Project Specialist (Contractor)

Purpose of Project Scope

Provide experienced project support to the Asset Project Manager (PM) during the Define phase, taking responsibility for progressing agreed work packages and coordinating the inputs needed to complete them.

Support preparation for Execute during the Define phase.

The role will focus on ongoing Environmental Statement (ES) work, development planning, engineering studies and preparation for project execution.

The Project Specialist progresses the defined work packages set out below, bringing recommendations and exceptions to the PM for direction or approval within his authority.

The PM leads the overall development and delivery of Project, sets project priorities and directs the integrated scope, schedule, budget and resources.

PM will lead project reviews, recommends progression through approval stages and resolves issues requiring decisions across workstreams.

Project Requirements

• Coordinate responses to ES data requests, obtaining input from the relevant disciplines and progressing outstanding queries and review actions to completion.
• Coordinate outstanding Draft Field Development Plan (FDP) inputs, ensuring consistency with the ES and project development schedule.
• Support Execute readiness planning by coordinating inputs to the delivery schedule, resource requirements and handover arrangements.
• Progress agreed engineering study activities, including topsides modifications and subsea FEED support, by coordinating technical inputs, tender clarifications, interfaces and review actions, and tracking assigned deliverables against the agreed schedule.
• Work with the PM and discipline leads to identify the activities, resources and dependencies needed to complete Define and prepare for Execute.
• Maintain the plans and action registers for assigned work packages, resolve coordination issues and bring decisions, risks or delays requiring PM input forward promptly.
• Prepare concise updates on assigned work packages and contribute to project reviews and resource planning, including requirements for 2027.

Key Deliverables

• Complete and coordinated responses to ES requests, with outstanding queries and review actions tracked to closure.
• Current progress updates and a clear handover of any unfinished activities at the end of the engagement.
• Consolidated Draft FDP inputs for review by the relevant discipline leads and PM.
• Coordinated inputs and tracked review actions for assigned topsides modification studies and subsea FEED activities, with deliverables progressed to agreed review dates and outstanding issues clearly identified.
• An agreed plan for assigned Define activities and preparation for Execute, showing deliverables, resources, dependencies and target dates.
• ES and Draft FDP-target end of 2026, complete the assigned data responses, discipline inputs and review actions needed to support completion of the ES and Draft FDP.
• Engineering study milestones - in line with the agreed study schedules, complete assigned inputs and review actions supporting topsides modification studies and subsea FEED, with outstanding issues resolved or escalated to the PM.
• End of engagement, complete and hand over assigned deliverables, project records and any outstanding actions, with owners and next steps clearly identified.

Principle Challenges

• Completion of Define - before progression to Execute, complete assigned definition activities and provide the PM with a clear status of deliverables, outstanding issues and dependencies requiring resolution.
• Readiness for Execute - ahead of the planned execution start, coordinate inputs to the delivery schedule and resource plan, including 2027 requirements, and confirm owners and target dates for assigned execution activities.
• Securing timely inputs from disciplines with competing priorities.
• Managing dependencies between the ES, development planning and engineering studies.
• Progressing assigned work packages as requirements evolve, resolving coordination issues and escalating decisions affecting scope or delivery.
• Ensuring an effective transition and handover from Define into Execute.

Required Experience & Capability

• Relevant experience delivering work packages within upstream oil and gas development projects, preferably in the UK Continental Shelf.
• Understanding of the Define and Execute phases, including engineering studies, execution planning and project approval processes.
• Experience coordinating Environmental Statement and Field Development Plan inputs across technical disciplines.
• Ability to plan and progress assigned work, track deliverables and resolve interface issues.
• Sound judgement to identify risks and recognise when Project Manager decisions are required.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence contributors and provide concise progress reports.