Operations Maintenance Lead

Ontario, Canada

Job Family Group:

Production and Manufacturing Downstream

Worker Type:

Regular

Posting Start Date:

September 28, 2026

Business Unit:

Downstream and Renewables

Experience Level:

Experienced Professionals

Job Description:

What's the role?

The SMC Production team is seeking an Operations Maintenance Lead - Process #2 (Catalytic Reformers/ Hydrotreaters) to join their team at the Sarnia Refinery.

This role serves as the primary liaison between Maintenance and Production for all maintenance scopes-Routine, Non-Routine, Pitstop, and Turnaround. The Operations Maintenance Lead (OML) acts as the Production Operations representative within the Maintenance organization. The OML's primary focus is to ensure the efficient maintenance of operating equipment with minimal impact on the production plan.

The OML is responsible for overseeing the screening, prioritization, and scheduling of maintenance work orders within their production units, ensuring alignment with the Maintenance Execution work process. Additionally, the OML is accountable for training and developing new operators, mentoring them throughout their progression phases toward becoming Senior Operators.

What you'll be doing

Accountabilities

Execute the Maintenance Work Process in Production by:

• Ensure notification quality all pertinent data is clearly and correctly identified by the notification originator

• Prioritize risk ranking maintenance execution due dates based on equipment condition and operational impact

• Update Basic Finish Dates in the maintenance backlog as necessary based on evolving risk

• Collaborate with Planners, Scheduler, Production Specialists, and Maintenance Team Leads to assure realistic completion dates are met

• Share accountability for the annual maintenance budget. Approve all planned work orders ahead of scheduling, in part as a method of oversight for maintenance costs

• Collaborate with Production Specialists (PSs) to manage the available maintenance budget against cumulative risk in the maintenance backlog, providing visibility and escalation as necessary to ensure the acceptable overall level of risk is not exceeded

• Facilitate permitting to assure smooth communication of permit needs and requirements, ensuring that maintenance work is not delayed by operational readiness and that HSSE/safety requirements are fully integrated into work plans

• Drive effective interface and execution of the Maintenance Work Process within the Production department. Communicate maintenance work, scheduling, and priorities with Production teams, working closely with both Production Specialists and Maintenance Coordinators, as well as ME Planners and the Scheduler

• Communicate to site multi-disciplinary teams via Site Production Team Meetings the priority maintenance work items that require Technical/Plant Change support

• Conduct lookback and reports out on "E" & "1" Priority Work performance (e.g. missing WO details, wrong RAM scores, wrong priority) to help site meet Reactive Work KPIs

• Supervise and mentor all new operators (including Co-ops), ensuring quality training up to a defined training phase (dependent on unit complement)

• Continue providing coaching and mentoring after employees achieve a certain phase, ensuring that Phase progression is maintained until Senior Operator status is signed off

• Assess and sign off on phase progression for all employees in assigned area(s) up to Senior Operator status

• Ensure Competency Development and Assurance (CD&A) requirements for employees within the unit are properly mapped and assessed according to the agreed-upon timeframe.

What you bring

• The candidate must have legal authorization to work in Canada on a full-time basis
• Diploma or degree in production and technical engineering or related discipline

• 10 or more years of manufacturing experience, preferably within refining, petrochemical, or oil & gas industries

• Experience working in refinery process units, particularly Catalytic Reformers and/or Hydrotreaters is an asset
• Leadership experience across operations and maintenance teams is a plus
• Strong trouble shooting skills and highly organized, with the ability to manage competing priorities effectively in both independent and team-based environments

After you submit your application, you will receive an email providing a link to an online assessment that is a mandatory part of the process and must be successfully completed within 3 days of receiving the initial assessment invite. The email will come from HireVue - please check your spam/junk mailbox if you do not see the email. Once completed, your application will be reviewed to determine the next steps. Thank you for your interest in Shell.

If you don't see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed in the posting above, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown that women & those from under-represented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We are committed to creating a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse company, and we strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientations, and life experiences to apply.

What we offer

The base salary range for this position is $111,000 - $160,000 per year. Individual pay will be based on various factors, such as relevant work experience, education, certifications, skill level, seniority, and internal equity.

You bring your skills and experience to Shell, and in return you work with talented, committed people in an innovative work environment. You'll have the opportunity to develop the skills you need to grow in an environment where we value honesty, integrity, and respect for one another. You'll be able to balance your priorities as you become the best version of yourself.

• Progress as a person as we work on the energy transition together

• Continuously grow the transferable skills you need to get ahead

• Work at the forefront of technology, trends, and practices

• Collaborate with experienced colleagues with unique expertise

• Achieve your balance in a values-led culture that encourages you to be the best version of yourself

• Benefit from flexible working hours, and the possibility of remote/mobile working

• Perform at your best with a competitive starting salary and annual performance-related salary increase; our pay and benefits packages are among the best in the world

• Take advantage of paid parental leave, including for non-birthing parents

• Join an organization working to become one of the most diverse and inclusive in the world

• We strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation, and life experiences to apply

• Grow as you progress through diverse career opportunities in national and international teams

• Gain access to a wide range of training and development programs

We'd like you to know that Shell has a bold goal: to become one of the world's most diverse and inclusive companies. You can get to know more about how we're working towards that goal, click here.

Shell in Canada

Shell Canada is part of a global group of energy and petrochemicals companies with an average of 92,000 employees in more than 70 countries and has been operating in Canada since 1911.

Shell Canada is one of the few truly integrated energy companies in Canada with all of Shell's global businesses represented, including upstream, integrated gas, downstream, and renewables and energy solutions. That means we do everything from exploration, gas production, refining and manufacturing, to providing fuels and developing energy solutions for our customers.

At a glance, our businesses and projects in Canada include:

• Joint Venture Partner (40%) with LNG Canada which will export Canadian natural gas to Asian markets

• Shale gas and liquids assets in Alberta and British Columbia

• A network of 1,400 retail stations across Canada

• The Scotford Complex in Alberta includes an upgrader; chemicals plant and is home to the Quest carbon capture and storage facility

• The Sarnia Manufacturing Centre refinery in Ontario

• Investments in renewables and energy solutions, including EV charging, hydrogen and biofuels

• 12 Shell-owned distribution terminals, three of which have marine operations

• Shell Aviation Canada delivers across a network of 26 airport fixed-based operations and airport consortiums, from coast to coast. Shell Aviation provides 1.7 billion liters of high-quality fuel annually in Canada and offers reliable and safe into-plane delivery

• Strong Sulphur and Lubricants businesses as well as an innovative Supply and Trading business

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DISCLAIMER:

Please note: We occasionally amend or withdraw Shell jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to the advertised closing date. Before applying, you are advised to read our data protection policy. This policy describes the processing that may be associated with your personal data and informs you that your personal data may be transferred to Shell/Shell Group companies around the world. The Shell Group and its approved recruitment consultants will never ask you for a fee to process or consider your application for a career with Shell. Anyone who demands such a fee is not an authorised Shell representative and you are strongly advised to refuse any such demand. Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.-À NOTER: de temps à autre, il arrive que nous modifions ou que nous retirions des emplois chez Shell et nous nous réservons le droit de le faire à tout moment, y compris avant la date limite indiquée. Avant de candidater, il vous est conseillé de bien lire notre politique en matière de protection des données. Celle-ci décrit comment vos données personnelles peuvent être traitées et vous informe que vos données personnelles peuvent être transférées à Shell/ aux sociétés du groupe Shell dans le monde entier. Ni le groupe Shell, ni aucune de ses sociétés de conseil en recrutement agréées ne sauraient vous demander de payer des droits pour examiner votre candidature à une carrière chez Shell. Quiconque vous demande un tel paiement n'est pas un représentant agréé de Shell et il vous est fortement conseillé de refuser d'effectuer un tel paiement. Shell respecte l'égalité d'accès à l'emploi