation of one or more process units, ensuring production targets, product quality specifications and unit availability are consistently met.
Execute and supervise unit startup, shutdown, and turnaround procedures, ensuring all pre-start checks, isolation protocols and safety critical steps are completed and documented.
Monitor and control process parameters using DCS/SCADA, respond to alarms, and take corrective actions to stabilize the unit while minimizing product loss and environmental impact.
Conduct shift handovers, maintain accurate logbooks and ensure continuity of operations through structured communication and documented actions.
Perform real-time troubleshooting and root-cause analysis on process upsets, mechanical failures and instrumentation faults; implement temporary and permanent corrective actions in partnership with engineering and maintenance.
Implement and enforce process safety management (PSM) programs, permit-to-work systems, and life-saving rules; lead pre-job safety briefings and ensure compliance with HSE policies.
Carry out HAZOP follow-up items, MOC (Management of Change) reviews, and safety critical equipment verification to uphold process integrity and regulatory obligations.
Supervise and mentor operations staff and contractors on shift — delegate tasks, monitor performance, coach to standards and conduct competency assessments.
Coordinate with maintenance planners to schedule corrective and preventive maintenance, prioritize work orders and support outage planning to minimize unplanned downtime.
Maintain and update unit operating procedures (SOPs), emergency response plans and P&ID accuracy; ensure documentation is accessible and current for operational staff.
Analyze production metrics (yield, throughput, energy consumption) to identify optimization opportunities and deliver incremental improvements to efficiency and cost.
Manage inventory of critical spares, chemicals and consumables for the unit; raise requisitions, support stores coordination and ensure parts availability for reliability.
Lead incident investigations (near-miss, process safety event) using structured methodologies (5-why, RCA), prepare incident reports and track corrective actions to closure.
Ensure environmental permit compliance — monitor emissions, effluent and waste streams; implement mitigation measures and support regulatory reporting and inspections.
Support process improvement projects (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen) by providing operations input, participating in pilot tests and sustaining implemented changes.
Maintain strong stakeholder relationships across plant functions — shift coordination, process engineering, HSE, QA/QC, logistics and commercial teams to align priorities and resolve interdepartmental issues.
Deliver shift-level cost control by monitoring utilities, chemical usage and energy consumption; suggest operational changes that reduce operating expenditure without compromising safety or quality.
Train and assess operator competency on DCS procedures, safety systems, local control panels, and emergency shutdown (ESD) operations; maintain training records.
Perform operational risk assessments for modifications, non-routine operations and start-up sequences; ensure adequate controls and contingency plans are in place.
Support field testing, sample collection and basic analytical verification to confirm product quality and troubleshoot off-spec conditions in collaboration with laboratory and QA teams.
Ensure line of sight to performance by preparing and presenting shift reports, KPI dashboards and variance explanations to unit leadership and corporate operations.
Supervise contractor activities on unit area ensuring compliance with permits, safety expectations and plant standards; perform daily clearance and permit verification.
Maintain vigilance on corrosion, erosion and rotating equipment health indicators; initiate timely escalation and replacement planning in coordination with reliability engineering.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional data analytics initiatives by providing process context, historical data access and operational validation for models and dashboards.
Participate in capital project reviews to represent operational requirements, safe access needs and constructability input during design and pre-commissioning.
Provide subject-matter expertise during internal and external audits, regulatory inspections and certification activities; prepare responses and corrective action plans.
Contribute to the organization's continuous improvement roadmap by proposing process upgrades, energy reduction initiatives and digitalization opportunities (IIoT, predictive maintenance).
Assist in emergency response drills and off-shift incident coordination, taking lead roles when necessary to ensure team readiness and effective incident management.
Liaise with supply chain and logistics to ensure feedstock availability, product scheduling and transportation coordination that aligns with unit throughput plans.
Support onboarding and development of new operations hires by delivering structured on-the-job training and embedding safety and quality behaviors.
Participate in cross-shift and cross-site technical forums to share lessons learned, standardize best practices and harmonize operating procedures.
Contribute to environmental improvement initiatives including waste minimization, water re-use projects and emission reduction strategies.
Provide ad-hoc operational expertise to commercial teams for short-term production allocation decisions, maintenance impact assessments and opportunity evaluations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Experienced operator of Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and SCADA platforms; comfortable executing control logic changes and alarm management.
Proficient with PLC fundamentals, field instrumentation, and basic loop checking to diagnose sensor and actuator issues.
Strong knowledge of P&IDs, process flow diagrams (PFDs) and equipment datasheets — able to read and apply technical drawings to daily operations.
Demonstrated experience with Process Safety Management (PSM), HAZOP, LOPA and MOC processes; able to translate recommendations into operational controls.
Skilled in real-time troubleshooting and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodologies, including use of structured problem-solving tools.
Familiarity with maintenance management systems (CMMS/SAP) for work order generation, prioritization and outage planning.
Competent in production KPI monitoring, mass/energy balance interpretation and basic process calculations to quantify losses and improvements.
Experience with quality control sampling procedures, laboratory coordination and handling off-spec events.
Working knowledge of industrial utilities (steam, compressed air, cooling water) and their influence on unit performance and energy consumption.
Hands-on experience with permit-to-work systems, lockout-tagout (LOTO) and confined space entry procedures.
Experience with inspection and reliability indicators for rotating equipment, heat exchangers and pressure vessels; ability to initiate preventive actions.
Familiarity with common process simulation and optimization tools (Aspen HYSYS, MATLAB) is a plus for supporting engineering studies.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people-management skills with ability to direct a shift team and influence cross-functional partners.
Excellent situational awareness and decision-making under pressure; remains composed and decisive during process upsets or emergencies.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for shift reporting, handovers and cross-functional coordination.
Analytical mindset with attention to detail and a systematic approach to diagnosing complex operational issues.
Collaborative team player who can build trust with maintenance, engineering, HSE and commercial stakeholders.
Continuous improvement orientation — proactive in identifying opportunities and driving sustainable change.
Coaching and mentoring ability to develop operator competency and embed safe work practices.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance routine operations with troubleshooting and project activities.
High integrity and accountability for safety, quality and regulatory compliance.
Adaptability to changing production schedules, maintenance demands and evolving process upgrades.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or related technical discipline; OR equivalent operational experience (assessed competency-based).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree plus certifications in Process Safety, HAZOP, or a diploma in Operations Management; Master's degree or extended technical training is a plus.
Certifications such as NEBOSH, IOSH, Six Sigma/Lean, or vendor-specific DCS/PLC training are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Process Control / Instrumentation
Industrial Engineering
Petroleum Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 10 years of industrial operations experience, with demonstrated exposure to continuous process plants and shift work.

Preferred:

5+ years operating experience in oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, or heavy manufacturing environments.
Prior experience leading a shift team, participating in turnarounds, and executing process safety initiatives.