Petrochemical Functional Domain Expert, IT-OT Transformation

Title:-Petrochemical Functional Domain Expert, IT-OT Transformation Location:-Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia (Al Khobar / Dammam), with travel to Jubail, Ras Tanura and Yanbu Works with:-IIoT Technical Architect (peer), offshore engineering team in India, KSA delivery partner Type:-Full-time, permanent Experience:15+ years, of which 8+ in petrochemical or refining plants in KSA or the GCC Job Description: Petrochemical Functional Domain Expert (IT-OT, SIRI) Role at a glance This role walks petrochemical plants, scores their Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) maturity, and turns the gaps into a roadmap that moves the plant up SIRI levels, then works with our IIoT technical architect to turn that roadmap into a technology and architecture plan. About the role Torry Harris is building an Industry 4.0 practice for petrochemical clients in Saudi Arabia. We already bring strong enterprise integration, API, Kafka and data platform skills; this role brings the plant knowledge that makes those skills land on the shop floor. You will be the person plant managers and operations heads trust. You understand how a cracker, aromatics or polymer unit actually runs, what the control layer can and cannot do, and where data and integration can raise throughput, reliability, energy efficiency and safety. You will lead SIRI assessments on site and own the business side of the transformation roadmap that follows. You do not program PLCs or engineer safety systems. You decide, with plant staff and our architect, what should change, in what order, and why it is worth doing. Key responsibilities Plant visits and discovery Lead plant walkthroughs with operations, maintenance, process engineering, HSE and control-room staff. Map the production flow, unit operations, utilities and offsites, and where data is created, lost or re-keyed. Identify operational pain points: unplanned downtime, off-spec product, energy and flaring losses, manual reporting, slow turnarounds. Work within site safety rules, permit-to-work and production windows on every visit. SIRI maturity assessment Run SIRI assessments across the three building blocks (Process, Technology, Organisation), scoring each dimension from evidence gathered on site. Facilitate workshops with plant leadership to validate scores and agree target levels. Benchmark the plant against industry peers and explain the gaps in plain operational terms. Produce the assessment evidence pack and executive readout. Transformation roadmap Use the SIRI prioritisation approach to rank dimensions by KPI impact, gap to best practice and cost. Define the target maturity level per dimension and the sequence of initiatives that gets there. Build the use-case portfolio (for example predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, digital shift logs, quality and yield analytics) with value, feasibility and owner. Shape a phased roadmap: quick wins in 90 days, a first pilot, then a multi-unit or multi-site rollout. Track realised value after each phase and re-score maturity. Client and practice leadership Be the domain voice in client meetings, proposals and steering committees. Teach the petrochemical domain module to Torry Harris engineers and coach the offshore team. Build and maintain our library of petrochemical use cases, KPIs and reference assessments. Working with the IIoT technical architect You own the what and why: the maturity target and the business case. The IIoT technical architect owns the how: the technology upgrades and architecture changes. The two of you sign off the roadmap together. How you’ll work with the Solution Architect You’ll partner closely with a Solution Architect across every stage of the engagement, with clear ownership on each side and a shared output at the end of each stage. Discovery: You’ll map the process flow, operating constraints and pain points, while the architect maps the OT/IT landscape, including DCS, SCADA, historian, MES and networks. Together, you’ll produce a current-state map of the process and systems. Assessment: You’ll score the Process and Organisation dimensions, and the architect will score the Technology dimensions (connectivity, automation and intelligence). Together, you’ll deliver a validated SIRI scorecard. Target state: You’ll define the target SIRI level for each dimension, along with the priority use cases and the value they deliver. The architect will design the reference architecture, covering edge, UNS, Kafka, the data platform and OT security. Together, you’ll create the target-state blueprint. Roadmap: You’ll set the initiative sequence, KPIs and business case, while the architect plans the technology upgrade path and how the architecture evolves in each phase. Together, you’ll build a phased roadmap that ties each SIRI step to a specific technology change. Delivery: You’ll own operational acceptance, adoption and value tracking. The architect will own solution design and oversee the build with the offshore team. Together, you’ll deliver pilot results and a re-scored maturity assessment. Must have Bachelor's or master's degree in Chemical Engineering (Process or Instrumentation Engineering considered with strong process background). 15+ years in petrochemical or refining, including at least 8 years in operating plants in KSA or the GCC. Hands-on time in production, process or operations engineering, followed by a role in digital transformation, operational excellence or plant performance. Has led or been a core member of at least one plant-level digital, Industry 4.0 or maturity assessment programme. Working understanding of IT-OT integration: how DCS, historians, LIMS, MES and ERP connect and where data flows break. Fluent English; able to present to plant leadership and C-level executives. Native Arabic Speaker. Strongly preferred Certified SIRI Assessor (CSA), or willingness to certify within the first 3 months (Torry Harris sponsors the course). Consulting or system-integrator experience alongside operator-side experience. Lean, Six Sigma or reliability (CMRP) certification. Existing network across KSA petrochemical operators and their plant leadership. Knowledge areas What the candidate should know Petrochemical processes: Steam cracking, aromatics, polymers (PE, PP), utilities and offsites; PFDs, P&IDs, heat and mass balance Plant operations:Shift operations, production planning and accounting, LIMS and quality, turnarounds and shutdown windows Control and automation: DCS platforms (Honeywell, Yokogawa, Emerson), advanced process control, SIS/ESD concepts (IEC 61511) Plant data and systems:Process historians (e.g. AVEVA PI), MES/MOM, ERP and maintenance systems (e.g. SAP PM), the ISA-95 levels IT-OT integration: Edge connectivity, OPC UA, the idea of a unified namespace, event streaming, OT security zones (IEC 62443), Saudi NCA OT cybersecurity controls Reliability and maintenance: RCM, risk-based inspection, condition monitoring, ISO 14224 equipment data Process safety and HSE:PSM, HAZOP and LOPA, permit-to-work, management of change Operational excellence:OEE, energy intensity, flaring and emissions reporting, yield and loss accounting Maturity frameworks:SIRI building blocks, pillars and dimensions; the SIRI prioritization approach; familiarity with ISA-95 and other Industry 4.0 models Competencies Field credibility: earns trust from control-room operators and plant managers alike; knows what to ask and what to observe on a walkthrough. Structured diagnosis: turns observations and interviews into evidence-backed maturity scores, not opinions. Value translation: links every proposed change to a plant KPI and a business number the client recognizes. Roadmap thinking: sequences initiatives by value, dependency, risk and production constraints. Bridge to technology: explains operational needs clearly to architects and engineers, and challenges technology choices that do not fit plant reality. Facilitation and influence: runs workshops with mixed operations, IT and leadership audiences and drives them to decisions. Safety mindset: puts plant safety and uptime ahead of delivery pressure. Coaching: grows domain understanding in younger, technology-focused teams.