Commissioning Manager (New Orleans)

Brunel has an exciting long-term contract job opportunity for a Commissioning Manager supporting our client who is a leading global mining and metals company.

This position will be in New Orleans, Louisiana on a 4 weeks on and 1 week off rotation.

Position Summary

The Commissioning Manager is responsible for leading all pre‑commissioning, commissioning, and startup activities for projects executed through the NOLA office. This role provides strategic and hands‑on leadership to ensure systems and facilities are safely, efficiently, and successfully transitioned from construction through startup and into operations. The Commissioning Manager collaborates closely with engineering, EPCM partners, Operations Readiness, Central Services, contractors, vendors, and clients to deliver projects in compliance with technical, safety, schedule, and budgetary requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and execute comprehensive pre‑commissioning, commissioning, and startup strategies for projects, including manpower planning and resource allocation.
• Develop and manage commissioning phase budgets in alignment with project controls and financial objectives.
• Review P&IDs, engineering drawings, specifications, and design documentation to fully understand project scope, system boundaries, and subsystem definitions.
• Define system and subsystem turnover requirements and develop structured turnover packages based on marked‑up P&IDs and process flow diagrams, in coordination with Central Services.
• Participate in and support all design and model reviews, providing commissioning and startup input throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Hazard Analyses (HAZAN), and Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPs).
• Coordinate closely with Operations Readiness teams to define requirements for commissioning spares, first fills, consumables, and media systems.
• Ensure all commissioning activities are accurately documented within the project CCMS and collaborate with Document Control and Central Services to compile complete construction and commissioning turnover documentation, including test records.
• Review and comment on engineering and construction documents managed through Aconex to ensure constructability, commissioning readiness, and operational alignment.
• Provide leadership and input to ensure a logical, risk‑based system turnover and startup sequence.
• Develop detailed pre‑commissioning and commissioning schedules, execution plans, and procedures.
• Work closely with EPCM contractors and Operations Readiness to establish integrated commissioning and startup execution plans.
• Develop and lead the overall startup and commissioning plan, including safety guidelines, test procedures, resource planning, activity sequencing, third‑party requirements, operational readiness criteria, and handover processes.
• Lead acceptance testing activities and support the structured handover of systems from commissioning to operations in coordination with site teams.
• Participate in the development of commissioning spare parts inventories, first fills, and requirements for specialized tools and testing equipment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project managers, site leadership, engineers, contractors, Central Services, vendors, and clients to ensure alignment throughout engineering, construction, commissioning, and startup phases.
• Interface with vendors, contractors, and management to communicate commissioning objectives, execution strategies, and performance expectations.
• Support contract execution through collaboration with clients and internal stakeholders, including development of scopes of work for commissioning‑related vendors and contractors.
• Review contractor QA/QC documentation, installation records, and operations and maintenance manuals to verify compliance with manufacturer and project requirements prior to commissioning.
• Stay current on industry best practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements related to commissioning and startup activities, and implement continuous improvement initiatives as appropriate.
• Review all scope items outside EPCM battery limits to ensure owner‑supplied utilities and systems—such as power, water, control systems, reagents, raw material feeds, and ancillary systems—are fully integrated into commissioning plans and construction, mechanical completion, and startup milestone schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in commissioning, startup, or operations for industrial, energy, chemical, or processing facilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading commissioning activities on multi‑discipline, EPCM‑executed projects.
• Strong understanding of commissioning methodologies, system turnover processes, and operational readiness principles.
• Working knowledge of engineering documentation, including P&IDs, process flow diagrams, and technical specifications.
• Experience with commissioning management systems (CCMS), document control platforms (e.g., Aconex), and project management tools.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams, manage contractors, and interface effectively with clients and stakeholders.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting large‑scale startup activities in a plant or facility environment.
• Familiarity with industry safety and risk management processes, including HAZOP and HAZAN facilitation support.
• Professional engineering (PE) license or industry certifications related to commissioning or project management (preferred).

Work Environment & Travel

• Based in the NOLA office with periodic travel to project sites as required to support commissioning and startup activities.
• May require flexibility to support startup schedules, including extended hours during critical commissioning phases.

Offer:

Full-time employees are eligible for benefits. Benefits include medical, dental and vision that will begin on your first day of employment. 401K matching – 50% match, up to 3%.

If candidate is not local to the area, client will provide accommodations and travel for a 4 week on, 1 week off not working rotation, along with monthly stipend for living expenses.